Leanna’s Book List

The Hunger Games

The writing style of Suzanne Collins’ The Hunger Games is simple and addicting. The Hunger Games transported me into the post-apocalyptic world of Katniss Everdeen, a resident of a extremely poor mining town called District 12 of Panem. Panem is the country that rose out of the ashes of what used to be North America. It has a dictatorial government, located in the ominously named Capitol that makes all the decisions for the twelve districts (there used to be a thirteenth but it was obliterated by the Capitol for revolting).

To commemorate the Capitol’s supreme power over of the districts, the hunger games are held annually. A boy and girl are picked randomly in a lottery from each of the twelve districts, and the 24 candidates are thrown into an arena that holds unknown dangers and obstacles that they must face. Oh and by the way, it’s a death match: only one can survive.

Katniss Everdeen is the stubborn and resilient 16-year-old female protagonist who has supported her mother and younger sister since her father’s death when she was 12 years old. She has watched the hunger games all her life but she never imagined the way she would be dragged into them when her sister Prim is chosen in the lottery. Katniss instantly volunteers to take her place. At the same time a love triangle brews between Katniss and her best friend/hunting partner Gale and the other District 12 contestant, naïve bread boy Peeta Mellark.

I thought The Hunger Games would be a wacky science fiction book that was so out of this world that I would not be able to keep tabs on who was who. In the first few chapters the characters were quickly introduced and the suspense began that continued throughout the novel constantly keeping me on my toes. Collins’ writing style is for lack of a better word, addicting. Once you start, you feel compelled against your will to keep reading even if you have an English essay or math project. Each chapter throws a curve ball into Katniss’ survival strategies, forcing her to adapt, leaving you wondering if you could survive in her place. There are only three books in The Hunger Games trilogy, and I cannot wait to continue Katniss’ battle in the second installment Catching Fire and the final book Mockingjay. A-

Beastly

Tale as old as time, song as old as rhyme, beauty and the beast. The classic tale of Beauty and the Beast has had many adaptations made in both movies and books. Beastly by Alex Flinn is another version, but set in modern day cities of Manhattan and Brooklyn, New York. The Beast is Kyle Kingsbury. Kyle is a beautiful, blond, blue-eyed and heartless boy who is the son of a famous network newsman. He goes to the prestigious Rosewood Academy and treats everybody around him like they are nothing. He is a freshman when he is cursed by Kendra Hilferty, a witch that goes to his school. He decides to mess with her by pretending to take her to homecoming, but blowing her off in front of everybody. Kendra decides to change him into his “truer self” that is neither a wolf, lion, bear nor gorilla, but a beast. The curse can only be broken if he loves a girl and she loves him back and kisses him to prove it. The catch is that he only has two years to break the curse. If he does not get his true love kiss by then, he will remain a beast forever.

The Beauty is smart, freckled, red haired girl Linda “Lindy” Owens. She goes to Rosewood Academy with Kyle through the scholarship program. Her father is a drug addict who can barely function, let alone take care of Lindy. Because of her father’s condition she is a resourceful character. Kyle first meets Lindy at the homecoming dance before he is cursed. He gives her a white rose that his superficial date had asked for a purple orchid and would not take anything else.

When Kyle is cursed his cold and uncaring father tries fixing the horrific thing his song has become. Kyle and his father travel across the country meeting with doctors and plastic surgeons. Every time the diagnosis remains the same. No amount of surgery can fix him. To save his reputation, Kyle’s father forces him into seclusion where no one can see him. The house he buys is located in the Brooklyn suburbs with five stories and a backyard. Forced into a lonely existence with only his housekeeper Magda and blind tutor will, Kyle becomes obsessed with growing roses. Kyle builds a green house for his roses and spends his days reading and tending to his roses. He changes his name to Adrian or “dark one” and sulks in the house for a about seven months.

