Suzanne Collins' The Hunger Games

Book 20 has already been read. Book 20-A, as well (being the sequel to book 20). Book 20-B - the conclusion of this compelling trilogy is silently waiting for me at the public library on the hold shelf, a sticky note with my name plastered to its cover.

That, in and of itself should be enough of a statement. However, I embrace superfluous verboseness. Suzanne Collins has created in her Hunger Games trilogy a violent and gripping world where teenagers must fight to the death each year. When Katniss' sister, Prim hears her name drawn to compete in the annual games, there is no question. Katniss will go in her place. What unfolds is more than she ever bargained for...from beginning to end.

And as I've already told you, there are two further novels in the series...so be prepared to sacrifice hours of precious sleep to see what happens next...and still next...on and on until you fall asleep drooling on the pages, your eyes aching from reading for hours on end.

Did I mention, further that this is a Young Adult novel? I had heard the name tossed about and understood the basic concept of The Hunger Games but it wasn't until my niece read it for school that I even picked up a copy. After she'd finished it and my sister in law read it, both were emphatic...it is a must read. They were right.

While I loved this novel (and the sequel) and would love to just leave it at that: "Go read it now!", I also feel the teacher in me wanting to speak out. Having recently read a teeming stack of YA literature for a course, you can find my earlier post on the subject ("Attack of the Young Adult Novel"). I analyzed each book not only for its quality and readability but also for its controversial topics or things that just make us "grown ups" roll our eyes at best and cringe or shout "OMG!" at worst. So here's my personal (non-mother, teacher) reaction to The Hunger Games. Go. Read. It. Now.

Many YA Lit options are well-written but also teeming with things parents and teachers often have to avoid (or wish they could), including teen drug use, sexuality and other topics that might offend. As a teacher, many of the YA selections I read were followed with, "well, I really enjoyed that but I'm not tenured and I love my job." The Hunger Games - while violent beyond belief is relatively harmless. The only areas I can see to complain about are the violence and the rebellion against authority. No harsh language and (thankfully) no sex - although sexuality is not completely void from the novel, because what hormonal teenager would believe other teens weren't at least thinking about a little smooching? But it's safe enough for fearful teachers (eh-hem) to be able to introduce the novel without much fear of helicopter parents calling it "trash".

Well, to make a long blog short (too late!), GO READ IT NOW.

Book 19, Final Blog

I really enjoyed Angel Time by Anne Rice. This was my first experience reading her work (and not listening to a book on CD). It is clear she is a great storyteller and also that she does her research. I will admit, I preferred the first half of the book where her protagonist is still a hired assassin, struggling with his lack of faith and his own actions. Rice's personal views and experiences with her faith have really influenced her work beautifully, especially in this novel. Later, as "Lucky the Fox" goes on a mission from God (not quite like the Blues Brothers, mind you) the story is less compelling. Perhaps it felt too rushed for me? I would like to have seen as much detail in this portion of the text as the initial chapters.

The ending? Nicely done. And clearly leaves room for a sequel but doesn't demand one. There is more to this protagonist than "end of story". Not the ending I was expecting but I was also not totally surprised.

Overall, an enjoyable read. I will definitely read some more Anne Rice soon, perhaps Interview with a Vampire.

Book #19, Anne Rice's Angel Time

I am back! Please don't think I have NOT been reading since my last post; quite to the contrary. I have been reading books in a few series, though; and repeating books I've already read. I reread the Sookie Stackhouse series up to the release of the newest edition (Dead in the Family) and enjoyed my escape into that dark and yet hilarious world. I also have continued the Louise Rennison series (YA novels written as the diary of a British teenaged girl). It's summer reading time, after all...light and enjoyable reads.

However, I am now back into my read-and-blog vein and I'm jumping in with one of the most known contemporary American authors. Anne Rice has been captivating readers for years, first with her vampire-themed works and more recently with her fictional accounts of the life of Christ.

So how did I pick this novel? Well, my husband was bemoaning the fact that I was reading "crap" with vampires and wizards. Finally he said, "at least read some good vampire writing...read Anne Rice!" So when I was at the library returning a YA novel, I saw this book on the new release shelf and immediately grabbed it. I didn't even read the inside cover. It didn't matter. I was going to show him!! Anne Rice, here I come.

So I'm pages in and I can see what an excellent writer she is. I think I'm going to enjoy this. Happy Reading!

Attack of the Young Adult Novel!

Ok, so I've been reading a TON lately. Thanks to my participation in a graduate-level English/Education combined course, I've read 24 young adult titles in the last month. Yes, you read that right...twenty four. OK, so I did read the first 7 of them "early" (before the class started) but I've read the last 17 since late-May. I started to originally blog on each individual one, but I've decided to just sum up. Here, I've listed the 17 works read in my "LOVED IT!" order - 1 being my favorite, 17 being my least favorite. DISCLAIMER - I really liked all of these works...about midway through the rankings they're all the same! LOVED them! I will include a few brief notes on each. Here goes!

