The Hunger Games, By Suzanne Collins

• Reading level: Young Adult
  
• Hardcover: 384 pages
• Publisher: Scholastic Press (September 14, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0439023483

Reader's Annotation: In a dystopian future where a reigning government reminds the people of their place in society (and discouraging uprisings) by hosting a reality based TV show meets roman gladiator ring where two tributes (one boy and one girl) from each of the 12 districts are chosen by lottery to fight to the death on camera. Katniss, a black market hunter in district 12, volunteers for the games to replace her young sister. But, will her game hunting background really be enough to keep her alive in the ring?

Summary: "In a not-too-distant future, the United States of America has collapsed, weakened by drought, fire, famine, and war, to be replaced by Panem, a country divided into the Capitol and 12 districts. Each year, two young representatives from each district are selected by lottery to participate in The Hunger Games. Part entertainment, part brutal intimidation of the subjugated districts, the televised games are broadcasted throughout Panem as the 24 participants are forced to eliminate their competitors, literally, with all citizens required to watch. When 16-year-old KatnissÆs young sister, Prim, is selected as the mining districts female representative, Katniss volunteers to take her place. She and her male counterpart, Peeta, the son of the town baker who seems to have all the fighting skills of a lump of bread dough, will be pitted against bigger, stronger representatives who have trained for this their whole lives. CollinsÆs characters are completely realistic and sympathetic as they form alliances and friendships in the face of overwhelming odds; the plot is tense, dramatic, and engrossing. This book will definitely resonate with the generation raised on reality shows like Survivor and American Gladiator. Book one of a planned trilogy." ~Jane Henriksen Baird, Anchorage Public Library, AK 

UnLibrarian's Opinion: I absolutely loved loved this novel. I would go so far as to say it is one of the finest YA novels out there. I can't wait to read the next installment. Evoking the classical lust for blood in a roman arena while feeding off the current state of the iraqi war, 24-hours news coverage, and reality TV, Ms. Collins pulls out all the stops with this pertinent roller coaster ride that is both relatable and fantastic. A MUST READ. 

Extras: Official Trilogy Website http://www.scholastic.com/thehungergames/

Suzanne Collins Official Website: http://www.suzannecollinsbooks.com/

Interview via Borders Media with Suzanne Collins (Hunger Games/Catching Fire)! Part One Below. Visit Link for the Continuation.

 

Lionsgate acquires rights to the film adaptation due out in 2011! 

Via Wikipedia: Lionsgate Entertainmenthas acquired worldwide distribution rights to a film adaptation of The Hunger Games, which will be produced by Nina Jacobson's Color Force production company. Collins will adapt the novel for film herself. IMDb: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1392170/

Awards- Via Wikipedia The Hunger Games has also received a number of awards and honors, including being a USA Today and New York Times Best Seller, and being named one of Publishers Weekly's "Best Books of the Year" in 2008 and a New York Times "Notable Children's Book of 2008".

Other authors speak out on why they love the Hunger Games: 

"[The Hunger Games] is a violent, jarring, speed-rap of a novel that generates nearly constant suspense...I couldn't stop reading."

--Stephen King, Entertainment Weekly Review

Read Full EW Review:
http:/​/​www.ew.com/​ew/​article/​0,,20223443,00.html

"I was so obsessed with this book I had to take it with me out to dinner and hide it under the edge of the table so I wouldn't have to stop reading. The story kept me up for several nights in a row, because even after I was finished, I just lay in bed wide awake thinking about it...The Hunger Games is amazing."

--Stephenie Meyer, author of The Twilight Saga

"The Hunger Games is as close to perfect an adventure novel as I've ever read. I could not put it down. Collins has transformed the ancient Labyrinth myth into a terrifyingly believable tale of future America. Readers will be hungry for more."

--Rick Riordan, author of The Percy Jackson Series and The 39 Clues

Trailers: 

Official 
Watch The Hunger Games: Suzanne Collins in Entertainment | View More Free Videos Online at Veoh.com

Fan Made and Incredible!  

