The Disappearance of Ember Crow (The Tribe book 2) by AmbelinKywamullina

Rating 5 out of 5
Age Range: 12 and up
Hardcover: 384 pages
Publisher: Candlewick (April 8, 2014)
Series: Yes, book 2
Language: English
ISBN-10: 140635340X
ISBN-13: 978-1406353402

"However this ends, you're probably going to find out some things about me, and they're not nice things. But, Ash, even after you know, do you think you could remember the good? And whatever you end up discovering - try to think of me kindly. If you can." Ember Crow is missing. To find her friend, Ashala Wolf must control her increasingly erratic and dangerous Sleepwalking ability and leave the Firstwood. But Ashala doesn't realise that Ember is harbouring terrible secrets and is trying to shield the Tribe and all Illegals from a devastating new threat - her own past"

It's not often I say this but I think I enjoyed this more then book 1 (The Interrogation of Ashala Wolf). This book continues from where book 1 left off, only Ashala's number 2 is missing. Now as this continues the story and a lot of story development is revealed I am struggling to review this book without revealing some big spoilers. But I am confident I did it without wrecking the book.

How much did I like this book? well I managed to read this book pretty much in 24 hours, which these days, between kids and work and other stuff, is a good time for me. I mean we don't need dishes to eat from right? I even stayed up way past my bed time, and I am an early to bed kinda girl.

But this story sucked me in and just as my body was giving up on me and I thought "one last paragraph then I will go to sleep" and bam a big reveal and yup I kept on reading. How do you put it down after a reveal like that? I had-to-know-what-happened-next. 

The story development here was neatly balanced with action and adventure. It was fast paced but managed to reveal a lot of information without feeling like you had been studying for you science exam. I found Ember simply fascinating and I hope we learn more about her in the future.

This book again tackles the issues of equality, diversity, and acceptance and it shows how awful humanity can be when they fear something they don't understand. But also how good humanity can be when they embrace and accept an idea or culture.

I don't think I can recommend this series enough. If you like dystopia then I strongly urge you to read this series.

The Interrogation of Ashala Wolf by Ambelin Kwaymullina

Rating 4 out of 5

Age Range: 12 and up 

Hardcover: 384 pages
Publisher: Candlewick (April 8, 2014)
Series: Yes, book 1
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0763669881
ISBN-13: 978-0763669881
Awards: Aurealis Award Nominee for Science Fiction & Young Adult Novel (2012)

“There will come a day when a thousand Illegals descend on your detention centers. Boomers will breach the walls. Skychangers will send lightning to strike you all down from above, and Rumblers will open the earth to swallow you up from below. . . . And when that day comes, Justin Connor, think of me.”

Ashala Wolf has been captured by Chief Administrator Neville Rose, a man who is intent on destroying Ashala’s Tribe — the runaway Illegals hiding in the Firstwood. Injured, vulnerable, with her Sleepwalker ability blocked, Ashala is forced to succumb to the machine that will pull secrets from her mind. And right beside her is Justin Connor, her betrayer, watching her every move. Will the Tribe survive the interrogation of Ashala Wolf?"

I had this book on my radar ever since I read the review by "The Adventures of an Intrepid Reader". back in 2012 I was intrigued by the concept. Yet for some reason it sat on my TBR pile for some time. I have no idea why. But recently I thought "why not".

All I can say is I am glad I read it, and cranky at myself for it taking so long to get to it.

The Author did a wonderful job of merging sci-fi and religion/mythology. I liked the references to the Indigenous Australian's dreamtime mythology (at least I hope that's what it was and not just me assuming stuff that isnt there).

It was fast paced and exciting, filled with action and adventure. I liked the way the author revealed the information even though I must confess to being a bit tired by the 4th memory flash back.

Neville Rose is a pretty nasty piece of work. He makes a fantastic villain. All the characters are really interesting and I wish we got to learn about them more.

It is hard to review this book without revealing to much. The story was intricate and fascinating. So I will just say I did really enjoy the story and didn't want to stop reading. I am kind of glad I did wait as book 2 is out this year so I don't have a long wait to see what happens next.

On an interesting note the author's story is just as interesting as the main character she has created. Kwaymullina is an Indigenous Australian from the Palyku people of the Pilbara region of Western Australia. When not writing or reading she teaches law, illustrates picture books, and hangs out with her dogs.

I would recommend this read to anyone who likes the dystopia genre.

