The Hunger Games

The Hunger Games

Written by Suzanne Collins

Published by Scholastic Press in 2008

384 pages.

Genre: Violence, Dystopia, Suspense.

Summery: North America is now a nation of 12 districts ruled by The Capital. Once, the districts rebelled against the dictatorship of the Capital. Every year since, the Hunger Games have happened to remind the districts who is in control. The names of two children between the ages of 12 and 18 are drawn from each district, one boy and one girl. Both will enter the Games. Out of 24 kids, only one will survive.

Response: I thought I wouldn't like it, but I loved it. It may be a new favorite. I thought it would be morbid and gross, but it was very clean and the author presented it very well. There was practically no swearing or sexual references. The plot was gripping, and the characters were round and well developed.

Word of Caution: It's very intense, and there's a lot of killing.

Book Group Discussion

*I'm pausing my reviews for a moment to write down a thought I had.*

For my humanities class, I had to read Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. It was a fascinating book, especially as I had just read The Adoration of Jenna Fox. They both deal with essentially the same question: What defines a human? If I was a part of a book group, I would certainly suggest reading both books and discussing the similarities and differences. Both are very well written and examine the same topic but in very different ways.

Stuck In Neutral

Stuck in Neutral

Written by Terry Trueman

Published by HarperTeen in 2001

128 pages.

Genre: Suspense, Family

Summery: Shawn is 14 and he was born with cerebral palsy. He has zero muscle control. He can't even voluntarily blink, focus his eyes, or swallow. But there's nothing wrong with his mind. He knows how to read and he has a perfect memory. He enjoys the world around him. He loves his family. Which is why he's worried when he finds out that his father might kill him.

Response: This is hands down the best book I have read this semester. It is incredible. It will literally change your life. I really connected to this book because I have worked as a therapist for handicapped children. I know how they are so much more than most people take them for. Every single person has a personality. They are people. Read this book.

Word of Caution: This book will have significant effect on your opinion of retarded people.

Foreign Exchange

Foreign Exchange

Written by Mel Glenn

Published by HarperTeen in 1999

144 pages.

Genre: Multicultural, Mystery/Suspense, Social Issues

Summery: For one weekend, students from a big-city highschool are staying with host families in a small, rural town. While staying there, one of the local girls (the prettiest, most popular) is murdered. Through the brilliant poems, we find out who killed her and how the people from both sides deal with the event.

Response: Loved it. So brilliantly written. I think that the poetry works better than regular prose would. It examines prejudices, stereotypes, rivalry, ethics, and family.

Word of Caution: Murder, obviously. Sex. Some language.

The Big Game of Everything

The Big Game of Everything

Written by Chris Lynch

Published by HarperTeen in 2010

288 pages.

Genre: Family

Summery: Union Jack is a kid with a brother named Egon, a sister who's perfect, and parents named Leonard and Peach. And then there's Granpus, who hires his grankids to work for him on his golf course. This is the story of that summer.

Response: This is a great book. It has funny parts and quirky characters, but it also deals with more important themes like self-worth, family relations, and friendship.

Word of Caution: It's mostly clean, but there's a few sexual references and a couple swear words.

Split Image

Split Image

Written by Mel Glenn

Published by HarperTeen in 2002

160 pages.

Genre: Multicultural, Social Issues, Family

Summery: Laura Li's family moved to the US from China. Her father is always gone on business, and her mother never lets her have any fun. She has to stay home and take care of her handicapped older brother. She is the most beautiful girl at her highschool; all the boys love her. She is a model student, and an excellent student librarian. No one can see the pain that she's hiding. A fascinating and haunting story told in free verse.

Response: I loved this book. The poems are clear and descriptive. The story is gripping and unpredictable. I recommend it very highly.

Word of Caution: Suicide.

Angus, Thongs, and Full-Frontal Snogging

Angus, Thongs, and Full-Frontal Snogging.

Written by Louise Rennison

Published by HarperTeen in 2001

272 pages.

Genre: Humor, Social Issues

Summery: The diary of 14 year old Georgia Nicolsen. It contains tales of her 3 year old sister who leaves wet diapers in Georgia's bedroom, her cat Angus who is part Scottish wildcat and eats dogs, eyebrow disasters, an oh-so-hot guy she calls The Sex God, and yes- snogging. It's a refreshingly British novel with a delightful narrator.

Response: Absolutely hilarious. It had a little too much Jr High drama for me (but I have an insanely low tolerence for drama). It was well done; the book worked well as a diary.

Word of Caution: Snogging. Sexual references. British swearing.