One night, a man breaks into the greenhouse and Adrian captures a druggie named Daniel Owens. To save himself, he offers up his daughter Lindy as compensation. Adrian accepts Daniel’s proposition to have Lindy come stay in his house. He knows that Lindy would be safer with him, than with her own father. Lindy arrives a week later and immediately locks herself in her rooms on the third floor . Adrian leaves her alone and she gradually adventures out and grows accustomed to Adrian’s beastly presence. The pair are home schooled by Will, the tutor and Lindy and Adrian spend their days reading literature and taking care of Adrian’s roses. But as time goes on, the question arises on whether Adrian’s curse will be broken or  if he is doomed to remain a beast forever.

Beastly introduces a modern day interpretation of a classic love story. Alex Flinn does a decent job in describing the setting and characters that aligns with the original Beauty and the Beast story. Beastly is the type of book you want to read when it is raining and want to venture into your childhood memories. Also, Beastly will be major motion picture March 18, 2011. The movie will star Alex Pettyfer as Kyle/Adrian with Vanessa Hudgens and Mary-Kate Olsen as Lindy and Kendra . B+

Nineteen Minutes

“In nineteen minutes, you can mow the front lawn, color your hair, walk a mile, order a pizza and get it delivered In nineteen minutes, you can get revenge.” The last one in particular is explored in Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult. Jodi Picoult writes a compelling story of the aftermath of a tragedy in a small town. 17-year-old Peter Houghton, after years of torment and abuse by his fellow classmates, takes matters into his own hands and on March 6, 2007, he murders ten classmates and injures countless others.

The residents of Sterling, New Hampshire are thrown into a raging tornado of fear and hate. Students who survived the violence are scarred for life and adults are fighting for retribution. Amidst all the hate, are the parents and friends of the killer. Everywhere they go people treat them like it was their fault that Peter became who he is. Peter’s parents especially suffer inner turmoil because they blame themselves for Peter and continually search the past for hints that they could have prevented the attack.

The best witness for the case is Josie Cormier who witnessed Peter murder her boyfriend Matt Royston. The problem is, Josie cannot remember anything from that day. Josie Cormier is one of those girls in school who has everything on the outside, the looks, the perfect boyfriend, and the “right” type of friends. But deep inside she knows that her whole existence is a facade. Her biggest fear is that she will not be able to hold herself together forever and everyone will be able to see who she truly is. Her mother, Alex Cormier, is the sitting judge on Peter’s trial. The bond between mother and daughter thinned over the years but as the trial progresses, they learn to re-connect.

Peter Houghton’s family suffered tragedy once before when Peter’s older brother Joey was killed in a drunk driving accident. Because of this Peter was neglected by both of his parents who retreated into themselves, blinding themselves to Peter’s plight. Since childhood, Peter was different. He was not interested in playing in the mud or rough-housing with the boys. He preferred to spend his time with his best friend Josie and the two were inseparable. That all changed when Josie became friends with the popular people and began to treat Peter as an outcast.

Nineteen Minutes gives insight into the experiences and feelings that creates a killer. It reminds the reader that even murderers have people who love them. Because of the complexity of the issue and the constant stress that the characters were under, I thought that Nineteen Minutes took a lot to read. If you like thinking about controversial issues and reading about the justice system and psychological problems in youth, I would recommend Nineteen Minutes. B

Summer Reading

Fiction

The Bronx Masquerade:Nikki Grimes-

An excellent book, even for those of you out there who are not big fans of reading. A quick collection of poems written poetry-slam style and short narrations by the characters, it tells an excellent story of high school kids in hard situations opening up to show what lies beyond the masquerade. Something anyone could enjoy.

The Book Thief:Marcus Zusak-

A book about a book lover for book lovers. Fascinatingly narrated by “death” herself, this book centers on a young girl in WWII Germany, who, with the help of her foster father, steals books and secrets away illegal books to learn to read and then share with a runaway Jew her family shelters.

Uglies:Scott Westerfield-

An excellent and easy read about a future in which the old “Rusty” society has passed away. At sixteen the “Uglies” undergo an operation involving lots of plastic surgery to make them into “Pretties,” who live across the river in what they think is a utopia. Parties every night, freedom, the ability to change your appearance through a plastic surgery operation whenever you like… what more could you ask for? But when people discover that not only is the appearance being changed, but also the mind in the “Pretty” operations, they realize that this is not as much of a utopia as was thought.

