Sunday, September 13, 2009

HUNGER GAMES SERIES by SUZANNE COLLINS

Book One: HUNGER GAMES

A gripping story set in a postapocalyptic world where a replacement for the United States demands a tribute from each of its territories: two children to be used as gladiators in a televised fight to the death. (synopsis borrowed from Amazon.com)

Book Two: CATCHING FIRE

We can't give a synopsis here, because we don't want to give away the story!

Friday, September 11, 2009

UGLIES SERIES by SCOTT WESTERFIELD

"Playing on every teen’s passionate desire to look as good as everybody else, Scott Westerfeld (Midnighters) projects a future world in which a compulsory operation at sixteen wipes out physical differences and makes everyone pretty by conforming to an ideal standard of beauty. The "New Pretties" are then free to play and party, while the younger "Uglies" look on enviously and spend the time before their own transformations in plotting mischievous tricks against their elders." (Synopsis from Amazon.com)

Book One - Uglies


Book Two - Pretties


Book Three - Specials


Book Four - Extras

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

SHADOW CHILDREN SERIES by MARGARET PETERSON HADDIX

These series of books is about a futuristic, overpopulated, resource-deprived Earth, and the effects of the government's attempts to quell overpopulation. The Population Police enforce the government's Population Law, killing or imprisoning "shadow children," any third child in a family. (synopsis borrowed from Wikipedia)

Book One - Among the Hidden

Book Two - Among the Imposters

Book Three - Among the Betrayed

Book Four - Among the Barons

Book Five - Among the Brave

Book Six - Among the Enemy

Book Seven - Among the Free

(Click on each picture to buy the books)

Tuesday, September 8, 2009

SPY SERIES by ALLY CARTER


Cammie Morgan is a student at the Gallagher Academy for Exceptional Young Women, a fairly typical all-girls school-that is, if every school taught advanced martial arts in PE and the latest in chemical warfare in science, and students received extra credit for breaking CIA codes in computer class. The Gallagher Academy might claim to be a school for geniuses but it's really a school for spies. Even though Cammie is fluent in fourteen languages and capable of killing a man in seven different ways, she has no idea what to do when she meets an ordinary boy who thinks she's an ordinary girl. Sure, she can tap his phone, hack into his computer, or track him through town with the skill of a real "pavement artist"-but can she maneuver a relationship with someone who can never know the truth about her?
Cammie Morgan may be an elite spy-in-training, but in her sophomore year, she's on her most dangerous mission-falling in love.


Even though Cammie and her friends have confidence in their spy skills, this time the targets are tougher (and hotter), and the stakes for Cammie's heart--and her belovedschool--are higher than ever.


When Cammie "The Chameleon" Morgan visits her roommate Macey in Boston, she thinks she's in for an exciting end to her summer break. After all, she's there to watch Macey's father accept the nomination for vice president of the United States. But when you go to the world's best school (for spies), "exciting" and "deadly" are never far apart. Cammie and Macey soon find themselves trapped in a kidnappers' plot, with only their espionage skills to save them.
(Click on each picture to go to Amazon.com and purchase these books. Thanks to Amazon.com for the synopsis on each book.)

DELTORA QUEST SERIES, DELTORA SHADOWLANDS SERIES, AND DRAGONS OF DELTORA SERIES by EMILY RODDA

Series One (8 books): Deltora Quest


Series Two (3 Books): Deltora Shadowlands


Series Three (4 Books): Dragons of Deltora


(Click on each picture to go to Amazon.com and purchase these books)

Sunday, September 6, 2009

BOOKS ABOUT OVERCOMING TRIALS

For today's book suggestions, Jyl writes the following:
"Instead of giving you a 5th favorite book, I want to leave that open to pretty much anything about issues like slavery or the Holocaust when people had to make tough choices to stand up for right even and especially when it meant risking their lives to do so. And when people endured trials with faith."

I loved this idea and so here are two of my favorite books that fit Jyl's description. Please comment on the post today and give your suggestions for books about slavery or the Holocaust, or any other trials that are overcome. I'd love to hear your choices!

UNCLE TOM'S CABIN by HARRIET BEACHER STOWE

This is a dramatization of slavery's cruelties - Abraham Lincoln told Harriet Stowe her work had been a catalyst for the Civil War.

THE DIARY OF A YOUNG GIRL by ANNE FRANK

Anne's diary documents her experiences hiding during the German occupation of the Netherlands in World War II. She and her family go into hiding in hidden rooms at father's office building. They are in hiding for 2 years, and then are betrayed and transported to concentration camps.

Friday, September 4, 2009

THE POISONWOOD BIBLE by BARBARA KINGSOLVER


The year is 1959 and the place is the Belgian Congo. Nathan, a Baptist preacher, has come to spread the Word in a remote village reachable only by airplane. To say that he and his family are woefully unprepared would be an understatement.

Thursday, September 3, 2009

GREAT EXPECTATIONS by CHARLES DICKENS


A terrifying encounter with an escaped convict in a graveyard on the wild Kent marshes; a summons to meet the bitter, decaying Miss Havisham and her beautiful, cold-hearted ward Estella; the sudden generosity of a mysterious benefactor - these form a series of events that change the orphaned Pip's life forever. (thanks to Amazon.com for this synopsis)

Wednesday, September 2, 2009

THE ADVENTURE OF HUCKLEBERRY FINN by MARK TWAIN


The story of a teenage boy who finds himself floating on a raft down the Mississippi River with an escaping slave, Jim. This book is very funny and entertaining.

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

EAST OF EDEN by JOHN STEINBECK


This novel brings to life details of two families - the Trasks and the Hamiltons - and their interwoven stories. Said to be based on the real-life family of Samuel Hamilton, Steinbeck's maternal grandfather.

(This book has Jyl's all time favorite chapter!)
 
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