The Alex Crow, Paperback

The author of Printz Honor book Grasshopper Junglereturns with another genre-bending literary exploration of the absurd. Once again blending multiple story strands that transcend time and place, Grasshopper Jungleauthor Andrew Smith tells the story of 15-year-old Ariel, arefugee from the Middle East who is the sole survivor of an attack on his small village. Now living with an adoptive family in Sunday, West Virginia, Ariel's story of his summer at a boys' camp for tech detox is juxtaposed against those of a schizophrenic bomber and the diaries of a failed arctic expedition from the late nineteenth century. Oh, and there s also a depressed bionic reincarnated crow."Smith takes readers] to a place where humanity is imbued with the potential to render people inhuman and reminding us that being human, all too human, is far better than any conceivable alternative. BCCB Reviews, starred review "Magnificently bizarre, irreverent and bitingly witty Kirkus, starred review"Smith is aspiritual heir to Kurt Vonnegut Booklist, starred review Fans of Smith s raunchy, profane, and provocative work will find this funny but morally serious tale deeply appealing. Publishers Weekly, starred review"