Family Metaphor

The Family Mini-van
By: Lance Jones

My family is like a mini-van always on the go
Dad is like the engine always sputtering along the work horse of our family
Mom is the transmission harnessing the engines power and putting it to use
My sister is the radio always loud and abnoxious
My brother is the squeaky wheel always whining
And I am the steering wheel leading us in the right direction away from trouble.

Book Review

You must read this book before you see the movie! HUNGER GAMES 

The Hunger Games (2008)

Collins, Suzanne

Fiction

A new society has emerged from the ruins of North America called Panem. It is divided into 13 districts. Katniss Everdeen (main character) lives in District 12 and every year the Capitol shows their control of the districts by having “Hunger Games” where a boy and a girl (12-18) from each district are chosen to fight for their lives by killing all the other “contestants” in order to save themselves.

 The book tells the story of how Katniss is selected and competes in the Hunger Games. Throughout the book Katniss goes through many trials as she fights to survive. She also comes to realize the power of President Snow and the Capitol. Survival is a constant theme of the book.

I thought Suzanne Collins did a great job with how she wrote the book. She made the book a real page turner by constantly making you wonder what was going to happen to Katniss, and her friends Gale and Peeta.  She paints pictures in your mind with her detailed descriptions and makes you feel a real connection to the characters. By reading the book first you will be ready to enjoy the upcoming movie.

Hunger Games was written for a young adult audience.  The book includes a love triangle, a mystery and a fight for survival.  It will appeal to both boys and girls. The book has even become popular with adults. Because of some of the violent themes it would be better for older teens.

Hunger Games has received excellent reviews.  It was given a starred review in Booklist stating, “ Each new plot twist ratchets up the tension, moving the story forward and keeping the reader on edge. Populated by three-dimensional characters, this is a superb tale of physical adventure, political suspense, and romance. Publisher Weekly also gave it a starred review concluding, “Katniss struggles to win not only the Games but the inherent contest for audience approval. Has she sacrificed too much? We know what she has given up to survive, but not whether the price was too high. Readers will wait eagerly to learn more”. I would defiantly recommend this book to others. Once you start reading you just can’t stop; great book!

Book Review

Sequel just as good as the first! Catching Fire

Catching Fire (2009)

Collins, Suzanne

Fiction

Katniss and Peeta have just won the Hunger Games by tricking the Capitol. The book focuses  on how much trouble they’re in with the Capitol and President Snow.  It also includes the “victory tour” where they go to each district and give a speech.  It sets up the third book by explaining the Quarter Quell a terrifying new twist to the Hunger Games to ensure that both Katniss and Peeta cannot survive.

Katniss and Peeta realize the importance of their actions and the consequences and how they might lose their loved ones if they don’t play it right.

Being in the middle of the series Suzanne Collins continues her excellent writing from The Hunger Games with nail biting suspense. This book is just as good as the first one.

Just like Hunger Games, this book appeals to a fairly broad audience. I think it appeals most to young adults but most adults like it too. Catching Fire is probably not a book for younger children because of some of the violent content etc.

This is one of my favorite series. I would recommend to any looking for a great book! School Library says, Though more of the story takes place outside the arena than within, this sequel has enough action to please Hunger Games fans and leaves enough questions tantalizingly unanswered for readers to be desperate for the next installment”. Bookmarks Magazine agreed, “Reviewers were happy to report that the Hunger Games trilogy is alive and well, and all looked forward to the third book in the series after this one's stunning conclusion”.

Book Review

Great book to finish the series! Mockingjay

Mockingjay (2010)

Collins, Suzanne

Fiction

This book brings to a conclusion the series.  It really focuses on how Katniss has helped to motivate the “rebels” to fight against the Capitol. Katniss realizes she has been used by the Capitol to bring down the other districts and force them to not work together. In the end Katniss must also make a final choice between Peeta and Gale.

One of the major themes of this book is the use of propaganda by the Capitol to control the rebels and the districts.

Suzanne Collins continues to write an excellent book full of suspense.  However, readers would not be able to understand this book without reading the first two.

This book was written primarily for a young adult audience.  However, because of the series popularity it is also being read my adults.  The violent themes in the book make it inappropriate for younger readers.

I would definitely recommend this book to others as it answers many of the questions introduced in the first two books in the series.  This series is one of my favorites. School Library Journal describes it “as a fitting end of the series that began with The Hunger Games (2008) and Catching Fire (2009) and will have the same lasting resonance. While some feel it is not as good as the other two books, The New York Times says that it maintains the same fascination as the first two books, Mockingjay” is not as impeccably plotted as “The Hunger Games,” but none­theless retains its fierce, chilly fascination”.