Monday, August 30, 2010

The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan




Mary lives in a secluded village in the Forest of Hands and Teeth. It’s a suffocating existence because she’s always dreamed of leaving, walking past the fence that encloses it, and finding the ocean her mother always told her about. But to leave the village means entering the forest, which is filled with the Unconsecrated — the dead who’ve returned and hunger for human flesh. Mary knows this better than anyone. Not too long ago, her father walked into the forest, never to return and her mother’s pined for him ever since.
Because of their isolation and the fact that they may be the last survivors of humanity, the village has a ritualized system of ensuring that the next generation will continue. It’s a world where commitment and duty are emphasized over love and freedom. Mary also knows this best of all because while she is in love with Travis, it’s Travis’s brother Harry who wants to marry her.
That all changes when her mother strays too close to the fence and gets bitten by a zombie. Through a series of misfortunes, Mary finds herself no longer spoken for and turned over into the care of the Sisterhood, a group of women who rule over the village. What Mary learns and discovers there drives her to make the choice she’s been considering for nearly her entire life: should she stay or should she go?
I thought the worldbuilding had major inconsistencies.
I do think this is an original contribution to the young adult genre. It’s a more literary take on zombies, which will appeal to readers who shy away from gory zombie movies. On the other hand, I think the book lacked the focus it needed to emphasize its themes of how fear and self-imposed isolation can cripple your freedom.

Excerpts from this review taken from http://dearauthor.com/wordpress/2009/03/16/review-the-forest-of-hands-and-teeth-by-carrie-ryan/

Friday, August 27, 2010

Check Out Our New Books

Lies by Michael Grant




The third book in the Gone series, I was disappointed when I got to the end to find it wasn't a trilogy but an ongoing series. I am impatient to find out what happens.

An impenetrable dome has appeared over Perdido Beach taking everyone over the age of 15 away in an instant. It has been hard for those left in the FAYZ (“Fallout Alley Youth Zone). Many of the children are discovering strange mutations—the ability to fire light from hands, cancel gravity, move at superhuman speeds. The animals have begun to transform as well—snakes growing wings and coyotes being able to speak. In the beginning, there are two warring factions, the rich, troubled Coates Academy clan and the Perdido Beach kids. And then, there is the “gaiaphage” which presents itself as an evil entity.
By the time we read Lies, circumstances are at their worst. Food is more than scarce, resentment is rampant among those who are willing to lead and any pretence of stability is crumbling away. Sam is frustrated by the ineffectiveness of the new Town Council and Astrid struggles to overcome her fury when Sam keeps secrets from the Town Council. Orsay has become known as “the Prophetess” and may be everyones salvation or their demise.
This book is definitely a page turner, however, I hope the future additions won’t drag out what has the promise of an excellent series. Lies introduces us to a new group of excellent characters. It also gives readers a glimpse of what is outside the bubble. There are more deaths, more tragedies, and more desperate acts from an increasingly desperate group under Cain’s leadership.
And you didn’t really think the gaiaphage was defeated, did you? You didn’t think you’d seen the last of certain characters, did you? No. I didn’t think so.
Read this series and find out what happens next.


Rating
8
Reading Next The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Ryan

Thursday, August 26, 2010

Patrick Ness on Twitter

Candlewick Press will be interviewing Patrick Ness on September 29th. Send them
any questions you would like asked and tune in to see the answers. http://twitter.com/candlewick 20 Questions will be chosen.

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Mockingjay!!




