BookPikks

Katniss lives with and takes care of her mother and young sister in the dystopic nation of Panem.  Life is difficult for all but the elite ruling class.  Each year, the citizens of Panem are forced to send 24 young people to participate in The Hunger Games.  At the end of the Games, there is only one survivor.  When Katniss is selected for the Games, she knows that she will be fighting for her life, and for the survival of her family at home.

This was a FANTASTIC book.  I had trouble putting it down.  Collins has created a unique society, built on the runins of North America.  From the first paragraph, she draws you into the tension of “reaping day,” when the Hunger Games participants are selected.  Little by little, she reveals more about the dreaded Games, and the evil society behind them.  This book is the first in a series and I cannot wait for the second book.  If you enjoy survival, apocalyptic-type stories, you will not be disappointed by this book.

When the moon’s orbit is disrupted by an asteroid, a chain reaction of events is set off all over the world.  Tidal waves, earthquakes and volcanoes wreak havoc.  For Alex, his life in New York City is reduced to survival.  With both of his parents missing, Alex becomes responsible overnight to feed, shelter and protect his 2 younger sisters.  This was a fast paced, exciting apocalyptic novel.  In the midst of the excitement and horror, Alex learns some powerful lessons about responsibility, love and family.

Die-hard Orson Scott Card sci-fi fans will be disappointed with Invasive Procedures.  The character development is underwhelming, and the plot seems rather flat.  However, if you are looking for a medical sci-fi thriller along the lines of Robin Cook, then Invasive Procedures is your book.  In fact, I enjoyed it much more than most of Cook’s more recent books, which have become quite formulaic.  Card and Johnston have teamed up to write a fast-paced look at gene therapy gone wrong.  It’s not a book that will stay with you, but it is an entertaining read.

Thanks to Cindy at Books for Young Adults for recommending this series. She has a great review of the first book in the series: Awakening. They do make a good read; I’d especially recommend them for 5th and 6th grade girls who love action/mysteries.

Gwen lives in New York City with her grandfather. She needs to focus on practicing her violin and preparing for her auditions to 3 top music schools. But how can she focus when her grandfather has disappeared, her great-uncle won’t leave her alone, and her new friend Robert has a strange history that seems to have caught up with him.

This book is a companion to Things Not Seen, which I haven’t read. However, I still enjoyed the story, and its message of self-sacrifice and love is refreshing.