Breathe by Sarah Crossan

Rating 3 out of 5

Reading Level:

Young Adult

Publisher:

Greenwillow Books

Release date:

October 2, 2012

Shipping Weight:

1 pounds

ISBN-10:

0062118692

This story is not overly original in the now crowded dystopian young adult arena. The story revolves around a group of teens living in a domed city once the world's trees appear to have died off. The domed cities are the only source of oxygen and of course are tightly controlled by a corrupt Government.

I did find myself noticing some plot holes that maybe will be explained in the next book.

• How many domed cities are there? are all of them killing off all the trees in the whole world for so long? So does that mean the world is one controlling government or are they seperate domed countries?
• Vegetation is clearly regrowing outisde and the domed people wouldnt be able to reach every where. So surely in the time it took the Revolutionaries to grow their trees other vegetation would have grown elsewhere?
• Where are the animals? how is vegetation growing with out bees and birds and such to help pollinate and spread seeds etc?
• Do the military live outside of the dome as no one inside the dome seems to know (except the powers that be) that a military even exists.
• The Tanks, how are they driving them? and the planes? As far as the book implies there is no petrol/diesel and no industry outside if the dome?
• This society is a revolution waiting to happen.

Don't get me wrong it is an interesting book with lots of potential as a series but it was not a stand out dystopian genre book for me.

The Death Cure (Maze Runner #3) by James Dashner

Rating: 4 out of 5
Title: The Death Cure
Author: James Dashner
Series: Trilogy - Book 3
Reading level: Ages 12 and up
Hardcover: 336 pages
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0385738773
ISBN-13: 978-0385738774

Synopsis
Thomas knows that WICKED can't be trusted, but they say the time for lies is over, that they've collected all they can from the Trials and now must rely on the Gladers, with full memories restored, to help them with their ultimate mission. To complete the blueprint for the cure to the Flare. What Wicked doesn't know is that something has happened that no Trial or Variable could have foreseen. Thomas has remembered far more than they think. And he knows that he can't believe a word of what WICKED says. The time for lies is over. But the truth is more dangerous than Thomas could ever imagine.


Lets start with the end. There is a positive ending which is nice after the carnage of the three books. I wont say anymore then that.

Now the carnage, wow Dashner just went a little nuts here. The carnage is on par with almost any end of the world movie, if you have that mental picture then you have a pretty good idea of the massive scale of death and destruction in this book. Also warning not all of our heroes make it. Not sure if I was happy with their demise but it made for some interesting reading.

This book reveals more of the world outside of The Scorch and the society that is left behind. As well as about Cranks and the disease The Flare.

The reader gets some answers and it wraps up some story threads. I would like to have known why WICKED originally decided to take the path it did with research. It seems odd that a persons brain patterns maybe the reason why they are not susceptible to a viral illness? I believe there is a prequel floating around and maybe my questions about WICKED are answered there.

Is Brenda who I think she is? OMG I am positive I know who she is and her secret. It's killing me I can't say anything or I might ruin the book. But if she is who I think she is, then well played Mr Dashner, well played.

Potential spoiler alert (while this isn't a big spoiler there is a little spoiler) For me some more questions were raised. I wonder if there will be more written about it. For instance what/how/why did the cranks, who allegedly turned into mindless zombies, organise a revolt? and target a city?

The trilogy as a whole was a good one. There is quite a bit of violence which maybe off-putting to some. But for the target audience (teenage boys) I think this would be a big win.

For Darkness Shows The Stars by Diana Peterfreund

Rating: 3 out of 5
Title: For Darkness Shows The Stars
Author: Diana Peterfreund
Reading level: Ages 13 and up
Hardcover: 416 pages Publisher: Balzer + Bray (June 12, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0062006142
ISBN-13: 978-0062006141

Synopsis 
It's been several generations since a genetic experiment gone wrong caused the Reduction, decimating humanity and giving rise to a Luddite nobility who outlawed most technology. Elliot North has always known her place in this world. Four years ago Elliot refused to run away with her childhood sweetheart, the servant Kai, choosing duty to her family's estate over love. Since then the world has changed: a new class of Post-Reductionists is jumpstarting the wheel of progress, and Elliot's estate is foundering, forcing her to rent land to the mysterious Cloud Fleet, a group of shipbuilders that includes renowned explorer Captain Malakai Wentforth—an almost unrecognizable Kai. And while Elliot wonders if this could be their second chance, Kai seems determined to show Elliot exactly what she gave up when she let him go. But Elliot soon discovers her old friend carries a secret—one that could change their society . . . or bring it to its knees. And again, she's faced with a choice: cling to what she's been raised to believe, or cast her lot with the only boy she's ever loved, even if she's lost him forever. Inspired by Jane Austen's persuasion, For Darkness Shows the Stars is a breathtaking romance about opening your mind to the future and your heart to the one person you know can break it. why i started reading this book and initial impressions

First Line
Elliot North raced across the pasture, leaving a scar of green in the silver, dew-encrusted grass.