1. A Thousand Splendid Suns - Hosseini; not really YA but excellent book about women in Afghanistan in the 70s to present day. Beautiful and powerful.
2. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian - Alexie; wonderful work of fiction that is also semi-autobiographical about a kid who chooses to attend the white school but still lives on the Res; about identity and coming-of-age as a Native American.
3. Dramarama - Lockart; yeah, I already blogged on this one...in short...LOVED IT.
4. Little Brother - Doctorow; Sci-fi book about surveillance and abuse of power; an homage to Orwell's 1984.
5. Alabama Moon - Key; can't beat a Southern work by a Southern writer set in my homeland. Beautiful coming-of-age adventure story of survival and friendship.
6. Persepolis - Satrapi; Stunning graphic novel memoir of the author's childhood in Iran.
7. Charles and Emma - Heiligman; well-researched and well-written biography of the Darwin family; poignant, touching and utterly human.
8. The Killer's Cousin - Werlin; Mystery/psychological thriller; INTENSELY captivating and creepy, but ultimately moving story of a family and its secrets.
9. The Chocolate War - Cormier; classic YA story of a boy's rebellion against the norms in his private school and all the events it triggers.
10. Code Orange - Cooney; Sci-fi thriller that follows a young man who inadvertently comes across smallpox scabs in an old book as he tries to survive long enough to possibly save the world from the disease
11. Tenderness - Cormier; Suspense Thriller about a young man recently released from juvinile lock up for murder and a young woman who has become obsessed with him; you think you see the ending coming...but you'll be caught by surprise.
12. Deliver Us from Evie - Kerr; coming of age tale about a young woman and her family coming to terms with her sexual identity
13. Sandpiper - Wittlinger; again, I've blogged on this one already; coming of age tale about sexual activity among teens and the emotional and physical repercussions
14. Something Out of Nothing - McClafferty; biographical book about Marie Curie and Radium; scientific yet informative and compelling
15. On the Bright Side, I'm Now the Girlfriend of a Sex God - Rennison; book 2 in a 10 book series of the diaries of Georgia Nicholson, a British teen going through the ups and downs of teenage life and love.
16. True Believer - Wolff; book two in the Make Lemonade trilogy, this novel explores LaVaughn's continued education and her desires for a boyfriend (Jody, especially) and her discovery of love and heartbreak
17. Dinky Hocker Shoots Smack! - Kerr; this book explores four teens and their emotional ups and downs, dealing with weight and body issues, rebellion against authority, friendship and first love (I will admit, I didn't really like this one at all...)

So there they are! One more to read before I complete the final project: The Midwife's Apprentice by Cushman. I am actually going to listen to the audio book, as that was part of the assignment. Should be fun! Happy reading! (Go, read these books I've read and tell me what you think!)

Ellen Wittlinger's Sandpiper

Be forewarned: this YA novel is honest, hard hitting and poignant...and extremely controversial. My hope is that (if I ever have children) I wouldn't have to let my child read this; that her life experience would be protected and happy, free from the pressures that kids really do face regularly. I'm an idealist.
To be slightly graphic, I understand that Wittlinger wrote this novel in response to a common myth among junior high kids who believed the bill of goods Bill Clinton tried to sell us years ago about what "is" is...and what "sexual relations" are. I'm trying to keep this blog PG. So, this book is not PG. Definitely one parents should read before their child does and talk to them about it.
The message is excellent for kids, especially those who are being manipulated and used and lied to; an encouragement to recovering victims. The novel is beautiful written, using prose and poetry from a strong, honesty and less-than-perfect protagonist (the title character). In short, this is an excellent novel...but it pulls no punches and isn't for the weak of heart.

In short - if you can't handle it or find the subject matter "inappropriate" or "distasteful", don't read it. But it's worth the read if you can get past your hangups and realize that kids do face this kind of thing today...and something should be done.

E. Lockhart's Dramarama

Absolutely fabulous!!! This book captures the true spirit of the theatre kid; our passion, our insecurities and our generally awesome zaniness. Lockhart also captures this world without the adult condescension of "oh, those crazy theatre kids." At the same time, she does show the faults of the theatre world (as a teen). Overall, this book is sheer awesomeness. Where was it when I was in school? I can so relate (or could ten years ago) to Sadye. This book made me happy. For more, check out E. Lockhart's blog...which includes a special page for Dramarama, including an I-Pod list of songs to get readers either in the mood or up-to-date on the show tunes discussed in the novel. I am now a big fan of E. Lockhart...first The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks and now Dramarama.... I will read anything she writes!! Rock on, E. Lockart. I want to be you...in a totally uncreepy way, of course.

Book 16, Final Blog

I will admit, I was sad to say goodbye to the characters from Elmwood Springs. Fannie Flagg has painted a beautiful story of community, family and love - complete with humor and over-the-top (yet extremely genuine) characters. In Can't Wait to Get to Heaven, Flagg's central character "Elner" goes on the trip of a lifetime.

Interestingly, the story is not about her "NDE" (the term used for "near death experience", in the book) so much as it is about family and friends and how we spend the time we've got. Sure, there are sketchy characters who want to avoid a lawsuit from Elner, (something she would never consider) and there is even a hint of a story of something awful happening in the past and coming to light at the end.

There were moments where the story almost contained too much, as if Flagg were trying too hard to really make the story worthwhile. It truly is worthwhile, though. I felt strongest about the first half of the novel, enjoying it even more than the later half. On the whole, this was an excellent, feel-good read that made me proud to know people just like Aunt Elner...and hope that someday I would be someone just like her...well, sort of...