Parents' Guide to Exile from Eden

Book Andrew Smith Science Fiction 2019
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Common Sense Media Review

Michael Berry By Michael Berry , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 16+

Teens tour the apocalypse in zany, touching sci-fi satire.

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What's the Story?

At the beginning of EXILE FROM EDEN, 16-year-old Arek, having survived the end of the world in an underground bunker, chafes at the close confines. When his two fathers fail to return from an excursion aboveground, Arek and his best friend, Mel (a girl), take off in a motorhome to see what's left of the world. Along the way, they encounter naked, wild Breakfast, a boy who travels with a chimp named Olive. Together, they search for Arek's dads and try to understand what the world was like before it was overwhelmed by giant killer insects.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say : Not yet rated
Kids say : Not yet rated

Lots of readers want to imagine what happens after the end of the world, and this antic science fiction novel paints a satirical picture of a collapsed culture ready to welcome the return of humanity. A sequel to Grasshopper Jungle, Exile from Eden stands sturdily on its own. Author Andrew Smith does everything he can to make readers root for Arek, Mel, Olive, and Breakfast as they encounter -- and misinterpret -- the world others left behind. Some may find the humor sophomoric and repetitive, but there's a sense of genuine purpose behind it, to affirm humanity's resilience in the face of disaster. Exile from Eden won't suit every taste, but fans of rule-breakers like Kurt Vonnegut may be won over by its ragtag charm.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how Exile from Eden imagines the end of the world. Why do readers enjoy stories about Doomsday?

  • Why does Arek's father say that "All stories are true"? Do you agree with that? What are some of the consequences of believing such a thing?

  • Arek spends a lot of time thinking about losing his virginity. Why is that act so important to him? Why does Mel, a girl, think about it differently?

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