My thoughts
For Darkness Shows The Stars is a Jane Austen Persuasian re-telling. Which possibly was not good for me as I have never read any Jane Austen books*gasp* I know but it's true. So I wonder if maybe I missed some references that would be obvious to a Jane Austen fan (other then the direct quotes at the start of the chapters)? I never felt though that was a hindrance.

I have never read a Jane Austen re-telling so did not know what to expect. If I hadn't been told I wouldn't have known it was based on Persuasion. I did a brief wikipedia search (which we all know is the most reliable source for research. Someone even did a whole book whose based on research from there. No I am not kidding ask Truth, Beauty and Books she reviewed said book. Opps sorry that was way off topic there), and at a glance I can see the similarities (the heroine is Anne Elliot for instance, with a vain father and older sister, there is a navy involved too and a lost love).

I did enjoyed the story. It was a little slow for me to start with, as the reader get's lumped with a lot of information to start with. Also the letters at the start of each chapter were not in chronological order and didn't seem to highlight or give insight into anything going on in that chapter. But eventually it built up some momentum. It was a light and quick read as I was able to knock it over in twenty four hours.

What I didn't like was the character Kai. He annoyed me. But to be fair I don't really go in for the male lead who treats the female lead as rubbish and still have her fall at his feet. Elliot does have a little back bone though and isn't quite that bad (as in "oh he insulted me *swoon*), even remarking at one stage she was an idiot to have waited/loved him so long for him to treat her like dirt. She also isn't like other female leads I have read of late in Dystopian novels, she (unlike the others) has not just blindly accepted the life and society she has been born into. I found Elliot to be quite a strong character actually.

There is a prequel called Among the Nameless Stars (link takes you to the PDF ebook) by Diana Peterfreund which tells the story of Kai after he left. I haven't read it yet and it is free to download. But Irishyz from A Ticket To Anywhere has and said while you don't have to read it first it does help the reader understand Kai better.

Something about this book didn't click with me. I didn't want to sit there till all hours reading. I could put it down, walk away, and do something for a few hours before I ambled back and read some more.

I did like the world the author has created and that she tied in a bit of interesting history. There is a pretty ridgid class system in place in this world and the ruling class are Luddites who hate technology and hate genetic manipulation. Actual Laddites existed in England during the 1800's and specifically when the Industrial Revolution happened. Which was a nice touch. 

On a superficial note I rather like the cover and like the meaning behind it. I wont give it away but the stars have an interesting meaning in the book.

My final thoughts are; I think if you are an (a) Jane Austen fan (b) a fan of Dystopian Romance (is that even a genre? I am sure it probably is, if not I just made it up) then this book is probably right up your ally.

Would I recommend this to any one else?
Even though this is a fairly negative post I must point out this is not really my thing and despite that I liked it enough to say I really would recomemend it to others.

Extras - Other Reviews
A Ticket To Anywhere - 5 out of 5 stars
It's All About Books - 5 out of 5

The Maze Runner (Book 1 Maze Runner Trilogy) by James Dashner

Rating 5 out of 5
Reading level: Ages 12 and up
Paperback: 400 pages
Publisher: Delacorte Press; Reprint edition (August 24, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0385737955
ISBN-13: 978-0385737951

When Thomas wakes up in the lift, the only thing he can remember is his first name. His memory is blank. But he’s not alone. When the lift’s doors open, Thomas finds himself surrounded by kids who welcome him to the Glade—a large, open expanse surrounded by stone walls. Just like Thomas, the Gladers don’t know why or how they got to the Glade. All they know is that every morning the stone doors to the maze that surrounds them have opened. Every night they’ve closed tight. And every 30 days a new boy has been delivered in the lift. Thomas was expected. But the next day, a girl is sent up—the first girl to ever arrive in the Glade. And more surprising yet is the message she delivers. Thomas might be more important than he could ever guess. If only he could unlock the dark secrets buried within his mind

Let me just say straight up wow just WOW! This book had me hooked form the start. I devoured this book in a weekend as I just needed to know what the heck was going to happen next! This is certainly one of my best reads for this year.