Congratulations Vincent--Enjoy this exciting book! I just finished it :)

Mockingjay" leaves the government's kid-on-kid hunting grounds and heads into the destitute reality of the districts, which have come under heavy fire from the Capitol for rising up against its superficial and oppressive leadership.
Opening with the dreary aftermath of "Catching Fire's" concluding line, "Mockingjay" begins with Katniss Everdeen wandering through the wreckage of her district 12 hometown, tripping over skulls and breathing in the ashes of the incinerated bodies that used to be her neighbors. More than 90% of those neighbors are dead; the rest have been relocated to district 13, an area that was thought to be abandoned but is very much alive. Forced underground 75 years earlier in an era known as the Dark Days — an era that led to the annual children's bloodletting known as the Hunger Games — district 13's residents have spurred the present uprising, and they're looking to Katniss to rile up the rest of the districts and overthrow the pale-skinned President Snow, who's made no secret of his dislike for Katniss and her rebellious unpredictability.
Snow has captured Peeta — the boy Katniss didn't kill in the first Hunger Games, and with whom Katniss is in love. Or is she? Like the first two books in the series, "Mockingjay" continues the love triangle between Katniss, a headstrong nihilist forced to save her country from self-inflicted annihilation; Peeta, the fresh-faced and sweet-hearted boy whom she kissed in front of the omnipresent cameras; and Gale, the hunting partner with whom she grew up who could easily become something more. It takes a while, but "Mockingjay" finally settles the question of Katniss' true affections.

August 23, 2010|By Susan Carpenter, Los Angeles Times

A wonderful ending to an exciting trilogy.
Here's some food for thought from Scholastic.

1. Discuss the differences between the Games in the first volume and the second - the training sessions, the interviews, the set-up of the Arena, the strategies that Katniss and Peeta use. How is each of them changed by the time they spend in the Arena?

2. What are the forces that contribute to the rebellion in Catching Fire? Were they already starting to happen in The Hunger Games? What clues can you find in the books about the rebellion?

3. Why are all citizens of Panem required to watch The Hunger Games on television? How does this affect the people? Why haven't they rebelled earlier against the brutality of the Games? Discuss the effect of television and reality TV in your own life.

4. What are your predictions for the third volume in the series?

5. Compare the society in Panem (the government, its tight control on the population, and the growing rebellion) to others that you have studied or encountered in books or films. Consider historical and contemporary nations as well as fictional worlds. What does Panem have in common with these cultures, and how does it differ? What can we learn about our own world from studying and reading about historical and fictional societies?

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Speaking of Censorship

http://petehautman.blogspot.com/2010/08/nasty-thing-in-corner.html

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

13 to Life by Shannon Delany




Something strange is stalking the small town of Junction…
When junior Jess Gillmansen gets called out of class by Guidance, she can only presume it’s for one of two reasons. Either they’ve finally figured out who wrote the scathing anti-jock editorial in the school newspaper or they’re hosting yet another intervention for her about her mom. Although far from expecting it, she’s relieved to discover Guidance just wants her to show a new student around—but he comes with issues of his own including a police escort.
The newest member of Junction High, Pietr Rusakova has secrets to hide–secrets that will bring big trouble to the small town of Junction—secrets including dramatic changes he’s undergoing that will surely end his life early. from Goodreads

Rating: 4
Reading Next: Lies by Michael Grant

Thursday, August 5, 2010

Mortal Instrument Series




Cassandra Clare has made an announcement.

She will be writing two more books in the Mortal Instruments series. The list, in publication order, will then be:



City of Bones

City of Ashes

City of Glass

City of Fallen Angels (to be released April 2011)

City of Lost Souls (to be released May 2012)

City of Heavenly Fire (to be released September 2013)



Fans of Clary, Jace, Magnus, and the rest may commence rejoicing.

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

MOCKINGJAY--WHAT TEAM ARE YOU ON??






Countdown for the New Release out August 24th.


Come to our Get Ready for Mockingjay Party

Grab your survival gear from the Cornucopia
Compete til "death"
Enjoy lots of food
Win a first release of Mockingjay

Registration Required
August 14th 2 pm

See you then

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

Monopoly Tournament 2010


Grand Prize Winner 2010



Second Place Winner Zach Belisle








Third Place Winner Greg Hack

Check out the rest of the Tournament
View slideshow