About This Book
A parent would reach for this book when their teenager is grappling with the messy, intrusive, and often overwhelming onset of puberty and sexual identity. It serves as a visceral metaphor for the internal chaos of adolescence, where hormones feel as destructive and unstoppable as a monster invasion. Austin is a teen historian chronicling the end of the world in his small town after he and his best friend accidentally unleash giant, hungry, and highly reproductive praying mantises. This is a gritty, raw, and hyper-realistic look at the teenage brain. While the science fiction element is high-stakes and gory, the heart of the story is Austin's confusion over his feelings for both his girlfriend and his male best friend. It is best suited for older teens (14+) who appreciate dark humor, unflinching honesty about the human body, and a break from more sanitized young adult tropes. Parents should choose this book to validate the confusing reality of growing up and to open doors for discussions about identity and the complexities of loyalty.