An interesting concept which was in my mind well executed. As a reader you only know what Thomas and the gladers know, which isn't much. While the reader is given very tiny snippets of information about the world outside of the maze, it isn't much. The gladers world is the Maze and the Glade so the information we are given concerns life and trials in the maze. I enjoyed the invented language the gladers had, and while there is a little adjustment (learning the meanings etc) it wasn't hard to get the gist.

The characters were good (if a little stereotypical). Gally is the most interesting as he is pretty much nuts and you can't help but feel sorry for him. Minho and Newt would have to be my favourite characters, they have a sense of humour despite their situation and uncanny knack for reading people. Thomas was a smidgeon annoying at times because he came across as a little bit of a know-it-all, but I could forgive the behaviour as he was the new kid and trying to work out the riddle of the maze. But then again if I woke up with out any memories, in some random glade, surrounded by a maze, that moves and has creepy creatures in it....I might be a bit of whingey whiney cranky pants too. Oh heck I would be a sobbing blubbery curled up ball in a corner.

I was a little perplexed as to why more of an incentive to get out hadn't been presented earlier, as in before Thomas rocked up. I don't recall if it was explained why the first group into the maze decided to actually investigate it and not just stay safe in the glad (as it had food and shelter and lovely year round weather). I suspect if a note had been left telling the kiddies "there is an x-box, pizza, cake and coke for you if you get the heck out" or some sort of similar motivator, they would have been out waaaayyyy sooner. But then it would have been a very short book.

The target audience for this book are teen boys. So when you read and review the book in that context it is a great book. Lets face it teen boys really want a few things from a book action, things that go boom, fight scenes, maybe some sort of tech/mechanical thing to drive, oh and some more action. If your looking for a soppy romance or love triangle then this is not the book for you.

I have seen some reviewers complain about the suspense (at the expense of the narrative) and convenient plot fillers, and lack of information. But I must have read a different book because I didn't notice any of these I just sat down and held on till the reading roller coaster was over and I loved every minute of it. The lack of info argument to me is daft because the characters didn't know so how could the reader know what was going on?

Overall I would recommend this book for anyone who enjoys the apocalyptic genre. This is a clever story and different from a lot of the stuff out on the market at the moment. It is a fun and thrilling read that should leave you scrambling for book 2 at the end.

Extras
I found this interview of James Dashner and he talks about The Maze Runner.

The Dark and Hollow Places (Book 3) by Carrie Ryan

Rating 3.5 out of 5
Reading level: Ages 14 and up
Hardcover: 384 pages
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers (March 22, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0385738595
ISBN-13: 978-0385738590

 Annah has been living and surviving on her own sing Elias left her three years ago. When she finally decides to do something and move on with her life she meets Catcher, her sisters traveling companion and former boyfriend, and discovers her long lost twin sister is alive and well but now in the Recruiters hands.

The third book in the series seems to be the darkest and bleakest of all. While Annah herself and her story is pretty bleak set in the ruins of the city (that was supposed to be safe), the Zombie horde hitting the city, the cruelty of the Recruiters, death being at every turn and a certain last stand feel to the story.

The previous two books always had hope attached to it. For Mary there was the place the girl from the woods had come from, for Gabry there was the City. The girls all had somewhere else to go, somewhere safer. In this book there is no where to go. As I said previously this book is really dark with no hope to balance the horror the character witness and participate in.

I really can not decide if I liked this book or not. I found the book to be a a bit too dark and depressing  for my liking, plus there were somethings (mostly story threads) about the book and series as a whole, that irked me. Having said that I kept turning the pages wanting to know what happened next, if the group would survive, and  what would be the fate of the city.

I didn't really like Annah. There I said it. She just didn't gel well with me. Her personality for me didn't fit someone who had been surviving in extreme conditions for a few years on her own. She just seemed so wimpy, defenceless and clueless. For someone who had led her life I would expect her to be really tough physically or mentally (possibly both), or a hermit who never went out side. Instead she was this wishy washy character who was annoying in most instances. The only time I felt I saw the person I felt she should have been was towards the end after her night in the snow storm which is about half way through the book.

