Book Review: The Hunger Games

Star Rating 5/5

The Hunger Games

By Suzanne Collins

Each year the Capital hosts the Hunger Games, reminding the citizens of their lack of control and power. Two tributes, one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen, are chosen from each of Panem’s twelve districts. Then broadcast for all to see, they enter the arena to fight to the death. The tribute that wins is set for life, while the others lose theirs. Because in the end, only one can win.

Since her father’s death, Katniss Everdeen has struggled to create a life for herself and her younger sister Prim. Each day she slips under the fence that encloses the twelfth district to illegally hunt and gather food. With her game and the grain she gets from adding her name multiple times into the lottery for the Hunger Games, she and Prim survive. They’re even happy at times until its time for the games again.

This year Prim is twelve, and though her name has only been entered in the lottery once she is chosen. Unable to allow her little sister to risk her life in the games, Katniss volunteers. Now she’s got to do more than eek out a living for them—she has to win the games or neither of them will survive.

The Hunger Games is more than another thrilling dystopian novel. Collins asks many thought-provoking questions through the world and citizens of her book. The Capital and its people are not so different from modern Americans. With our society’s focus on and glorification of violence in the media and even sports, it is not too difficult to imagine something as horrifying as Panem’s Hunger Games. As I read I was reminded not only of Rome’s gladiators but also of modern movies, television shows, and video games. Perhaps Collins’ novel begs us to question how accustomed we are to violence and our acceptance of it. When does violence become commonplace? Where do we draw the line? And, more importantly, how do we combat our own acceptance of real-life tragedy—abuse, neglect, gang violence, terrorism, and genocide? These are some of the questions The Hunger Games asks each of us, taking it from an exciting book to a definite must-read.

Book Review: The Host

Star Rating 5/5

The Host

By Stephenie Meyer

Wanderer has been in multiple hosts, each on a different planet, but she has never experienced anyone like Melanie Stryder or any place like Earth. No host has fought her for her body, and yet no planet has been so worth fighting for—for either of them.

When the Wanderer’s fellow souls decided she should be put into the body of Melanie Stryder, they believed Wanderer would be able to easily access Melanie’s mind. Unfortunately, unlike the other hosts Wanderer has had, Melanie refuses to leave or give Wanderer full access to her thoughts. Instead Melanie barrages Wanderer with painful memories, taunts her constantly, and rarely lets any information about herself or the human resistance slip. That is until Melanie shares her love for Jared, one of the few remaining free humans, and accidentally lets Wanderer know about her little brother Jamie. Soon Wanderer finds herself in love and determined to protect a family she’s never met and who could never accept her. After all, she’s taken over Melanie’s body and her true family—the other souls—have taken over the entire planet.

The Host is a thoroughly engrossing novel. Meyer doesn’t disappoint with her venture into science fiction. Her alien species is well-crafted, keeping the reader from easily writing them off as villainous. The readers will find themselves questioning whose side they are on—the souls or the humans—and whether either side is “right.” As I read, I struggled constantly as I tried to figure out who I felt was the hero and who was in the wrong. I was impressed by Meyer’s ability to keep me waffling—against my own species, no less! I loved this book and see this as Meyer’s best novel thus far. Move over Twilight, The Host has taken me over.

Book Review: Uglies

Star Rating 5/5

Uglies

By Scott Westerfeld

Ever since she moved into Uglyville, Tally Youngblood has gazed out her dorm window at New Pretty Town and dreamed of being there. Now she is just months away from her sixteenth birthday and then she will finally be living her dream. All she has to do is stay out of too much trouble and await the day of her operation—the day all Uglies have been taught from birth to wait for—the day she will become a Pretty herself.

The days pass slowly since her other friends have already changed, that is until she meets Shay, an Ugly with her same birthday. But Shay isn’t like Tally’s old friends. While Shay wants to escape Uglyville, she doesn’t want to go to New Pretty Town. She doesn’t want to be a Pretty at all. She wants to leave the city entirely and go to the Smoke—a place where everyone is ugly. Tally can’t imagine that such a place exists, but when Shay decides to run away Tally wonders what will become of her friend. Now Tally has to decide whether she is with Shay or not and whether she is willing to be ugly for life.

