The Hunger Games Motion Picture

Title:  The Hunger Games

Publisher:  Lionsgate Films  

Year: 2012

Media: Film     

Rating: PG13

Ages: 10 and up

Genre:  Science Fiction/Fantasy

Subjects/Themes: Government, Death, Survival

Plot Summary from the novel: 16 year-old Katniss Everdeen has been providing for her family since her father died five years ago.  She breaks the laws of the government of Panem everyday by hunting with her bow for fresh meat, and gathering fruits and vegetable in the woods.  When Katniss’ 12-year old sister Prim is chosen for the Hunger Games, a government-sponsored reality television competition where 12 boys and girls compete to the death, Katniss takes her place.  She and Peeta, the kind baker’s son, must travel to the Capitol and compete for their lives against others who are stronger and more cunning.  Can Katniss win the Hunger Games?  What about the others?  She likes, Peeta and even Rue the young competitor who reminds her so much of Prim.  Can she bring herself to fight them for her life?

The Hunger Games film follows the story of Katniss Everdeen as told in the novel.  The film has an omniscient viewpoint and allows for a deeper understanding of the government's role in the games and the oppression of the people of the 12 Districts.  The film deals with death and violence in a responsible manner while staying true to the story.   The film is very good.  Although a stronger film could have been made with an R rating the balance struck by Director Ross conveys the essence of the novel in a format that will please parents, children and adult fans of the novel.  The Hunger Games is a delicately crafted, thought provoking film. 

The Edge of the Sword by Rebecca Tingle

The Edge of the Sword

Author:  Rebecca Tingle

Publisher:  Scholastic

Year:  2001

ISBN:  0-439-41796-1

Genre: Fiction

This book is for Ages: 12 up

AR Points:      11.0

Subjects/Themes: Family Life, Marriage

Plot Summary:  Flaed is the 15-year-old daughter of the King.  She will be soon married to Alderman Ethelred.  She will leave the safety of her home and family to start a new life, but Flaed wants her freedom.  She wants to leave the watchful eyes of Red, the guard Ethelred has sent to keep her safe until the wedding.  Flaed plans and manages her escape right into the hands of kidnappers.  What will she do now?

Review:  Rebecca Tingle writes a historical novel based on real life strong female main character.  Unfortunately the relationships in just story just didn’t draw me in the way they should have.  While it is a good book it is not fantastic as I would have hoped.  If you like history and love to read, pick it up.  This book is not for reluctant readers.

The Manny Files by Christian Burch

The Manny Files  

Author:  Christian Burch

Publisher:  Antheneum Books for Young Readers    

Year:  2006

ISBN:  978-1-4169-0039-9

Genre: Fiction/Realistic       

This book is for Ages: 8 and up

Awards: Josette Frank Children’s Book Award

AR Points:      9.0

Subjects/Themes: Self Confidence; Family Life;  Bullies, Humor

Plot Summary:  Keats is 8-years-old and has always had a nanny take care of him and his sisters.  One day his mom introduces him to Manny the family’s new male nanny.   Manny does things differently.  He sings songs by Alice Cooper, hangs piñatas over their beds and makes breakfast like Pablo Pancake-asso.  Keats thinks Manny is the greatest.   Lulu, Keats’ older sister, doesn’t like Manny, she records everything he does in “The Manny Files” a notebook she could use to get Manny fired just like she did to the other nanny.  What can Keats do to convince his parents to keep Manny.

Review:   This is a witty book filled with pop culture references.  While it is marketed to kids, older teens and even adults will enjoy the humor and love shared by the Keats’s and his family.  The Manny Files is about growing up and growing older.  This book has wonderful and wacky characters for everyone to enjoy.

If you like this book you may also like:  Hit the Road Manny also by Christian Burch.

The Last Apprentice: Revenge of the Witch by Joseph Delaney

The Last Apprentice: Revenge of the Witch 

Author:  Joseph Delaney

Publisher:  Greenwillow Books          

Year:  2006

ISBN:  978-0-06-076620-4

Genre: Fiction/Fantasy

Awards: ALA Best Book for Young Adults; Horn Book Fanfare; Booklist Editors' Choice;

AR Points: 9.0

This book is for Ages: 8 and up

Subjects/Themes: Witches, Ghosts, Supernatural

The Last Apprentice Revenge of the Witch tells the story of 13-year-old Tom the seventh son of a seventh son who is apprenticed to Old Gregory a Spook who has been protecting farms for 60 years.  His new job will be to deal with “ghouls, boggarts and all manner of wicked beasties.”   All of Old Gregory’s other apprentices have failed or worse, died.  Can Tom do what needs to be done?  Is he strong enough to fight even the darkest evil?