Fantasy

Harry Potter: J. K. Rowling-

It’s a classic. And you’ll understand now when your friends reference it.

Lord of the Rings:J. R. R. Tolkien-

Long, yes, but a fantastic and well-written story. Know the story behind the movies! The movies were impressive, but as in almost all cases the book is still much better and definitely worth a read.

Alanna: the First Adventure: Tamora Pierce-

For those of you wishing to be whisked away into a alternate world of swords, sorcery, adventure, and a girl disguising herself a boy to train as a knight, this is the book for you. The first of a quartet, this is a great, quick and fun read.

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe:C.S. Lewis-

If you liked the movie, you will like this book (or the whole series) even more. Get the whole story, not just the bits that Hollywood liked. Also a classic, and definitely worth a read.

Ender’s Game:Orson Scott Card-

This is the kind of book you read now and will still remember years later. Many years into the future of earth, Andrew “Ender” Wiggin is an amazing child genius who is drafted into Battle School in space, to fight a future invasion by an alien race. He and his cronies who play games in Battle School and his siblings back on earth are in a position to change the world. Definitely worth a read. And if you like this, author Orson Scott Card tells the rest of the story in the many sequels.

Biography

A Child Called“It”: Dave Pelzer-

If you’re looking for an intense read, this is it. It is written by the victim of one of the most severe child abuse cases in California history. He was beaten and starved, and many worse things, by his alcoholic and unstable mother. He didn’t even have a name: he was called “it.” Be prepared for an intense and evocative read, though very memorable and thought-provoking.

Science Fiction

The Host:Stephanie Meyer-

Hey all you Twilight fans: have you ever heard of this book by the same author? Technically written for adults rather than for teens, as Twilight was, this book delves into a world where the alien race of “souls” are taking over Earth by taking control of the minds and bodies of humans. But when one of the humans resists her “soul,” and forces her to search for her family, the alien “soul” is forced to learn and discover herself and reconsider whether she should be there.

Maximum Ride:James Patterson-

What would it be like to have wings and fly? Find out with Maximum Ride and her family, who were grown by an illegal scientist mixing bird and human genes. They escaped the brutal scientist, and now live running from him and struggling to have a normal life. A captivating read about an epic adventure.

New Reading Club On Campus

Do you have something you’re passionate about? Do you love to play and share tips about video games, or do you enjoy sharing music with others and being introduced to new styles? Whatever it is you love to do, there are always others who share your interests. So how can you get everyone together to share an activity or interest? The best way to do so is to start a club here on campus.

In fact, any member of the student body can start a club, although there is a process one has to go through in order to make it official. If you have the drive and the determination, though, your dream club can indeed become a reality.

It turns out that about two to three new clubs are proposed each year, although only one or two actually go through the entire process. However, when people do go through the entire process, the club is almost always made official, according to Vice Principal Hernandez.

One club currently being proposed is the Reading Club, started by junior Mireille Habib.

The first step Mireille took towards making her club a reality was filling out a “Request to Organize” form. This form requires students to formalize their purpose or goal for the club, find a faculty member to moderate the club, and acquire the signatures of 15 students who would to join the club. Basically, it sets the foundation for the club, ensuring that there is both focus and interest.

For Mireille, filling out the form was not difficult. “I was able to get the fifteen signatures the first day; I really didn’t need to hunt around for people,” she said. “People seemed really into the idea.”

Once a student finishes with the form, the club is allowed to meet on a “trial-run” basis, to test the waters and see if it will work. It will also come up on the agenda at the last student council meeting, where the members of the student council will vote on whether to recommend the club to Mrs. Hernandez. If the student council votes in favor of the club, Mrs. Hernandez assigns it an official moderator and gives the club official status.

Of course, even once a club earns its official status it must meet certain requirements. All clubs must contain a community service component, although there is freedom in how a club can go about meeting that requirement. Some clubs choose to do something related to their theme, such as SEAS’ beach clean-up days, while others just go as a group to volunteer somewhere unrelated to them but still worthy.

Attendance is also an issue clubs must stay aware of. Attendance is kept track of by Mrs. Hernandez, whom club officers e-mail once a month with the attendance of their most recent meeting.