 

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Feed, by M.T. Anderson, (Guest Review)

Reading level: Young Adult
Paperback: 320 pages
Publisher: Candlewick (February 23, 2004)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0763622591

Reader's Annotation: "In a future where most people have computer implants in their heads to control their environment, a boy meets an unusual girl who is in serious trouble." ~via Barnes & Noble

Summary & Review:
Feeding on Feed! In the twisted and somewhat dark realm that "Feed" takes place in, the readers are introduced to a character named Titus and his pack of friends lacking grammar and any insight into the real world due to the chip implanted into the back of their heads as infants. Habits including going "mal" (electronically getting high), flying in upcars, and contracting lesions, it is obvious their state of mind is anything but ordinary. But when Titus meets a girl named Violet, she introduces him to a whole new world outside of Feed! A world where reality is not just a download away... ~By Caleb Sims, Age 16, Washington State

Notes:
AWARDS
Finalist 2002 National Book Award for Young People's Literature
Winner 2003 Boston Globe-Horn Book Award for Fiction ballsook.com/bghb2003.shtml
Winner 2003 Golden Duck Awards Hal Clement Award for Young Adults
Nominee 2005–2006 Green Mountain Book Award

Extras: Wikipedia for M.T. Anderson http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matthew_Tobin_Anderson

The Forest of Hands and Teeth, By Carrie Ryan

• Title: The Forest of Hands and Teeth
• Author: Carrie Ryan
• Publishing Date:  March 10, 2009
• Reading level: Young Adult
  
• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0385736819
• Reader's Annotation: In an apocalyptic world Mary lives in a village surrounded by a fence that keeps The Unconsecrated out. Constantly surrounded by death, she is driven by the need to know more. But can Mary survive when she is forced to go down the paths she always dreamed of, and is there really anything other then death waiting for her?
• Synopsis:  As a child Mary's mother tells her of an immense ocean. This place is beyond the Forest of Hands and Teeth and has water as far as the eye can see. But, in Mary's village the sisterhood preaches there is nothing outside the Forest of the Hands and Teeth. The only safe place is that of of the village and it is the people's duty to keep the human race from being expelled forever. It is Mary's duty to watch her mother who longs for her lost love (Mary's Father) who has been taken by The Unconsecrated. Mary knows that her mother longs to be with him and she fears she will give herself to The Forest and The Sickness. Meanwhile, the spring vows and binding ceremonies are coming and men in the village are speaking for the women. Mary has only ever longed for one boy, but it is another that seeks her hand. Mary's duty is fast upon her it may not be anything she ever expected. 
• The beauty of The Forest of Hands and Teeth, Carrie Ryan's first book, lies within it's stark voice that never wavers from it's bleak tone that alludes to that small voice of hope at something more that lives in the back of all our minds. The book doesn't pander to the sugar coated, everything will turn out ok devices that are so inherent in YA lit today. It is refreshing despite it's topic of zombies (a genre being penned at a rate to rival the vampire literary epidemic). The zombie or vampire fan will devour this easy read but not be left without provoking thoughts and conversation. I have the slightest feeling the popularity of this book will spread like the disease of the Unconsecrated. 
  
• Extras: Seven Star Pictures have already bought the rights to the book for a film. It is slated for release in 2010. 
• Medium levels of blood and violence may leave the timid reader uncomfortable, but for the most part warnings for parents and readers are mild. 
  
• Author's Website:  http://www.carrieryan.com/news.php
• The book trailer was a Teen Book Video Award 2008 Finalist.  It is one of the best I've seen! If you are thinking of reading this book you must watch the trailer! 
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• The UnLibrarian is currently working on a fan "casting" book trailer! Stay Tuned!  

The Last Days, By Scott Westerfeld

By: Scott Westerfeld

Publisher: Razorbill

Publish Date: 2006

ISBN: 159514062X

Page #: 304 pages

Classification: Fiction

Genre: Fantasy, Horror

Age Level: Older Teen

Series Titles: Peeps (Bk. 1)

Last Days (Bk 2)

Subjects: Vampires, End-of-Days, Music

Reader's Annotation: The streets are taken over by the vampiric parasites and a group of teens in a rock band set out to save the world.

