I like that the author did not limit herself to the “addict fighting his demons” storyline. He has an unusual outlook on his predicament and life circumstances. What lengths will he go through to get another hit? Perry is not your average sob story. In this story, the main character (Perry) is desperate to get high. Lastly, McHugh explores the main character’s desperation. Usually the addict’s family (or lack thereof) plays a critical role in the story, but this is a very original approach. This was an interesting take on the family’s perspective in addiction horror. At what point do intentions turn from good to malicious? McHugh explores the fine line between helping someone you love and making yourself look good through performative allyship. It becomes clear that the main character’s family has more than just a passing interest in his sobriety. The second way the author explores desperation is through the family of the addict. Expand upon what is already there in society and make it worse, but believably so. It is bleak, it is depressing and it is an incredibly successful example of how to build empathy within a novel. They are desperate to escape their reality, where they will never be at the top of the literal food chain. What better way to feel superior than to eat their genitals in a lush, classy restaurant? It is easy to imagine a Baltimore with addicts desperate enough to sell their body parts for a fix. They were desperate to assert their superiority over the poorest of the poor. Being local to the Baltimore area myself, it was very easy to imagine it as a place where the “Fat Cats” (rich, elite class) were literally eating the lowly addicts. “The Green Kangaroos” is a dystopian novel set in 2099 Baltimore. McHugh explores desperation, but gives it a twist by exploring it from different perspectives. Some authors explore feelings of grief and loss, others explore body horror or the supernatural. “The Green Kangaroos” by Jessica McHugh, like any addiction horror, is about feelings. *Editors note: THE GREEN KANGAROOS was included in our February 2020 "Horror Addiction" package
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