Science Fiction (6 of 9) Mockingjay

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Collins, S. (2010. Mockingjay. New York, NY:  Scholastic Press.
ISBN-13:  978043902351
Format:  Hardcover
Cost:  $17.99

Annotation:  In this final book of The Hunger Games Trilogy, Katniss finds herself as an unwitting pawn and the face of rebellion, as District 13 and their leader, President Coin, uses her as part of their plot to overthrow the Capitol and President Snow. Katniss is left with the final decision of whether or not there will be an end to the evil, or will there just be an exchange of one evil ruler for the other?

Awards:  2010 Voya Perfect Ten
2010 Publisher's Weekly Best Children's Books of the Year for Fiction
2010 Goodreads Choice Award for Favorite Book, Young Adult Fantasy, Favorite Heroine, and Favorite Hero

Mini Book Review:  In this thrilling and intense conclusion to The Hunger Games series, Katnss has been rescued from the Quarter Quell games, Peeta has been captured by the Capitol and President Snow, District 12 has been obliterated, and Gale, Prim, and Katniss's mother are all staying in the underground District 13, which, with the leadership of President Coin, is planning to overthrow the Capitol. Katniss, as the Mockingjay, is to be the face of rebellion to spur the people on to victory, but she is just a pawn, as she discovers all the plans were made without her knowledge. Who will live, who will die, who will rule, and who will Katniss end up with?

This story, detailed and told from the perspective of a 16-year-old girl, gives insight into the decisions we all must make, like who we are, where we fit in, can we make a difference,what is right and wrong, and what love really is. I highly recommend this well written conclusion that highlights the horrors of war, loss, corrupted power, the value of human life, and the importance of sacrifice, trust, love, commitment, and morality. This series should be in school, public, and personal library collections, and is appropriate for all readers ages 12 and up.

Available Formats:  Paperback, Kindle, Hardcover, Audio CD, Audible Auto Edition

Teen Quote:  15-year-old Hannah W. reads almost every day. She reads science fiction sometimes, but her favorite books are adventure stories. Her main source of social media is Facebook.

This is what she thought of Mockingjay:

"I thought it was a bit overkill but was definitely better than the second book, Catching Fire. After the first one, they all go down hill in my opinion."

Multimedia:  Check out the Scholastic book trailer for Mockingjay:

Extra! Extra! Do you like to write fan fiction, or do you like to read fan fiction? If so, you might be interested in this website which highlights some contest winners who wrote stories about what might have happened after Catching Fire, the second book in The Hunger Games Trilogy. Check out the winner's stories here:  https://sites.google.com/site/countdowntomockingjay/.

If you are a fan of The Hunger Games Trilogy, you have probably already seen the movies for The Hunger Games, Catching Fire, and Mockingjay Part 1, and are anxiously awaiting the upcoming movie, Mockingjay Part 2, scheduled for release November 20, 2015. Here is the movie trailer for Mockingjay Part 2:

Science Fiction (5 of 9) The Hunger Games

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Collins, S. (2009). The hunger games. New York, NY:  Scholastic Press.
ISBN-13:  9780439023481
Format:  Hardcover
Cost:  $17.99

Annotation:  There are 12 districts surrounding the city capitol, Panem, and each district must send one boy and one girl as a tribute to the annual Hunger Games, a televised fight to the death with only one winner. Katniss Everdeen, a 16-year-old from District 12, volunteers to take the place of her precious 12-year-old sister, Prim, in the games, and is determined to survive no matter what the cost.

Awards:  2008 School Library Journal Best Book of the Year
2008 Boston Globe - Hornbook Award
2008 Cybils Award for Young Adult Fantasy and Science Fiction
2009 Golden Duck Award for Hal Clement Award for Young Adult
2009 The Inky Awards for Silver Inky
2010 Red House Children's Book Award for Older Readers and Overall
2010 Dorothy Canfield Fisher Children's Book Award
2011 Rebecca Caudil Young Reader's Book Award
2012 BILBY Awards for Older Readers

Booktalk:  This first book in a series, takes place in a post apocalyptic world in which the evil  President Snow of the Capitol, keeps the surrounding 12 districts under control by annually requiring one boy and one girl from each district to participate in the televised Hunger Games that are only over when all are dead but one.