It really bugged me again that we have no idea of what caused the zombie invasion or even why there was a rebellion. This time the characters were in a place where they could get answers yet seemed unwilling to dig deeper and ask why. Which to me would have been important to figuring out how to survive. Also why would know one want to do tests on Catcher's blood? or what research was done in the past? The science nerd in me was very frustrated with this lack of wanting to know more. But maybe this was just me?

I liked Gabry a lot better in this book, as a lead character (and whose point of view the story was told from in book two), she didn't impress me much. But in this book I liked her a lot more. She was more well rounded as a character and less annoying.  Elias on the other hand was a bit of arrogant bastard in this book, but I was not turned off his character. I think the revelations about these two characters this book made them far more relatable.

The ending I thought was great for the series as a whole. It was a little on the Walt Disney happy ending side of happy endings but nonetheless I still thought it was a lovely way to finish the series and this book in particular that had been so dark and then right at the end was a small glimmer or more accurately the possibility of hope.

By the end of the book I was happier with the story and the trilogy as a whole. The third book did round the trilogy of quite nicely (despite all my criticisms!), and even though there were elements that bugged me I was still drawn into this world and enjoyed reading about it.

If you have read books one and two you can not decide to stop at book two.

The Dead - Tossed Waves (Book 2) by Carrie Ryan

Rating: 3.5 out of 5
Hardcover: 416 pages
Publisher: Gollancz (8 April 2010)
ISBN-10: 0575090898
ISBN-13: 978-0575090897

First Sentence: "The story goes that even after the Return they tried to keep the roller coasters going."

Gabry lives a quiet and safe life behind the barrier. But her world is about to shattered when one night of fun turns into a disaster. Now Gabry has to decide to live her quiet but safe life at the light house, or take a chance and leave everything she knows behind. Can she save her friends? what secrets is her mother keeping? and who is Elias?

This is the sequel to The Forest of Hands and Teeth. The story picks up roughly 20 years after the events in Forest of Hands and Teeth. Mary is the lighthouse keeper responsible for killing the unconsecrated (or Mudo as they are known in this town), and she lives with her 16 year old daughter Gabry. The story is told from Gabry's point of view.

The reader gets to learn so much more about the world Mary inhabited. Vista is similar to the village Mary fled from. It is controlled by the Protectorate a government that rules, from what I can tell, the remaining surviving cities. Young men are volunteered or dragooned as punishment into the military known as the Recruiters. Everyone else is encased behind solid walls and are forced to follow strict rules. I feel we also get a sense of the bigger picture here, of what has been happening in the forest and beyond.

There was not as much action in this book compared to the first book. Towards the end there was a lot of action, but I felt up to about halfway through the book, the pacing was fairly slow. The death toll of the main characters is pretty low too compared to the first book.

Gabry is a little bit of a strange character. I found on one hand she annoyed me, but on the other hand I liked her and felt sorry for her. Somehow she has grown up completely afraid of her world and even who she is. So she really struggles with the turn of events, and beats herself up over it. I enjoyed Elias as a character he has the whole mysterious stranger with a dark past thing happening.

POTENTIAL SPOILER ALERT - I was a little confused about Mary's story though. She apparently returned to the forest for a year or so, and its indicated she knows how to return to her home village. Yet she apparently has never returned even though it says in this book she spent some time in the forest previously (after fleeing originally). I am a little baffled as to what she was doing in the forest for that time?

DISCUSSION POINT - Another thing I don't really get plot wise is the zombies themselves. While Ryan does a decent job explaining why there is still so many around. It still doesn't ring true for me. I am positive in the first book Ryan said that the zombies sort of disintegrated the older they were. To me this would mean eventually the zombies would just decompose eventually. So why are there still so many around? I dunno maybe I misread, or I am misremembering that passage. Oh also I don't understand why the infection stopped the remainder of humanity using things like planes, cars or other technology? Wouldn't we have made power stations, airports etc safe to use? Also food, how are the remaining people living because farms don't seem to exist? Any thoughts would be appreciated.

This book sets up for another book as it ends with a bit of a cliff hanger then an epilogue. Looking on Carrie Ryan's website a new book The Dark and Hollow Places is due out March 2011. I will be interested to see where Ryan takes the story. If you have read the first book and liked it, then this is a must read to learn more about the world.