Synopsis: The Last Days is the sequel to the highly acclaimed and apocalyptic vampire story started in Peeps. Set against the same parasite-ridden streets of New York, Westerfeld gives us a group of five teens that form a rock band, whose musical triumphs escalade while the dark happenings of peeps do as well. As a Fender Stratocaster is being thrown to its doom out of a window, Moz and Pearl, strangers until this moment, work together to save it. From here, readers will rock their way through this hardcore, parasite-positive story! The band (with its vampire lead singer) fight the peeps while creating a playlist for the end of days! Maybe rock and roll will save the world (as it does so many teenagers everyday). Or maybe it will bring on the end! A gritty ode to rock and the way it can be a catalyst for teens to express their discomfort and rage, each chapter is named after bands!

Notes: This novel is the sequel to Peeps, but can stand alone. As a fan of Westerfeld's work, I can't recommend his work enough!

Stars: 5

Extras: Author's Website http://www.scottwesterfeld.com/index.htm

The Westerblog http://scottwesterfeld.com/blog/

Book talk about Peeps:

Extras, By Scott Westerfeld

By: Scott Westerfeld

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing

Publish Date: 2007

ISBN: 1416951172

Page #: 432

Reading Level: Young Adult

Classification: Fiction

Genre: Science Fiction

Series Title: Uglies Series

Uglies 
Pretties 
Specials 
Extras 

Bogus to Bubbly (Companion)

Mind-Rain (Famous Authors Talk About the Uglies Series-June 2009)

Subjects: Dystopia, Friendship, Plastic Surgery, Fame, Romance

Reader's Annotation: Extras is the unexpected 4th book in the awesome Uglies "trilogy." In another city, also affected by the "Mind-Rain" Tally Youngblood (of the first three Uglies books) induced, Aya Fuse is at the center of a fame-centric universe and all she wants to do is not be an extra.

Synopsis: Aya is a nothing. Her feed shows her fame status at a very high, high level. But high is not good. Your stats are better as you get lower because they signify your level of fame: 1 being the most famous person in the world. Any level of fame Aya has is due to her paparazzi like brother who manufactures fame in a Perez Hilton manner at the expense of others. But suddenly Aya has a chance to be outrageously famous and she plans on doing anything possible to kick her own story, even at the expense of others. But when Aya meets her new love interest and begins to find out more about her feed, things get increasingly dangerous and twisted. Is fame worth all that?

Notes: Another provocative take on a socially conscious issue, Westerfeld makes everybody reflect on the world we live in now. This story could stand alone, but I think it delivers much better having read the Uglies first. A new cast of characters leave you wondering what happened to Tally Youngblood, and when we finally find out it ends to fast. But Westerfeld is the master of topic not the master of giving you what you want, which makes me love him even more. 

Stars: 5

Extras: 

The Westerblog: http://scottwesterfeld.com/blog/

Scott Talks Extras:

 

Fan Made Video:

Uglies, By Scott Westerfeld

By: Scott Westerfeld

Publisher: Simon Pulse

Publish Date: February 8, 2005

ISBN: 0689865384

Page #: 448

Classification: Fiction

Genre: Science-Fiction

Age Level: Older Teen

Subjects:

Plastic Surgery, Fitting In, Beauty, Adventure, Dystopia

Series Title: The Uglies Series: Uglies, Pretties, Specials, Extras

Reader's Annotation: Tally Youngblood is 15 and can't wait to be pretty like her best friend Peris. While waiting to become "Pretty," she meets and befriends another another "Ugly" named Shay and together they wait to become 16 when everything we become perfect, or will it?

Synopsis: In all the books I read over the past year, this series sticks out the most. Why? Although it's simply written, the ideas are penetrating. The notion that most of us feel on display, varying degrees of ugly, and/or constantly striving to be like someone else, can not possibly be new to any of you. Today's society is obsessive with beauty and face forward. Meet Tally Youngblood, a teenage girl in a not so distant, dystopian future where everyone gets a "pretty" operation when they turn 16. They grind, shave, replace, and manipulate your body until you wake up a new, beautiful, perfect you. In the Uglies, after you complete the change, you are officially a "Pretty." You then get to move into a new world where being pretty is your new and only job. Partying, having everything you need, being popular is the perfect existence right? But, what if comes with a price? Does anyone ever NOT want to become a pretty?