Katniss Everdeen, who volunteers to take the place of her sister, Prim, and Peter Mellark, the baker's son from District 12, travel to the Capitol to prepare for and participate in the games. Katniss is quite talented using a bow and arrow, a skill she learned while spending many hours hunting with her friend Gale (and possible love interest), and discussing the unfair and cruel current conditions of the world. Peeta only knows how to decorate cakes. When Haymitch Abernathy, the mentor assigned to Katniss and Peeta for the games, discovers Peeta's secret love for Katniss, they hatch a plan to have both of them survive the games. Peeta doesn't want to loose his soul in the process of the games, but Katniss just wants to survive and win, no matter what. Once the games begin, Katniss becomes an ally with Rue, the 12-year-old from District 11, that reminds her of Prim. Together, they form a plan to take out the enemy's food supply, but Rue is killed in the process. In chapter 17 on page 236, we see Katniss overwhelmed with this horrible turn of events:

"I can't stop looking at Rue, smaller than ever, a baby animal curled up in a nest of netting. I can't bring myself to leave her like this. Past harm, but seeming utterly defenseless. To hate the boy from District 1, who also appears so vulnerable in death, seems inadequate. It's the Capitol I hate, for doing this to all of us.

Gale's voice is in my head. His ravings against the Capitol no longer pointless, no longer to be ignored. Rue's death has forced me to confront my own fury against the cruelty, the injustice they inflict upon us. But here, even more strongly than at home, I feel my impotence. There's no way to take revenge on the Capitol. Is there?"

Will Katniss and Peeta be able to beat the system and both survive the Hunger Games? More importantly, will Katniss be able to hold on to her humanity in the process?

Available Formats:  Paperback, Kindle, Library Binding (Hardcover), Audible Audio Edition, Audio CD, Video (Movie Version).

Teen Quote:  18-year-old Kaitlyn M. likes to read science fiction books, but she reads almost anything that looks or sounds good! She reads the summaries on the back or inside cover, and if she likes what it says, she will most likely read it. She loves to read and reads almost every day. To keep up with what's happening in her world, she uses both Facebook and Instagram.

This is what she thought about The Hunger Games:

"The Hunger Games was, in my opinion, better written out than on the big screen. I think that it was a very good read and I would read it again!"

Multimedia:  In 2012, the movie, The Hunger Games, came out in movie theaters. Here is the official movie trailer:

Extra! Extra!  Did you know that Suzanne Collins started her writing career as a writer for children's television? She also wrote another series of books before the Hunger Games series called, The Underland Chronicles. You can find out more about Ms. Collins and her fabulous books at her website here:  http://www.suzannecollinsbooks.com/index.htm.

If you would like to follow Ms. Collins, her Twitter account is:  @_SuzanneCollins

Science Fiction (4 of 9) Divergent

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Roth, V. (2011). Divergent. New York, NY:  Katherine Tegen Books an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.
ISBN-13:  9780062024039
Format:  Paperback
Cost:  $9.99

Annotation:  In this first book of the Divergent Trilogy, Beatrice "Tris" Potter is part of the selfless Abnegation faction, one of five different groups that the people of the post apocalypse society are divided into. Beatrice's aptitude test indicates she is divergent (a rare and dangerous state), but on Choosing Day she moves to the fearless Dauntless faction, which will not only change her life forever but will inevitably alter the dystopian community she lives in.

Awards:  2011 Goodreads Choice Awards Best Young Adult Fantasy & Science Fiction
2011 Goodreads Choice Awards Favorite Book

Mini Book Review:  In post-apocalyptic Chicago, 16-year-old Beatrice Prior and her family belong to the selfless Abnegation faction. On Choosing Day, Beatrice moves to the fearless Dauntless faction, the group she's always admired. Beatrice's aptitude test revealed she was divergent, retaining characteristics of all factions, which is dangerous because they are a threat to the ruling powers. The initiation process into Dauntless is brutal, difficult, and dangerous, but Tris (Beatrice's new Dauntless name), with the help of Four, her trainer, love interest, and fellow secret divergent, passes, only to discover the Dauntless are being controlled and manipulated by a group of people who want to take over and rule. A battle takes place, and Tris and Four will need courage and strength to stop the take over and face their uncertain future.

This extremely long novel is a great book, but it is not for the faint of heart due to the violence of the initiation process, but the concepts of love, strength, loyalty, and overcoming one's fears makes reading the story well worth the effort. Ms. Roth creates a fascinating world, and her ability to draw one into the story will keep you interested to the very end. Due to the length of the book and the violence, I would recommend this book to an older YA audience. It would be a great addition to a school, young adult, and adult library collection.

