Book Review No. 5 - The Hunger Games

The Hunger Games

By:  Suzanne Collins
Series:  The Hunger Games #1
Publisher:  Scholastic Press - Sept. 2008
Pages:  374, Hardcover (Own)  
Plot Rating:  5
Character Rating:  5
Read:  June 2010
Genre:  Fantasy Fiction, Young Adult, Romance, Post Apocalyptic, Dystopian, Action, Science Fiction

First Line:  When I wake, the other side of the bed is cold.

Zakiya LadyWings's View:

First: Why in the world is this book being challenged to be banned? Yes, the gore, etc. sometimes might not be suitable for younger kids, but it really isn't that bad!


I had heard a lot of things about this book before I started reading. It was the latest series, and I was tired of being left behind. I'm really glad I bought it!


The main character, Katniss, lives in a post-apocalyptic America, hunts illegally, and takes her sister's place in the Hunger Games. No way is she risking Prim's life when it could be saved. Katniss's world gets both better and worse from there.


The Hunger Games is definitely a gory, battle-filled event. Nobody wants to die. The plot in this book was pretty awesome. It was something I'd never heard of before. I like how Suzanne Collins had each district specializing in something different. Each was significant, which showed in the people they sent to the Games.

Just then, Haymitch staggers into the compartment. 'I miss supper?' he says in a slurred voice. Then he vomits all over the expensive carpet and falls in the mess.

The characters were unquestionably fabulous! I liked all of them. I really just can't pick one. Peeta and Katniss are definitely the first two, though. Peeta was so easy with speaking to people; everyone was always charmed by him. I'm sure he saved Katniss more than we can all realize. But that's probably more in Catching Fire...


Katniss was a really good character as well. She knew what she wanted; she was gonna get it as soon as she could, any way she could. Her constant objectiveness to the Capitol always makes me want to laugh at the things she does to show it. Like the shooting of the arrow into the apple in the pig's mouth. Although that was Catching Fire, too, lol :)


This book . . . WOW. I can't say anything other than that. You really are missing out if you haven't read this yet. Not to mention the movie coming out next year! WHY on bloody EARTH is this novel being challenged to be banned!?



I have read Catching Fire, obviously, and have Mockingjay, but still haven't read the latter. Let's all hope that I do very soon! As in before the movie comes out!

One time, my mother told me that I always eat like I'll never see food again. And I said, 'I won't unless I bring it home." That shut her up.

Zakiya LadyWings recommends this novel to everyone! Read it, love it, and go see the movie next year. Still can't believe The Hunger Games one was challenged.

Book Review No. 4 - Speak

Speak

By:  Laurie Halse Anderson
Series:  N/A
Publisher:  Puffin - April 2001
Pages:  148 eBook  
Rating:  5
Book Cover Rating:  5 (It truly fits the book!)
Read:  Sept. 2010
Genre:  Young Adult, Realistic Fiction, Sexual Violence

First Line:  It is my first morning of high school.

Has Been Challenged Multiple Times!!
Recommend by :  Wesley Scroggins

Black Disaster Fairy's Take:

This book was attacked by Wesley Scroggins in a article last year about this time.  There is a particular part of his claim that had my eyebrows peak and my brain try to wrap around his intriguing statement, "material that should be classified as soft pornography." 


Soft Porn?!?


This guy is considering rape to be soft porn?  WOW!!!  Let's get this out in the open right away, I am a twisted person who came over from the dark side, who reads books that contain sexual violence.  However, I would never ever consider rape to be porn.  That is creepy even for me!


 ~~ Warning, it is hard to not write this review without spoilers.  If you do not want spoilers please stop reading. I do not want you to stop talking to me.~~


Melinda is our main character/narrator.  She does not get much description but for me it worked.  Many can relate and put themselves in her shoes.  We enter the book by going into the high school as a 9th grader.  (Geez, that was a while ago for me.)  High school can be the greatest years, full of amazing memories but so far for Melinda it is the time where no one talks to you & people throw mash potatoes at you.  I could not possibly dare to begin how that would feel.  Just completely humiliating, too cruel.

Book Love <3
Tree Love <3

Soon we find out that everyone scorns her because during the summer she calls the cops at a huge party were a few people get tossed in the slammer due to her actions.  Naturally, now she has the bulls-eye of hate on her, even her friends classmates do not even speak to her.  If only they knew the reason why!!  Speak up Melinda!!  Ok, that was me screaming at her!  

"My goal is to go home and take a nap."

Instead she draws into herself, retreating from family, school, and people who are trying to be her friend.  She found a place that she could call her own.  A place she could go and hide.  I must admit that I loved her closet!

"My journal entry of the day:  Exchange students are ruining our country."

Anderson does not say out right what happened to Melinda.  This taboo subject normally has people walking around what happened.  She did a good job with this while leaving clues.  Biology class is the biggest clue that should ring bells.  

"Our frog lies on her back.  Waiting for a prince to come and princessify her with a smooch?  I stand over her with my knife.  Ms. Keen's voice fades to a mosquito whine.  My throat closes off.  It's hard to breathe.  I put out my hand to steady myself against the table.  David pins her froggy hands to the dissection try.  He spreads her froggy legs and pins her froggy feet.  I have to slice open her belly.  She doesn't say a word.  She is already dead.  A scream starts in my gut - I can feel the cut, smell the dirt, leaves in my hair."

I just love her wording here!  