Joseph Delany provides a spine tingling and chilling read -- a great book to read around Halloween when you are looking for a reason to keep the lights on.  Patrick Arrasmith’s illustrations are a true enhancement to the book dark and scary with strong lines and dripping blood.  The witches are particularly horrible, the kind that like to eat little children and harvest bones for magic.  I am not a fan of spooky or scary stories.  This one tops the list of books for the very brave.  

If you like this book you may also like more books in The Last Apprentice series also by Joseph Delany.

Everyting On A Waffle by Polly Horvath

Title:   Everything on a Waffle

Author:  Polly Horvath

Publisher: Scholastic Year: 2001

ISBN:  0439-44309-4

Genre: Fiction Realistic

This book is for Ages: 9-12

Awards: Newbery Honor Book

AR Points:      5.0

Subjects/Themes: Family Life/ Hope/Death/ Courage/Food/Foster Care

Plot Summary:  11-year-old Primrose lives on an island in British Columbia.  When a terrible storm strikes her mother goes searching for her father who is out on his fishing boat.  Both parents disappear and are presumed dead.  But Primrose refuses to believe that her parents are not coming back.  Primrose is sent to live with the neighbor who is around 104, until her uncle comes to take care of her.  Can Primrose and Uncle Jack stick together in the hope that her parents will return,  Even when no one else believes?

Review: Polly Horvath creates a great character with Primrose.  Despite her troubles Primrose keeps you laughing.  Her descriptions are unique.  “Uncle Jack looked like a pig, albeit a lean good-looking pig.  Miss Honeycut looked like a turtle.  It was hard to imagine a pig and a turtle together but it gave me something to do the rest of the meeting.”  Horvath includes recipes in the book including one for Carrots in Apricot Glaze which are the exact color of Primrose’s hair.

If you like this book you may also like:  Trolls, by Polly Horvath

Th1rteen R3asons Why by Jay Asher

Title:   Th1rteen R3asons Why

Author:  Jay Asher

Publisher:  Razor Bill            Year:  2007

ISBN:  978-1-59514-171-2

Genre: Fiction

This book is for Ages: 13 up

Awards: YALSA Best Books for Yong Adults; Kirkus Editor’s Choice;

AR Points:      9.0

Subjects/Themes: Friendship/High School/Suicide

Plot Summary:  Clay Jensen receives a box with seven audio tapes in it.  When he listens to the first tape he hears the voice of his most recent crush, Hannah Baker.    Hannah killed herself only two weeks ago.  The tapes list the 13 reasons why she chose to take her life and are being sent to the 13 people who were part of the reason why.  If Clay or any of the others don’t listen to all of the tapes and pass them on to the next person, then someone else will release the tapes for everyone to hear.  Clay visits all the places in his town as he listens to Hannah tell her story.

Review:   I sat down and read this book straight through.  It is a thought provoking novel simultaneously told from two points of view, an interesting concept.  The story is compelling.  Of course you want to know why a young high school girl would take her life.  As an adult, I can look back and see many things that I went through in Hannah’s life.  Bad things happen and sometimes people welcome those bad things into their lives.   They purposely place themselves in situations that they know are dangerous and wrong.   No one knows why.  Asher creates good, bad and human characters.  He captures them where teens live in between adolescence and adulthood.  Teens and young adults have the ability to know right from wrong and sometimes lack the courage to stand up and do what is right or see dreadful consequences looming ahead.   Fortunately being a teenager is not terminal and high school does not last forever.   If you or someone you know is depressed or contemplating suicide please tell someone.  If that person doesn’t listen, tell someone else.  Keep telling people until someone listens and helps. You can find help from www.hopeline.com and 1-800 –SUICIDE.  These were some resources listed in the back of the book.  

If you like this book you may also like:  Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger.

The Secret World of Arrietty

Image courtesy of Secret World of Arrietty can be found here

Title:   The Secret World of Arrietty

Publisher:  Studio Ghibli (Disney U.S. Release)       Year: 2012

Media: Film    Rating: G

Ages: 6-12

Genre:  Fantasy

Subjects/Themes:  Self Reliance, Growing Up, Hope

Plot Summary:  Arrietty is a 14-year-old miniature girl whose family lives under the floorboards.  Secretly they borrow things small things that won’t be missed from the homeowner and her maid.    If a borrower is ever seen by a human, they have to move away.  Arrietty’s family hasn’t seen any other borrowers in a long time.  She wonders if maybe her family is the last of her kind.   One day when out in the garden, Arrietty is spotted by a young boy named Shawn.  Arrietty knows humans are dangerous, but she is intrigued by this new boy.  Shawn understands what it is like to be scared and alone.  Will getting to know Shawn be dangerous for Arrietty’s family?  

