Hungry

I finished The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins over the weekend. It's a really engaging story and one of the aspects I liked most is that you know Katniss is going to the Hunger Games (otherwise you wouldn't have a story) so Collins doesn't take ages to get her there. I appreciate that. Oftentimes authors will build and build and build to a plot point we already know is going to happen but Collins doesn't do that. Katniss lives in a future America (after the collapse of the United States), in one of the poorest districts of Panem, the new country. Every year, two teenagers, a boy and a girl between 12 and 18, are chosen from each district to participate in the Hunger Games. The Games are a fight to the death for the entertainment of those who live in the Capitol (as a means to remind the 12 districts outside of the Capitol of a war 74 years ago in which the Capitol destroyed the no longer existing 13th District). So Katniss goes with a boy from her district and they get pampered and powdered and fed and fluffed the week prior to the Games and then are thrown into the Arena (a recreation of a wilderness, with a few surprises) to fight it out. This is when the book starts to get a little gruesome. Nearly half of the 24 tributes are dead after the first day. Katniss must survive on her wits and her skills. The first book of a planned trilogy, The Hunger Games is a great read (Collins has a way of ending chapters so you want to turn the page to start the next chapter; it's nearly irresistible), though I have to admit I was a little disappointed to find there are two more books planned. I think it would have been a remarkable novel on its own but I'll definitely read the next one to see what she has in store next. Reminded me a little of Scott Westerfeld's Uglies; definitely for middle schoolers and up because of the gore.
Just started Meg Cabot's Airhead and I'm not sure I'm going to like the new Emerson Watts (but then I'm not sure Emerson Watts will like the new Emerson Watts); I feel I would have gotten along with the old one just fine. In between reads, I remain, the Savage Librarian.

ok ok

It's been awhile. A girl's allowed a vacation every now and then. Where to start?
Kenny and the Dragon by Tony DiTerlizzi. I have not read any of the Spiderwick Chronicles books, but I picked this one up because it was short and looked cute. Kenny is a happy bunny. His father comes back from the fields one afternoon and says he's seen a dragon. So, naturally, Kenny being a curious soul goes off to fight the dragon! Low and behold, the dragon is not what Kenny expected. Thus begins a friendship between Kenny and Grahame and when Grahame is threatened, Kenny is determined to find a way to save him. All in all, a good book for 2nd and 3rd graders. Friendship, adventure, a little bit of non-scary danger and a dragon. How could a reader go wrong?
Twilight by Stephenie Meyer. I have finally caught up with the rest of the world and have read Twilight. Bella is an interesting character. She's thoroughly enamored and enthralled by Edward. The book I found--to be complete honest--not that great. It was good enough for me to keep reading it (I've finally become one of those readers who will actually put a book down if she doesn't like it) and I'll probably pick up the rest of the books in the course of my reading, but I'm not a huge fan like many other librarians I know. As it gets teens to read, though, I'm totally in favor of it. High schoolers are a good target age for this book, though I know younger girls are reading it. (As a side note: I did find out what happens to Bella at the end of the books--I asked and friends told me--and I must admit I'm curious about the journey to that point, perhaps more so than I would have been had I not known, if that makes sense.)
Admittedly this next book I can't remember who wrote it: Kings and Queens of Denmark. My vacation took me to Denmark this fall and as it was quickly becoming apparent that I would finish Twilight well before my vacation was over, I was in desperate need of another book. This book provides brief histories of the monarchs of Denmark from Gorm the Old (930 AD) to Margrethe II, the current queen. Knowing nothing as I did of the Danish royalty, I enjoyed the book and am curious about their rulers and may have to expand my obsessive royalty reading to include the Danish.
The Gathering, book two of the Quantum Prophecy by Michael Carroll. To be honest, I didn't remember a great deal about The Awakening, the first book, other than Colin, Danny, and Renata are superheros in a time when all the superheros have been gone for 10 years. This one picks up not long after the first book ends, and Renata and Colin are masked adventurers, trying to save the world one small incident at a time. When their true identities are leaked to the media, Colin and his family have to get out. They end up in the US (in Kansas, no less) in hiding. A supervillian, Dioxin, joins with an enemy to draw the superheros out of their hiding and when the fighting start it explodes. I really enjoy this books and think boys especially will like these: they are not particularly long, involve superheroes, and a lot of action (and destruction). Good for middle schoolers and probably upper elementary, though some of the themes might be a bit much.
Watchmen by Alan Moore. I admit I picked up this graphic novel because I've seen a preview for the movie, due out in 2009. The storyline is at first a little confusing; I was trying to understand where it was all leading and was not having much luck figuring it out. It's a turn because the superheroes aren't wanted at this time (1985--Nixon's still president) and most have retired or gone into hiding (or in the case of the Comedian, work for the government). The story begins with the Comedian's murder and from then on out, it becomes a matter of piecing things together as slowly the superheroes disappear. Roschach, a very determined superhero, sees more behind it than others are willing to admit. It's definitely a dark story, and when the story begins to pick up it goes at a quick pace. I'm curious to see how the film version will be, but something tells me it probably won't be as effective. Good art, interesting story, definitely a recommended read. Older teens.
As for movies, I saw Eagle Eye in theaters last night and it was better than I was expecting. Definitely makes you think about all the technology you use and whether or not it's tracking you and it's slightly freaky. A good action movie (the ending was a little corny and I could have done without it, but I guess they were going for a positive ending). Perhaps better than I expected is the best praise I can give it.
Anticipating Hunger Games this weekend. I hear it's a quick read and excellent so I'm looking forward to that. In between reviews, I remain,
the Savage Librarian.