The Hunger Games

Author: Suzanne Collins
Genre: YA Fiction/ Dystopian

 In a futuristic, post-apocalyptic world, there lies the country of Panem.  Thirteen districts once surrounded the shining Capital.  Then District 13 tried to rebel.  The Capital put put down the rebellion, and as a demonstration of their power, they force the twelve remaining districts to send one boy and one girl to the Capital to fight to the death in The Hunger Games.
   Katniss Everdeen has always had to struggle to provide her young sister, Prim, and her mother with enough food to live.  After her father's death, her mother shut down with grief, leaving Katniss to take care of her sister.  When twelve year old, Prim, is chosen to compete in the Hunger Games Katniss volunteers to take her place, knowing it will be her own death.
   I can't say much more without giving away too much, and that's only the first two chapters!

Oh my gosh!!  This book was amazing!  Its been a long time since I've read a book that makes me stay up an hour longer than I mean to, and read during class.  I was hooked by the end of chapter one and the book just picked up speed from there.

Rating: 5/5

WARNING: Quite a bit of violence (the object is to fight to the death) but its not described too graphically.

The Pearl

Author: John Steinbeck
Genre: Fiction

I finished this for AR over the weekend.  It only took me a week to read, which made me happy because I have other books I want to read, that are not school related.  If you're in the same spot, this one's  a pretty easy read- only a little over 100 pages.

Kino is a fisherman in a poor village in the 19th century.  When his baby boy is stung by a scorpion, he and his wife, Juana seek medical help, but cannot afford it.  While pearling, however, Kino finds "the Pearl of The World."  It is huge and very valuable.  Soon everyone in town wants there hands on it.  Greed quickly takes over everyones' thoughts, and violence begins to break out.

They make the theme of good vs. evil very apparent.  Kino hears in his mind the "song of the family" while his wife cooks breakfast, and the "song of evil" when the scorpion appears.  Both of these are repeated many times throughout the book.

The story line in itself was decent.  Being so short, there was not a particularly complex plot developed.  But, the story kept moving pretty well.  It was not boring at any parts, and there were some action moments.  The characters are not incredibly relatable to this day and age.  There are some kinda depressing moments, especially near the end.  Not really sad, but a sort of feeling of despair.

Rating: 3/5