Review: Japanese Studio Ghibli presents a beautiful oasis in children’s animation a respite from the over hyped, over done films that Hollywood has churned out over the past few years.  Like the other films of Studio co-founder Hayao Miyazaki, The Secret World of Arrietty has thoughtful messages about loneliness, trust, perseverance and hope and for our young people.  All this is wrapped in a Japanese garden, where a strong and capable young miniature girl escapes with her life from predators like cats and birds.  Despite her diminutive size Arrietty has the courage to look fearlessly at her future and inspires Shawn to do the same.  This film has beautiful animation.   It is based on the Borrowers a series of novels by Mary Norton.

If you like this book you may also like:  Kiki’s Delivery Service and Spirited Away, also by Studio Ghibli.  The Borrowers by Mary Norton.

The Hunger Games By Suzanne Collins

Title:   The Hunger Games

Author:  Suzanne Collins

Publisher:  Scholastic            Year: 2009 c2008

ISBN:  978-0-439-02352-8

Genre: Fiction/Adventure/Science Fiction

This book is for Ages: 12 up

Awards: Publisher’s Weekly Best Books, Kirkis Editor’s Choice, SLJ Best Book, California Young Reader Medal

AR Points:     15.0

 Subjects/Themes: Survival, Poverty, Trust, Government Control Dystopia

Plot Summary:  16 year-old Katniss Everdeen has been providing for her family since her father died five years ago.  She breaks the laws of the government of Panem everyday by hunting with her bow for fresh meat, and gathering fruits and vegetable in the woods.  When Katniss’ 12-year old sister Prim is chosen for the Hunger Games, a government-sponsored reality television competition where 12 boys and girls compete to the death, Katniss takes her place.   She and Peeta, the kind baker’s son, must travel to the Capitol and compete for their lives against others who are stronger and more cunning.  Can Katniss win the hunger games?  What about the others?  She likes, Peeta and even Rue the young competitor who reminds her so much of Prim.  Can she bring herself to fight them for her life?

Review:   Compelling novel with an action driven storyline.  The novel examines ideas of survival, government control, trust and even the reality of reality television.  Collins character is a very strong, very tough, young girl who will do whatever she must to survive.  I did not put this book down from the first page. Best for young adult audiences.

If you like this book you may also like:  City of Ember

When you Reach Me by Rebecca Stead

Title:   When You Reach Me

Author:  Rebecca Stead

Reader: Cynthia Holloway

Publisher: Listening Library  Year:  2009

ISBN:  978-0739380727

Media: Digital Download

Genre: Fiction/Science Fiction/Realistic Fiction

This book is for Ages: 10 – adult

Awards: Newbery Medal; SLJ Best Book, YALSA Top Ten

AR Points:     6.0

Subjects/Themes: Time Travel, Family Life, Friendship, Bullies.

Plot Summary:  6^th graders, Miranda and Sal have been best friends for a long time.  One day on the way home from school, Sal gets punched by a strange boy in a camouflage coat.  Sal doesn’t want to hang out with Miranda anymore. Miranda’s life is made even stranger when the spare key to her apartment is stolen, and she starts finding mysterious notes around her apartment, notes about someone coming to save her friend’s life.  Miranda is scared.  Which friend’s life need saving?  Who has been in her apartment?  How does the mysterious note writer know so much about her life?

Review:  Depicting the quiet growth of Miranda, this book is strongly related to Madeline L’Engle’s Wrinkle in Time.  Stead’s characters will remind you of friends from school.  The story is well paced and builds to reveal the mystery.  The real story is about the possibilities and travel we can take as we journey through life.  Stead has created a book with depth and heart that is worth reading more than once. 

If you like this book you may also like:  A Wrinkle in Time by Madeline L’Engle.

The Higher Power of Lucky, by Susan Patron

Title:   The Higher Power of Lucky

Author:  Susan Patron

Reader:  Cassandra Campbell

Publisher:  Listening Library (Audio unabridged)  Year: 2007

ISBN:  978-0739338797

Media:  Digital Download

Genre: Fiction/Realistic

This book is for Ages: 8-12

Awards:  ALA Notable, Newbery Medal

AR Points: 5.0          

Subjects/Themes: Family Life, Adoption, Death, Hope, Addiction

Plot Summary:  10-year-old Lucky lives in Hard Pan California where the population is 43.  Two years ago, Lucky’s mother died in an accident.  Since then Lucky has learned to carry a survival kit. Brigitte her father’s first wife is Lucky’s guardian.  Bridgitte is homesick for Paris.   Lucky listens in to the Anonymous meetings at the center where she works.  She understands the need for a higher power but just can’t seem to find hers.   Lucky learns secrets about her friends and neighbors, secrets that can hurt people if she tells.  Sometimes Lucky’s meanness gland goes into overdrive.   Lucky is too wrapped up in her own pain to recognize the hurt in others and leads her to rock bottom.

Review:  This is a good book.  It deals with adult issues that many children have to face: the death of a parent, abandonment by a parent, feelings of isolation, and the need to find a reason for hardships of life.  Susan Patron’s characters are well developed.  Miles is a foil for Lucky, a version of her that is slowly being left behind.  He goes through the same changes she does.  Lucky searches for meaning, prayer, and tries to evaluate herself and her morals.  This is a good story.  I am not sure the major themes can be appreciated by all of  the audience for which it was written.

If you like this book you may also like: Lucky Breaks and Lucky for Good also by Susan Patron.

Operation Yes by Sarah Lewis Homes

Title:  Operation YES

Author:  Sarah Lewis Holmes

Publisher: Brilliance Audio   Year:  2011

Read by:  Jessica Almasy

Media: CD Unabridged Playing Time: 6 hours

ISBN:  978-1-61106-079-9

Genre: Fiction/Realistic

This book is for Ages: 8 - 14

Awards:  Audie Award for Best Audio Recording for Ages 8-12 (2010)

AR Points: 7.0

Subjects/Themes: Teachers/Students/Military Families/War/Hope

Plot Summary:  Bo is sure his 6^th grade year is going to be different.  He has a new teacher, Miss Loupe, who has a tattoo and an ugly green couch.  His cousin, Gari, is coming to live with his family at the air force base.  Her mom an army nurse has been deployed.  Gari is in the sixth grade too.  Bo and Gari share a year learning to say “Yes, and  . . .” as Miss Loupe shares her ideas theater and improvisation with the 6^th graders.  When tragedy strikes, Bo, Gari and the students of Mrs. Loupe’s sixth grade class try to restore hope to Miss Loupe, the school and soldiers.

Review:   Holmes reveals the interesting life of military children.  Bo is a typical 6^th-grade-boy.  He is a little rowdy.  He likes airplanes and cars.  He struggles with the responsibility of being the base commander’s son.  His cousin Gari worries about her mom being deployed to Iraq.  The story deals with the special challenges faced by children of American soldiers.  Holmes book is happy, sad, strong and hopeful.  This book is a must read.

If you like this book you may also like:  Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, The Military Alphabet By Chris Demarest.

Old Yeller by Fred Gipson

Title:   Old Yeller

Author:  Fred Gipson

Publisher: Scholastic Year:  c1956

ISBN:  0-38-439-15963-6

Genre: Fiction/Historical

This book is for Ages: 8-14

Awards: Newbery Honor Book        

 Subjects/Themes: Frontier-life/Dogs

Plot Summary:   14-year-old Travis is in charge of taking care of his family farm while Papa is on a 600-mile cattle drive to Abilene.  The day after Papa leaves a “big yeller dog” shows up at the family farm. The dog had eaten the last of the family’s meat.  Travis cannot stand the dog, but when Travis’ five-year-old brother Little Arliss meets old yeller they have an instant bond.  Travis must put up with Arliss and old yeller into mischief and making his work around the farm harder.  Travis soon learns that Old Yeller is a good hunting dog.  When Old Yeller saves Arliss from an angry mama bear Travis realizes Old Yeller will do anything to protect the family.

Review:  Old Yeller is a good story with lots of action.   Gipson describes the busy life on the farm in the Texas frontier including, hunting and chores in a captivating book you won’t want to put down.  Travis is a strong character who takes his role as provider seriously.  Old Yeller is a lovable rascal and an excellent story for dog lovers everywhere.

If you like this book you may also like:  Where the Red Fern Grows, Wilson Rawls; Old Yeller (VHS or DVD) Disney; Hatchet, Gary Paulsen