This book hit me, it is profound writing on a subject hard to touch because of society expectations.  I loved struggling with Melinda.  Watching her work on her tree subject for art, yelling at her to pour out her hate, fear, and hurt into the tree (of course only in my head).  Then there was this spark, she wrote on the bathroom wall.  Courageous of her.  What she wrote, not that she did.  That spark shot off as soon as there was a reply.  I almost cried when I read that.  Powerful statement, all on a smelly bathroom wall.


BDF highly recommends this book!!  Thanks to Scroggins!  It was a unique book with a voice.  It will be a re-read more then once.  Unbelievable!

Book Review No. 3 - Beautiful Creatures

Beautiful Creatures

By:  Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl
Series:  Caster Chronicles #1
Publisher:  Little, Brown - Sept. 2010
Pages:  563, Paperback (Own)  
Plot Rating:  5
Character Rating:  4.5
Read:  Aug. 2011
Genre:  Fantasy Fiction, Young Adult, Paranormal Romance, Magic

First Line:  There were only two kinds of people in our town.

Zakiya LadyWings's View:

I've finally started reading this series after feeling like I was missing out on something big for the last two years. Now I can see why everyone is so crazy about these books!


The main character, Ethan Wate, lives in a small town named Gatlin, South Carolina. The town's shut-in, Macon Ravenwood, hasn't been seen around town in years. He stays in his house and doesn't want to be bothered with the rest of Gatlin's residents.  


Macon's niece Lena moves into town at the beginning of a new school year. Lena is immediately the town's outcast. She doesn't belong there, and it seems that everyone in Gatlin is making sure she knows it very well.


The plot was absolutely bloody ahmazing! I really liked the addition of witchcraft (of some sorts). Casters just might end up being the world's next obsession! Okay, well, maybe not, but still. I wish I was a Caster; they're fantabulous.

Lena was standing on my front lawn in her pajamas. The neighbors would have a field day, and Amma would have a heart attack. . . . A heart attack, and then a stroke.

The characters in Beautiful Creatures were awesome, too. Lena, before she went into depression mode, was most assuredly my favorite character. Once her depressing mood set in, though, Ethan was "all the rage."


Kami and Margaret portrayed a lot of grief through Ethan's father. He was a shut-in of the town as well, only he was accepted by Gatlin's people, and Macon was feared.


Amma was probably my third favorite character; she cares so much for Ethan and his father. She did anything and everything she could for them. She always had one of those old souls that reminded me of my mom and great-grandmother. She's pretty humourous, too!



I just bought Beautiful Darkness Saturday, so I should be starting it really soon! So anxious to start it!

Aunt Mercy put down her tiles. . . . I-T-C-H-I-N. "That's not how you spell it. There's no T in itchin'."

Zakiya LadyWings totally recommends this novel! Whether you're a paranormal person or simply looking for a great book, Beautiful Creatures has it all!

Book Review No. 2 - Firelight

Firelight

By:  Sophie Jordan
Series:  Draki #1
Publisher:  HarperTeen - Sept. 2010
Pages:  323 Hardcover (Own)  
Rating:  5
Book Cover Rating:  5
Read:  Sept. 2011
Genre:  Fantasy Fiction, Young Adult, Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy, Dragons

Morbid Romantica Challenge 2011

By the Mad Scientist

First Line:  Gazing out at the quiet late, I know the risk is worth it. 

Black Disaster Fairy's Take:

Dragons?  Really Dragons?


WOW!  I can't smirk at the concept of dragons no longer.  Sophie Jordan had me deeply enthralled with the draki world she created.  Added bonus... The cover is beautiful!!  


Draki's are descendants of dragons, their secrets must be kept at any price.  They shapeshift into a human form, however, some of their talents are still available.  Jacinda is the first Fire Breather in centuries and she struggles to control her life.  As the soul fire breather her pride has made plans for her future for her.  A future of mating with Cassian, the next alpha, to create more little fire breathers.  Honestly, I think there is a spark between Jacinda and Cassian... Maybe I'm hoping for more in the next book.  *Fingers crossed*


Of course, this leads to the hot headed Jacinda to rebel.  Except she puts her life on the line and risks revealing the secret of the pride.    


She is takes a huge risk... one that changes her life quickly.  Jacinda's mother is pushed into drastic measures, whisking her and her twin Tamra to a town in the desert where they live among the humans.  Against her will she starts to lose her draki side, she will risk even more to keep this part of her alive. 


The chemistry between Jacinda and Will, a draki hunter, is flaming hot.  Smoldering!  LOL!  Will awakens her dying draki senses which is clearly dangerous if she cannot learn to control herself around him.  She has to keep her secret from him, at least for her family and draki everywhere.


Ah, a Forbidden Love!

A hunter in love with his prey. 

It is more then that.  Jacinda struggles to find where she fits in.  What her life is about and where she belongs?  A basic internal conflict of personal identity and purpose that young adults go through.

Sophie Jordan's world flowed wonderfully.  Her characters were diverse with many layers.  I enjoyed finding out about them throughout the book, ALL THE WAY TO THE END!!  Literally!  What an amazing way to end the book!!

Overall, Firelight has wonderful characters and a beautiful world for you to get lost in!  Jacinda will surprise you, the vivid description of the draki's will intrigue you, and a girl fight in the bathroom will draw you in while the uniqueness of the book will keep you reading.

After running for my life from hunters, a girl with too much lip gloss doesn't register on my fear radar.

BDF highly recommends this book!! It is defiantly for more then just the paranormal fan.  Dragons, hunters, and boys!  Oh, My Goodness!

*Recommend by Jen at In The Closet with a Bibliophile*