Available Formats:  Paperback, Hardcover, Kindle, Audio CD, Audible Auto Edition

Quote:  Taken from pages 441, 442:

"Every faction conditions its members to think and act a certain way. And most people do it. For most people, it's not hard to learn, to find a pattern of thought that works and stay that way." "But our minds move in a dozen different directions. We can't be confined to one way of thinking, and that terrifies our leaders. It means we can't be controlled. And it means that no matter what they do, we will always cause trouble for them."

Multimedia:  Check out this great podcast interview of Veronica Roth, the author of Divergent, here:  https://soundcloud.com/harperaudiopresents/14-veronica-roth.

A movie based on the novel, Divergent, came out in 2014. Check out the movie trailer here:

Extra! Extra!  Could you be a Divergent? Check out this Divergent Aptitude Test, and see what your results are!  http://divergentthemovie.com/aptitudetest.

Science Fiction (3 of 9) Life As We Knew It

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Pfeffer, S. B. (2006). Life as we knew it. Orlando, FL:  Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
ISBN-13:  9780152061548
Format:  Paperback
Cost:  $6.95

Annotation:  When an asteroid hits the moon and knocks it out of place, life on earth will never be the same. Through the pages of the diary of 16-year-old Miranda, the shocking, realistic aftermath of the resulting devastation is portrayed, as well as how Miranda and her family survive.

Awards:   2006 Booklist Editor's Choice Award for Books for Youth (Older Reader's Category)

Booktalk:  What would you do if you had to survive in the aftermath of a devastating natural disaster? After an asteroid knocks the moon out of place, tsunamis, and earthquakes kill thousands of people, knock-out communication and electricity, and leave survivors stuck in their homes with little food, struggling to survive. This first book of the series is written in diary form through the eyes of 16-year-old Miranda from Pennsylvania. The time frame of one year reveals death of beloved friends, the loss of family and friends as they move in search of better survival conditions, sickness, injury and frigid cold. Will Miranda, her mother, and brothers have the courage and strength to survive? Read this eerily realistic science fiction story and find out!

Available Formats:  Paperback, Hardcover, Kindle, Audible Audio Edition, Audio CD

Quote:  Taken from page 56:

"It's such a weird way to live. I just can't believe it's going to stay like this much longer. On the other hand, I'm already starting to forget what normal life felt like, clocks that were on time, and lights that went on with the flick of a switch, and Internet, and streetlights, and supermarkets, and McDonald's, and..."

Multimedia:  The author, Susan Beth Pfeffer, has a Facebook page about her book, Life As We Knew It. You can see some videos, quotes, a detailed summary of the book, and some pictures here:  https://www.facebook.com/susan.susanbethpfeffer?fref=ts.

Here is a book trailer of the book:

Extra! Extra!  Did you ever wonder what domino effect might happen if a real catastrophe like this might occur? On Ms. Peffer's blog post, Meteors, Moons, and Me, she discusses her science research for this book and the second book in the series, The Dead And The Gone. Check it out here:  http://susanbethpfeffer.blogspot.com/2008/07/science-of-life-as-we-knew-it-and-dead.html

Fantasy Fiction (1) The Giver

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Lowry, L. (1993). The giver. New York, NY:  Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
ISBN-13:  9780547995663
Format:  Hardcover
Cost:  $17.99

Annotation:  Jonas lives in what appears to be a perfect controlled world, but when he turns twelve and begins his new life assignment with the Giver, he realizes changes must be made. With the Giver's guidance, he learns that truly living involves good and evil, feelings, pain, pleasure, and emotion, and therein lies the power to make a difference.

Awards:  1994 Newberry Medal Award
1994 Regina Medal Award
1994 Boston Globe Horn Book Award
1996 William Allen White Award
1996 Rebecca Caudill Young Reader's Book Award

Booktalk:  What's it like to live in a controlled world? In this first book of an award winning, dystopian series, 12-year-old Jonas is special and because of that, his life assignment is to be an apprentice to the Giver, the holder of all memories. When Jonas starts receiving memories, he experiences good and evil, pain, joy, sorrow, happiness...emotions. This changes everything. When Jonas is confronted with the fact that Gabriel, the baby his family has been taking care of will be scheduled for release (which means he will be killed), he realizes that he must be the one to do something. With the help of the Giver, will Jonas be able to save the baby and change the community he lives in?

Available Formats:  Paperback, Hardcover, Kindle, Audio CD, Audible Audio Edition, Video (of the movie).