Notes: Books Two and Three follow Tally and the Crims through their twisted fates against the powers that be. All three a mindful feast, but a simple, zippy read. You just can't not read these books. Cut out a day or two. It might make you re-think that rhinoplasty.

Stars: 5

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Extras: Westerfeld Heaven (Are you a bubble head?)

• The Extras, an unexpected fourth book in the series. Meet Aya and find out what her world is like post-Tally. In her world it's all about fame and nobody wants to be the "extra!"

• There is currently a guidebook called From Bogus to Bubbly available. This companion is a spoiler if you have yet to finish the series.

• Mind-Rain:Your Favorite Authors on Scott Westerfeld's Uglies Series (Paperback) DUE JUNE 1st!

• Westerblog: http://scottwesterfeld.com/blog

• Uglies discussion questions for your book group: http://scottwesterfeld.com/blog/?page_id=172

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Below are some Fan Made Youtubes that caught my attention as being rather well done! Enjoy!

Specials (Uglies Trilogy, Bk.3), By Scott Westerfeld

By: Scott Westerfeld

• Reading level: Young Adult
  
• Paperback: 400 pages
• Publisher: Simon Pulse 
• Publishing Date: September 11, 2007
• ISBN-10: 0439025664

Classification: Fiction
Genre: Science Fiction
Series Title: The Uglies Trilogy

Uglies

Pretties

Specials

Extras 

Subjects: beauty, dystopian society, fitting in, super-heros, body image, love

Reader's Annotation: In book three of the Uglies Trilogy Tally Youngblood returns with a special new purpose. But is this just another doomed twist in her journey for truth or is she finally on top of the game?

Synopsis: After being betrayed in a heartbreaking twist at the end of the Pretties, Tally Youngblood seems to have come out on top. The intended finale to the trilogy, Westerfeld explores the darkest nature of body image and supremacy in this final installment of the adventures of Tally Youngblood. Finally she is the one in charge, and it is clear that her skills are closer to a super hero then the ugly young girl we met in Uglies. But Tally can't let go of the past, even if everything has been rewired for her. Once again Tally follows her inner instinct to take on the powers that be and to reclaim the life that has been stolen from her. And who knows, maybe in the end, she may have some say in the way her world is run. 

Notes: Do not read this book if you haven't read the first two books. This is not a stand alone story. That being said, it is a powerful ending to the Uglies and the Pretties! The issues being raised leave great room for poignant discussion, as all Westerfeld's books do. I think the series as a whole is a strong choice (in line with Little Brother, By Doctorow) for YA in the classroom.

Stars: 5

Pretties (Uglies Trilogy, Book 2), By Scott Westerfeld

By: Scott Westerfeld

• Reading level: Young Adult
  
• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Simon Pulse
• Publishing Date: November 1, 2005
• ISBN-10: 0439891612

Classification: Fiction

Genre: Science-Fiction
Series Title: Uglies Trilogy

Series Title: The Uglies Series: Uglies, Pretties, Specials, Extras
Subjects: beauty, dystopian society, fitting in, science-fiction, love, friendship

Reader's Annotation: Tally Youngblood is finally Pretty but nothing is what she thought it would be. Now she has a new adventure ahead of her.

Synopsis: In the sequel to Uglies, Tally Youngblood is finally a "Pretty" although she can't fully remember how it all happened. New Pretty Town is her new home and she is raging and popular. Accepted into her new clique The Crims (short for criminal), she meets Zane and her world is exploded once again! As memories of the events in the first book, Uglies start to come back to her she begins to realize what being a Pretty really means. Now its up to her to figure out how to deal with her new world and everything that happened in the past.

Notes: By far my favorite of the series, Pretties explores many of the same themes that began in the Uglies but never fully came to light. As an outsider in Uglies, now Tally is on the inside. Dealing with issues of love, betrayal, beauty, and authority, Pretties is the finest example of what great Young Adult Literature is all about.

Stars: 5

Extras: