Catching Fire

Catching Fire
by Suzanne Collins
Young Adult Science Fiction
5/5
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I am currently reading and am about half way through. I read Hunger Games very quickly. In a day and I really missed it so I am savoring this one and I love it! Its more political and behind the scenes then Hunger Games was. Giving more detail of the Districts. .... LOVE it and you must read to find out what happens to Katniss, Peeta and Gale!

LIfe as we knew it

Life as we knew it
by Susan Beth Pfeffer
Young adult Sci-fi
4/5

I am a fan of books related to post apocalyptic story lines. I always have wondered what I would do or if I had the wits about me to stay calm and survive. Most books I have read are a matter of survival after the damage has occurred the struggle to maintain humanity, hope and faith. Life as we knew it is written from the prospective of 16yr old Miranda and her journal entries. When life was normal as it could get for a sixteen year old and her biggest concern was if she was ever going to be able to get a date in her lifetime. But when an asteroid has targeted the moon things begin to change and bigger concerns present themselves. First its just a matter of getting used to the moon being so close to the Earth but life is still manageable and goes on. School is still in session, prom will continue, swim meets and college applications are still apart of everyday living in her small town in Pennsylvania. When the moon starts to have a gravity pull on the ocean, tsunamis begin to destroy the countries coastline. Missing people turn into the dead lists. Volcano's start to erupt and leave a blanket of grey across the land and sky. Fresh foods become extinct and a meal of canned green beans and onions is a luxury. I thought this book was pretty simple to read and fast. I just like the gradual progression of the Earth becoming extinct and how Miranda and her family struggled to survive in a dying world. How little things became most important and simple pleasures became luxuries. But most of all family looking out for each other and trying to maintain a normal life while adjusting to a fading world. There is another book by Susan Pfeffer called The dead and the gone that reads of the same asteroid hitting the moon but in a different part of the world. She is also coming out with a sequel to Life as we knew it.

The Road

The Road
by Cormac McCarthy
young adult Science fiction
5/5


What a great book. I really enjoy books that are sharp with detail but not dragged out because of it. The Road was perfect in that way. The world has been destroyed by fire and ash. The only way for survival is for the man to stay close to his son and travel the road south to stay warm. They rummage through charred homes and farms finding bits of food and sooted water. Danger is all around them. Humanity is gone and people have resorted to being cannibals. "We are the good guys" the boy says. "yes we are" says the man. "okay." "okay." The relationship between the father and son is so Strong. Fetuses and children our a source of food for many. But the father struggles for maintain civility. He does not believe in God. Because if there was a God he would not punish him like this. His faith wasted with the rotting world.

At first I wasn't sure about this book because the entire book was about the man and the boy traveling a road. But it grabbed me. It was so much more. It was about survival. Not just physically staying alive but surviving a damned world with little hope and civility

A Wind in the Door

A wind in the Door

by Madeleine L'Engle

young adult sci-fi

4/5

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I instantly fell in love with A Wrinkle in Time and went directly to my library and checked out all of Madeleine L'Engles books in the series to get my fix of the lovable and timeless characters of Meg and dear sweet Charles Wallace. ...

A Wrinkle in Time

A Wrinkle in Time

by Madelenine L'Engle

John-Newberry Medal

Young Adult Sci-Fi

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I just did not want this book to end. I loved reading A Wrinkle In Time. Madeleine wrote such an imaginative book of time travels and worlds beyond our comprehension. With characters such as Mrs. Whatsit, Mrs. Who, Mrs Which and we can not forget IT and the Black Thing, I just wanted to read more! Meg who was thought to be flawed really was not without intelligence. Her very real human traits of anger and impatience would soon prove to be valuable in other worlds. Megs stunning and intelligent mother, Mrs. Murray. Her friend Calvin and her protective little brother Charlie Wallace are forever written in a timeless story of bravery. I really am no writer and can not explain what long lasting impressions this book has left on me. It is definitely one that I can not wait to read to my young daughter when she is ready. A well deserved and honorable book of imagination and creativity.

The City of Ember

The City of Ember

by Jeanne DuPrau

3*/5

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Hmm.. The world had come to an end. In order to preserve mankind, the Builders built a generator underground and locked the secrets of Ember in a box for 200 years before the box would open. The box was then put in the trust of the city's mayor. Handed down from one mayor to the next until the seventh mayor, the box had become misplaced and eventually forgotten. The City of Ember is an underground world were the inhabitants do not realize they are underground. The city is run by a failing generator keeping light in an otherwise dark world. Lina Mayfleet, the descendant from the seventh mayor and her classmate Doon set out to find the secrets of the box after Lina's sister Poppy had discovered its context. Its a journey to the outer limits of Ember before lights go out forever and a race to save mankind once again. The story for me was uneventful and forgettable. The only thing that stood out for me was Poppy. The cute and adorable toddler who had no lines in the entire book! The book was made into a movie. I did see it. There were a lot of things different from the book like most movies are. The producer was Tom Hanks and the Mayor of the City was Bill Murray. I can see were one of my younger sons may like to read this one because of the ghastly sewer rat. But, I thought it lacked detail. I thought there should have been more.

The Hunger Games

The Hunger Games

by Suzanne Collins

young adult fiction

5*/5

Warning! Highly addictive. On the continent formally known as North America, sixteen year old Katniss Everdeen finds herself as a tribute in the 74th Hunger Games. Established by the Capitol as a reminder to the people of Panem and its surrounding districts of the Apocalypse many years ago. Devastating the lands and leaving districts in poverty. It is a game of survival. As all 24 tributes, two from each district file into the arena, it is either kill or die. The winner and their family to be set for life. But its not that simple. With the Capitol in control of the arena, food and water are scarce, dramatic temperature changes occur, and supplies moderated. The games are not just to serve as a reminder but also a source of entertainment. Katniss finds herself out numbered by the alliances of the careers, making out witting them and the Capitol her only means of survival. But this may cost her dearly. I enjoyed reading this book. My only regret was that I was not able to sit and read it in one day. It took me three days to finish and every time I had to put it down I felt edgy. I did not want the story to end. I am looking forward to Suzanne Collins second book. I recommend you set a day aside for reading and indulge!