Quote:  Taken from page 124:

"He found that he was often angry, now:  irrationally angry at his group mates, that they were satisfied with their lives which had none of the vibrance his own was taking on. And he was angry at himself, that he could not change that for them.

Multimedia:  If you would like to listen to this story, you can find an audio version of The Giver, here:  https://www.edmodo.com/folder/2754603.

In 2014, a movie version based on the book, The Giver, came out in movie theaters. Check out the movie trailer:

Extra! Extra!  Did you know you can play a free trivia game online based on the book, The Giver? Check it out here:  http://www.quia.com/rr/38952.html.

Horror Fiction (1) On Fire:  A Teen Wolf Novel

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Holder, N. (2012). On fire:  A teen wolf novel. New York, NY:  Gallery Books.
ISBN-13:  9781451674477
Format:  Paperback
Cost:  $11.00

Annotation:  When Scott McCall, a normal teenage guy, was bitten by an Alpha werewolf, his life was changed forever. Will he be able to balance his two worlds, not become a killer, and keep his secret from Allison, her father and family, who's sole purpose is to track and kill werewolves?

Awards:  None

Booktalk:  Would you be able to hide being a werewolf from all you friends and family? An Alpha werewolf bit high school student Scott McCall, and his life was changed forever. In this extension of MTV's hit TV series, Teen Wolf, Scott finds himself in the woods with his girlfriend, Allison Argent, looking for his missing classmate, fellow Lacrosse player and nemesis, Jackson Whitmire. They are not alone. The Alpha wolf is tracking Scott, and Scott has to control morphing into the wolf in front of Allison, the daughter of a father who's secret mission is to track and kill werewolves. Can Scott keep his secret and hold it together long enough to find his lost classmate?

Available Formats:  Paperback, Kindle

Quote:  Taken from page 224:

"Through the hazy smoke above them Scott sensed the werewolf that had bitten him. The monster that had changed his life and was trying to force him into even more extreme changes. His waking, walking nightmare. Scott felt as if he had been plunged into ice, and he shivered, hard. The wolf inside Scott howled crisis, menace, threat; but it also cried pack, belonging, Alpha."

Multimedia:  Nancy Holder, the author of On Fire:  A Teen Wolf Novel, is a New York Time's bestselling author. Check out this interview of her, right when the book was about to be released:
http://enchantedinkpot.blogspot.com/2012/06/interview-nancy-holder-teen-wolf-novel.html.

Extra! Extra!  Did you know, this novel is based on and continues the very popular MTV series, Teen Wolf? Here is a trailer for the book:

Science Fiction (2 of 9) How I Live Now

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Rosoff, M. (2004). How I live now. New York, NY:  Wendy Lamb Books.
ISBN-13:  9780385746779
Format:  Hardcover
Cost:  $16.95

Annotation:  Daisy, a troubled anorexic teenager, is shipped off to England to live with her Aunt Penn and cousins because she doesn't get along with her pregnant stepmother. After she arrives in England, war breaks out, she develops a strange bond with her cousin Edmond, and above all, she discovers how important family really is.

Awards:  2004 Guardian Award
2005 Michael L. Printz Award
2005 Branford Boase Award

Booktalk:  When 15 year old Daisy leaves her comfortable New York City lifestyle to move in with her Aunt Penn and cousins in the countryside of England, her world is turned upside down.

A world war breaks out, Aunt Penn is gone, and Daisy and her cousins are left to fend for themselves. Daisy has a strange mental and physical connection with her cousin Edmond, and when the war finally reaches their idyllic home, they are torn apart and sent on their separate ways. Daisy and Piper, the youngest cousin, struggle to make it back home, and when Daisy can no longer sense Edmond in her mind, she fears the worst has happened. Will they ever find their way back to each other, or is this just How I Live Now?

Available Formats:  Paperback, Library Binding, Kindle, Audio CD, Audible Audio Edition.

Quote:  Taken from page 82:

"I was starting to feel responsible for their safety and happiness and got panicked at the idea of them being captured or corrupted by the outside world."

Multimedia:  Here is a book trailer about the book, How I Live Now:

Extra! Extra!  Did you know that this book is written from the perspective of Daisy, the main character? Since she is a native New Yorker, she uses a lot of colorful cultural language in her narrative. Maybe you can notice this in some of the quotes on the Book Lover's Book Club Tumblr page found here:  http://bookloversbookclub.tumblr.com/post/87662075621/how-i-live-now-quotes.