Scott Westerfeld creates a sickeningly realistic dystopia in his novel Uglies, resulting in a horrifyingly beautiful juxtaposition of our world and each of us. A criticism of more than Western society’s quest for beauty, Uglies (as a novel and as a trilogy) challenges the reader to question his impact on the environment, his power over his conditions, his acceptance of perceived authority and reality, and his desire to conform. These challenges are delivered largely through the protagonist, Tally, but also through the experiences of the other characters. Tally is more than a character pushed from scenario to scenario, unable to control her circumstances or direction. Throughout the novel (and the trilogy), she makes choices and changes herself in spite of the conditioning, dangers, and alterations she experiences. Like each of us, Tally attempts to discover what she wants and who she is in a world that is constantly trying to shape her to meet its own ends. Tally’s story will hook you from the start and keep you reading and wondering through the entire trilogy. My advice to you: grab all three books at once or you’ll be running to the library or bookstore, dying to get your hands on the next book!

Book Review: Wither

Star Rating: 5/5

Wither

By: Lauren DeStefano

The human race is dying and has been since science’s first generation of disease-free children had families of their own. Decades before, cancer was cured and science engineered its own population of healthy children. There was no reason to conceive of a natural child when science could perfect embryos, keeping them free of all ailments. Unfortunately, things have changed. While this first generation of children thrives, their children die young—the men at twenty-five and the women at twenty. Doctors search for some new cure. Wealthy families fight to keep their lines going through polygamist marriages. Gatherers steal young women off the streets to sell as potential wives. But the population is still dying and there seems to be little left to live for.

Rhine has no one left but her brother, but even he is lost to her now. Kidnapped, drugged, and driven to a mansion hundreds of miles from home, she has no idea where she is and little hope of getting home. She knows enough to know what’s about to happen. She’s heard about the wealthy men who marry multiple women—she’s even seen them on TV at parties with their glamorous first wives. It’s her turn to marry now, but perhaps she will be able to run away. Unable to trust even her fellow stolen sister wives, Rhine prepares to lie her way to freedom. Becoming first wife is her key to escape, but will she be able to convince both her new husband and his controlling father she’s the one? And if she manages that will she still be willing to risk her newfound fortune for a short, rough life outside the mansion?

DeStefano’s Wither is a world that wraps you up and draws you in right from page one. This macabre dystopia—a future earth that is horrifyingly familiar—is thankfully filled with the life of the novel’s heroine. Rhine focuses on escape even though it would be a return to a life of poverty and survival. While it seems grim, her old life embodied freedom and love as she and her brother provided for themselves and stuck together. Her determination and longing to be free defy the wealthy society’s pessimistic approach to life. The wealthy put on appearances through parties and purchases. They barely cling to life as they indulge in material pleasures and immerse themselves in illusions. Conversely, Rhine refuses to give in to temporary fixes or to settle for a comfortable situation. Instead she strives to live, accepting that risks and heartbreak are undoubtedly before her.

Book Review: Sarah's Key

Star Rating: 5/5

Sarah’s Key

By: Tatiana de Rosnay

When Julia Jarmond is assigned to write an article about the sixtieth anniversary commemoration of the Vel d’Hiv roundup, she becomes consumed by her work. Though American, Julia has spent the past 25 years in Paris. Regardless of her time in France, she has little to no knowledge about the horrors committed against the Jews by the French during and surrounding the roundup. More disturbing to her even than her lack of knowledge is the indifference of her French husband and of some of those she interviews. Julia wonders how such events could take place and why so little was done about them. Then on a routine visit to her husband’s ailing grandmother, Julia unexpectedly finds out that her in-laws moved into their apartment in July 1942—the same month the roundup forced thousands of Jews from their homes. Could the apartment have possibly belonged to one of those Jewish families? Haunted by this idea, Julia delves deeper and finds herself linked to the tragic events of 1942. The more she discovers the more she realizes how long she’s kept her eyes closed and decides that she can not and will not close them again.

Tatiana de Rosnay presents a beautifully written, heart-wrenching story that illustrates how the past, present, and future are interwoven. Alternating between two perspectives, she leads the reader through the events and effects of the Vel d’Hiv roundup. The main narrator is Julia, the middle-aged journalist. Julia’s perspective in the present mirrors the readers with her discoveries. The other narrator is Sarah, a ten year-old Jewish girl from 1942. Sarah’s perspective from the past brings the Vel d’Hiv to life. While Sarah causes the reader to feel the horrors as they occurred in the eyes of the children who experienced them, Julia causes the reader to question their own knowledge of their circumstances and the world around them. Together Sarah’s and Julia’s stories make the Vel d’Hiv roundup tangible, touching our lives and our hearts. Most importantly, however, Sarah’s Key prompts us to question ourselves, open our eyes, and act.