The Forest of Hands and Teeth (Book 1) by Carrie Ryan

Rating: 4 out of 5Paperback: 336 pages
Publisher: Gollancz
ISBN-10: 0575090863
ISBN-13: 978-0575090866

First Sentence: "My mother used to tell me about the ocean. She said there was a place where there was nothing but water as far as you could see and that it was always moving, rushing toward you and then away."

Mary is like any normal teenager. She hangs out with her friends, she has a crush on a boy, and she never goes beyond the fence. Mary lives in a village in the Forest of Hands and Teeth where the unconsecrated live. The world as we know it is gone, an infection that turned humans into Zombies ravaged the planet leaving only Mary's village as the sole survivors. The village is controlled by the Sisterhood, who govern and protect the inhabitants. But Mary is curious and in the Sisterhoods eyes dangerous. Eventually Mary must decide between her village or her dreams, and keep her friends safe at the same time.

A fascinating debut novel. Even though the story is set in a world full of zombies, its not really about zombies at all. The story is character driven and is about Mary figuring out the world around her and her place in it. Mary is a great character, not a typical YA novel protagonist. She is a little selfish, and shallow, but at the same time brave and loyal. She is a likable character though, and realistic.

I was a little disappointed while reading the book, about the lack of elaboration on what happened with the world. At the time I read this book (middle 2009) I didn't know there was another book. However after I finished the book I thought the lack of information was appropriate. Mary and her friends only know what they have been taught about the outside world, so it would seem silly for them to tell the reader all about it. Also it would seem and obvious story filler, if they stumble on a book/room/person that could tell them exactly everything they needed to know. Life doesn't get tied up in a neat little bow so why should this story?

There are some pretty emotional scenes in this book. With out giving much away, two main scenes stand out. One with Mary and her Mother as they say goodbye, and the second was when Mary was in the tree houses with her friends. I will leave it at that.

Ryan has done a fantastic job drawing you in and making you care about the main characters. She also makes the story suitably creepy, with a touch of horror. This is where I think the lack of information really helps to build the suspense. As they don't know what expect they are shocked or discovered by discoveries. Also there is a lot of action and carnage in this book.

All in all a really solid first book. It was a great read which was hard to put down. If you like zombies this would be a great read, but even if you don't like zombies (like me) this is still a good engaging read.

Mockingjay (Hunger Games Book 3) by Suzanne Collins

Rating 4 out of 5Paperback: 448 pages
Publisher: Scholastic; 1 edition (25 Aug 2010)
ISBN-10: 1407109375
ISBN-13: 978-1407109374

First Sentence: "I stare down at my shoes, watching as a fine layer of ash settles on the worn leather"

Book three picks up where book two left off. The rebellion is in full swing and war is now declared.

The action is ramped up even more in this book. Lots of violence as well. Again Collins seems to balance progressing the story, with action and drama. The whole story never feels bogged down at any point. I managed to finish this off in three days and that's only because I had to go to work grrr.

I think Collins captures peoples thinking during war really well. It was interesting to see the different characters reactions to it. For instance some thought they should fight the way President Snow fought, and others thought they should preserve life. You could say the war really brings out the best and worst of people, and this story illustrates it.

There were some twists in the story line which will surprise you. Also by the end of it I was wondering if poor Katniss would survive both physically and mentally. She just cant catch a break. I actually really enjoyed Joanna as a character. Even though she is a little broken and a touch horrible, something about her was just enjoyable.

The ending - a lot of book bloggers have commented they were disappointed with the ending. They felt it was made to happy, and neat. I felt the ending was good until I got to the epilogue. The epilogue its self was fine, but not necessary. I suspect this is where the ending criticisms have come in as I felt the epilogue did not add anything to the story.

On a superficial note I much prefer the American cover to the cover released in Australia.

Other Reviews:The Eclctic Reader

Books and Musings from Downunder

Musings of a Bookish Kitty

From my Bookshelf

An Adventure in Reading

Catching Fire (Hunger Games Book 2) by Suzanne Collins

Rating: 5 out of 5
Reading level: Young Adult
Paperback: 480 pages
Publisher: Scholastic; 1 edition (7 Sep 2009)
ISBN-10: 1407109367
ISBN-13: 978-1407109367

Opening Sentence: "I clasp the flask between my hands even though the warmth from the tea has long since leached into the frozen air"

In Catching Fire we return to the world of Panem and continue the story of Katniss. The Hunger Games they won is long over and they are safely ensconced in the Victors Village. The only problem is the Capitol is not happy with what Katniss did, they want revenge. Katniss has a decision to make, does she fold to the Capitol's demands or does she fight?

