Me & My Mailbox: The Hunger Games
Posted by alli on 06-27-2008
There's been some talk about The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (Book 1 of the Hunger Series being the "dark horse" book of the year, and in my humble opinion the buzz is right-on. I got this in the mail on Tuesday and I'm half way through it. I'm enthralled. Suzanne Collins, best known for "The Underland Chronicles," has crafted a dark other-world of 12 districts where food is scarce and absolute power reigns. In this nation of Panem, children between the ages of 12-18 are chosen every year to participate in "The Hunger Games," in which they must fight each other till the death on live television. The pageant was created to keep the citizens in line and prevent them from revolting against a fascist regime that is staving their people. It's dark all right, but I can't put it down. Let the games begin.
You're Amazing: A No Pressure Guide to Being Your Best Self by Claire Mysko (Check out the Girls' Bill of Rights: "Girls Have the Right to: be themselves and to resist gender stereotypes, express themselves with originality and enthusiasm, take risks, strive freely and take pride in their success, accept and appreciate their bodies, have confidence in themselves and be safe in the world, prepare for interesting work and economic independence. Amen! Good work Claire, and Girls Inc.)
The Sky Village by Monk and Nigel Ashland (Book 1 of "The Kaimira Series") (Looks neat. Living above China in a world (network, really) of hot-air balloons, Mei is able to communicate with Rom who lives in far away futuristic Las Vegas through a magic journal. They've never actually met but they discover that they share a similar "kaimira" gene making them some sort of animal hybrid.)
Note to Ypulse Books readers: Claire Mysko and Chris Rettstatt (the author behind the Kamira Series) will both be at the Ypulse Books Publishing Pre-Conference Monday morning, July 14th. We'll also be selling (and they will be signing) their books! We are offering a very special rate for authors (aspiring authors, too) and librarians who want to just attend the morning session ($100!), just register for the Books pre-conference only and enter the code BOOKDEAL.
Bionicle: #1: Rise of the Toa Nuva by Geg Farshtey, Carlos D'Anda and Randy Elliot (Super colorful, hard-cover, comics for LEGO-loving, Transformer-y types.)
serafina67 by Susie Day (OMG. Written as a blog, complete with computer screen artwork on each page. Friends post too, and fun and chaos ensues. Great insight for us "mental parentals" as to what a teen's blog looks and feels like. Kinda like TTYL.)
Box Out by John Coy (Liam is new on the varsity basketball team for which he's very grateful, but when his coach insists on prayer before each game, Liam much choose between a spot on the team and doing what's right. Ultimately, he is forced to stand up for what he believes in, even if he is ostracized by his team and school.
The 12th Demon: Vampyre Majik by Bruce Hennigan (Book 2 of the "Jonathan Steel Chronicles." From their press packet: "The 12th Demon follows Jonathan Steel a man without a past tangling with another evil force. After claming victory over the 13th demon, Steel discovers that the 12th demon is plotting possession of a vampire clam, and his son Josh is involved. Enlisting the help of his scientist and scholarly freinds, they rely on their Christian Faith and scientific dexterity to save Josh and over come the 12th demon." )