“If the club’s attendance ever drops below 15 members, I ask the club’s officers and moderator to evaluate whether or not the club should continue,” she said. “Sometimes clubs thrive for a while because a group of girls who are really passionate about that topic are here at Pres, but then the club dies out when they graduate, since no one else is interested.”

While earlier book clubs may have died out like these other special interest groups, now that interest has been returned, the book club may just make it through. Mireille Habib has filled out her form, and now she’s just waiting on the next step.

“At this point, I figure there’s not much else I can do except publicize,” she said.

Have a Good Read This Christmas Eve

This novel is a bit on the lengthy side, but it takes no time at all to plow through. It’s easy to get into, and will have you hooked by the first couple of pages. The gripping storyline includes love, betrayal, death, and, best of all, drama!

Not much for the Middle-Aged melodramas? Not to worry. Perhaps a more adventurous love story would strike your fancy. Give Annette Curtis Klause’s Blood and Chocolate a try. This is basically the exact opposite of Twilight, only strikingly similar at the same time. Instead of a male vampire falling in love with a useless mortal, Blood and Chocolate tells the story of a mysterious young werewolf who falls in love with a human boy intended to be her lunch. The two fall madly in love and face many challenges as their two worlds collide in an epic adventure. But take caution in opening up this work in the midst of finals week: you simply will not be able to put it down!

If you’d rather depart from the romance genre altogether, then Adriana Trigiani’s newest coming of age novel Viola will deliver the perfect dose of teenage angst, while at the same providing encouraging insights into the world of friendship and growing up. Shipped away from her beloved hometown of Brooklyn to a glum boarding school in the outskirts of an Indiana town, Viola is faced with a whole new world that she feels completely ill-equipped to handle. A talented film-maker, she gradually learns to stop seeing and living life through her screen and open herself up to the new experiences and friendships that await her.

If you find yourself in the mood for some classical delight, but cannot face diving into something quite as hefty as War and Peace, go for The Princess Bride. If you have seen the movie, then you know how entertaining the plot twists and character developments are. And Christmastime is always a little more enjoyable with a bit of Buttercup romance in the air. Another, perhaps heavier, romance is the newly-turned-motion-picture The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger. This novel could certainly be considered more of a drama than William Goldman’s The Princess Bride, as it deals with the lessons of love and loss that a young couple encounters during their somewhat fated journey. A box of tissues might be a good idea if you pick this one up.

For more of a science fiction thriller, give Inkheart a go. The popular first installment of the planned Inkworld Trilogy, takes the reader through the many adventures of twelve-year-old Meggie Folchart, whose father possesses a special power of turning stories he reads aloud into real life. Lucky Meggie gets to travel to exotic places she reads about in books, such as Italy and many parts of Europe. If you ever were a fan of the animated film The Page Master as a little kid, this is the book for you. Another novel with a similar feel, C.S. Lewis’s famous children’s adventure tale The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, takes the reader through the closet of four young orphans, and into a magical world caught in eternal winter. It becomes the mission of this brave lot to bring the world of Narnia back to its original enchanting existence.

Some historical fiction might be the way to go if you don’t feel up to the time travelling and mythical creatures. Ann Rinaldi’s Time Enough for Drums is the story of 13-year-old Jemima Emerson living in Revolutionary War America. She finds herself torn between just about every member of her family, each of whom seems to be supporting a different war party: Patriots, Whigs, British officer, militiaman, and Continental Army soldier. This is a good read for those suffering the typical holiday season family squabbles that are typical of the holiday season.

Several decades after Jemima, comes Old Derry, the chubby old man in Edward Lear’s A Book of Nonsense. This charming collection of children’s tales is actually a compilation of limerick’s published sequentially in early nineteenth century England. Do not let the “children’s tales” turn you away, because each of Lear’s snappy poems is packed with clever twists and allusions that a wide range of age groups can appreciate.

So, now that you have a good list of choices for some great holiday reads, hit up your local bookstore – or Christmas wish list – and wipe your brain clean of any finals residue. Happy holidays!