Thursday, March 17, 2011

Jen Lancaster

Mrs. Fruit, would you care to discuss one Jen Lancaster and her hilarious books?

Monday, March 14, 2011

The Hunger Games

Long time, no talk readers! Spring is coming and everyone should be springing out of hibernation and getting excited about books. Recently, I attended the NIU Literature Conference and learned about a vast array of new and exciting books for young adults. I hope to purchase them for our library soon. In the meantime, PALS is a wonderful resource for obtaining materials we can't yet afford to buy. Please come in and chat with me about the titles I am itching to read after learning about them at the conference. I think you'll be just as excited about them as I am. Even though we don't yet have them at GKHS, I can reserve them in a flash!

We do have one of the titles discussed at the conference. The Hunger Games recently won the 2011 Rebecca Caudill Young Readers Book Award. This award is a children's choice award. Please click the link for more information. http://www.rcyrba.org/ I recently read this nearly 400-page book in one sitting. It was impossible to put down. Science fiction isn't usually my genre of choice, but this book is unbelievable. It is full of action, suspense, and characters so fleshed out you feel you know them on a personal level. The series consists of three books: The Hunger Games, Catching Fire, and Mockingjay, all of which contain nearly flawless plots and character development. These books catch your heart and carry you along with the characters as they rise up and fight for a better world.

The main character, Katniss Everdeen, is full of determination, strength, and courage. Read the book and ride along with her on her horrific journey through The Hunger Games, an annual competition in which 24 12-18 year old citizens of capitol-controlled Panem are forced to fight to the death in a televised competition. All citizens of Panem are required to watch. When Katniss's sister Prim's name is drawn in the reaping, Katniss volunteers to go in place of her. Life is hard and driven by fear for most citizens in the 12 districts of this country, but many are depending on Katniss to bring hope to people of a nation so controlled by their government that they are helpless to change their lives and she does . . . but at what cost to her family, friends, and the people of her nation? Read this series. You won't regret it. Please visit the official website for more information. http://www.thehungergames.co.uk/

Rise and shine readers and talk to me! :)