Book Review: The Red Pyramid

Star Rating: 5/5

The Red Pyramid

By: Rick Riordan

Christmas Eve is supposed to be fun, but Sadie and Carter Kane are skeptical about their dad’s idea of enjoyment when he takes them to the British Museum. Sadie is particularly annoyed since this is one of the few times a year she sees her dad. After their mom’s death, she’s lived with their grandparents in London. On the other hand, Carter isn’t enthusiastic about the idea either because he’s been dragged from museum to dig site year-round with their dad. Both of them are in for a surprise when their field trip literally ends with a bang. In one night, the two siblings who feel like little more than strangers are left with the monumental task of saving their dad, themselves, and the world from the rise of the Egyptian gods their father just set free. Sadie and Carter have no idea where to begin or what really is happening. They quickly learn from their Uncle Amos that they are born magicians and their parents were members of a secret group known as the House of Life. With little time before the freed gods’ plans destroy the world, Sadie and Carter’s lives depend on working together and discovering what they can do.

Rick Riordan’s The Red Pyramid is a catchy, dramatic read. The novel is written as a transcription of the two main characters as they retell the events as they experienced them. Riordan gives Sadie and Carter their own voices, and even includes fun “real-time” interchanges between the two as though they were defending their statements to the other while recording. Interestingly, even though Sadie and Carter’s characters follow the familiar seemingly-ordinary-but-actually-extraordinary character model, they do not instantly gain full control or knowledge of their “extraordinary” side. In fact, they don’t gain either by the end of the novel. This is a delightful turn from the usual and much more realistic. I absolutely loved that I didn’t have to severely dislocate my imagination and believe that they had mastered their unknown abilities within hours of discovering them. This switch allows the reader to connect more easily with the narrators. It makes Sadie and Carter more believable, trustworthy, and, in this case, likeable. While The Red Pyramid packs a whole lot of danger into a few days, the characters spice up the story with their retelling and imperfections.

Fabric-Wrapped Flashcards

Like all babies at some point, my child developed a love for paper. Well, as much as he needs fiber in his diet I'm sure, I don't think he needs to get it by eating paper. This upsets him--especially on those days when mom and dad are playing with cards. I decided he needed some cards, too.

I made some quick and easy, nearly waterproof, durable cards just for him.

First I found some animal pictures by searching under Creative Commons on Flickr. Second, I put them in a Word file and made them identical in size. Third, I went to FedEx to have them printed on cardstock, laminated, and cut out with a margin of laminate around the edges. It was quite inexpensive--if I remember correctly it cost under five dollars.

I suggest leaving a large enough edge of laminate around your picture so that you will be sewing only through the laminate and not the laminate and paper. This will probably keep your pictures from soaking up any moisture and rippling. (I didn't do this, so I can't vouch for it.) If you try it and it works, let me know!

Now I wanted to be sure my son's little gums wouldn't be cut up by the sharp laminated edges of his cards, so the next steps involve sewing fabric onto them. This is the slightly more complicated part, and if you look closely you will notice I decided not to be a perfectionist about this. After all, my baby just wanted to eat them, so who cares if my stitches are perfect? He sure doesn't and he's who matters in this case.

You'll have to excuse my lack of sewing expertise.

Fourth, cut rectangles of fabric that are significantly larger than your card. You need to be able to fold the fabric over and under itself to make a clean edge over and against the card. Fifth, sew the fabric around your card. You're basically sewing a hem on your card. This will prevent your fabric from fraying and will cover the sharp edges and corners of the cardstock to protect your baby's gums.

I sewed two parallel sides of the card first and then sewed the perpendicular sides. By doing this I was able to sew the corners after I had folded them in like I would when wrapping a present. I wasn't very particular about my sewing or the cutting of my fabric, so my stitching lines aren't always the straightest. I was also hesitant to press my edges which would have made this step super easy! But I was worried about the hot iron melting the laminate.

My son loves these cards. The laminate makes them basically waterproof, but the sewing punches little holes in the laminate and paper so that moisture can get in. Some of my cards are slightly rippled because my son chews and sucks on his cards (which is what I made them for). They do serve their purpose, though, and the laminate and sewing have kept them together.