Wow what a great second book! I couldn't put it down. I find second books in trilogies tend to be long winded and spends to much time explaining and setting up book three. Not the case with Catching Fire. It manages to finely balance expanding the story with action and excitement. I will not discuss the book in too much detail as I do not want to give the book away.

I must confess though Katniss annoyed me for about half of this book. I got a bit tired of her "oh woe is me" mantra. She just grated on my nerves even though I concede she probably had every right to it after what happened in Hunger Games. But by the second half of the book came around, Katniss was back to her old kick ass self. We do get to learn more about our favorite characters as well as get introduced to some new ones. Collins is able to make all the characters just come alive. I cant really discuss the characters with out giving anything away.

Some powerful themes are explored here. Oppression, violence, rebellion, survival, friendship, starvation, and revenge to name a few. Collins manages to address these issues with out being preachy or condemning.

There is quite a bit of violence in this book. Most of it demonstrates the worst of society and oppression. But it is there, and it is reasonably graphic. If your child is under 15 and wants to read this, perhaps read it yourself first and see if it is suitable.

To be honest don't bother reading this unless you have book three Mockingjay on standby. The book is left on a cliff hanger so you will want book three straight away to continue on with the story!

Other Reviews:Books and Musings from Down under
Ticket To Anywhere
A Buckeye Girl Reads
Musings of a Bookish Kitty

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Rating 5 out of 5

The Hunger Games is set in a future in a land called Panem which was North America, is divided into districts. Each district is responsible for one particular item. District 12 where our story begins, is responsible for mining coal and is the poorest.

Katniss Everdeen is sixteen and earns food for her mother and sister by hunting in the nearby woods. They live in an isolated world cut of from almost everyone except the Capitol who dictates how their lives are lived.

Every year the Hunger Games are held. A boy and a girl from each district is selected to compete, and if they win they get fame and fortune, as well as all the food their district needs for a year. There is one catch, only the winner survives.Literally. The Hunger Games is a fight for survival, and the winner is the last person standing. When Katniss’ sister is picked for the 74th Reaping, Katniss quickly takes her place and seals her fate in the Hunger Games.

Well wow. What to say really. This was an amazing book. I have not found a bad review of this book, certainly not in the blogging world and I can see why. This was a real page turner that had you desperate to know more. I literally could not put this book down. Everything about this book just jelled with me.

“A few hours later, the stampede of feet shakes me from slumber. I look around in bewilderment. It’s not yet dawn, but my stinging eyes can see it. It would be hard to miss the wall of fire descending on me.”

The pacing was just the right amount of slow and fast which kept the story flowing;and it did not impede story or character development. Collins was able to get enough information across to give the reader an adequate view of the world she had created with out bogging the story down. The book cleverly manages to be humorous, bleak, touching and sad (I was one step off from bawling at one point) as the children are forced to fight to the death in order to gain food for their district. It is stated that the Hunger Games were a punishment that the Capitol implemented after a failed rebellion.

The basis of the plot is a modern twist on the ancient Gladiator competition and a communist state (though the actual Government structure is never clearly stated). The two are intertwined together to form the main storyline. The Capitol has complete control over its districts, with each district being completely isolated and governed by extreme violence.

I read a comment about the reality TV aspect of this book would quickly date once reality TV was dead and buried. I for one do not agree. In fact I did not see it as a reality TV type show but as a way for the Capitol to manipulate and control its people. Similar to the radio and PA broadcasts that China and the USSR used to get before TV (maybe they still get it, I wouldnt know). Bringing these two elements together creates a truly frightening world that Katniss inhabits.

Where to start with the characters. Katniss is brave and strong, Peeta clever and kind. Both are heroes. These are kids who had to age fast in order to survive and that was before they went to the Hunger Games. Their interaction is believable and the relationship between them fascinating. I don’t want to give anything away but basically there is no nice bow making everything pretty and ok. I don’t know if anyone else noticed but all the characters from the Capitol seemed to have Roman names. I would like to know if this was deliberate or a coincidence.

A fantastic novel that I would highly recommend. I cant wait for the sequel Catching Fire that is due out later this year.

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