Catching Fire, a Hot Sequel

Imagine living a life of poverty, having to hunt for food just to stay alive. And imagine that hunting, or even going to the woods for prey, is illegal and punishable by torture and even death. Would you do anything to live a life of luxury? Would you kill? What if you were forced to?

That is what happens to Katniss Everdeen in The Hunger Games, a book for ages 12 and up. In Catching Fire, Suzanne Collins’ exciting sequel (also for ages 12 and up), Katniss faces even more danger as she deals with her horrific victory in the games.

The story is set in a post-apocalyptic world where a single government rules over the 12 large districts of Panem. In the past, the districts tried to rebel against the Capitol but failed. A 13th district was destroyed by a nuclear bomb as a lesson to the rest of the people.

The Hunger Games were then established as a more long-term reminder of the price of rebellion: peace through fear. The annual games require one boy and one girl from each of the 12 remaining districts to fight to the death in an arena rigged with horrific dangers. The last person alive wins.

Catching Fire picks up the story with Katniss back in her home district in a new, luxurious house with plenty of food for her mom and little sister. Fear and danger are still very much part of her life, however, as she struggles to keep her family and her partner in the Hunger Games, Peeta Mellark, safe. It seems her unconventional win at the Hunger Games is sparking thoughts of revolution in the districts.

Will Katniss be forced to marry Peeta just to keep her family safe? Does she really love Peeta? Can she survive another Hunger Games? Will she overcome her fear and reluctance to help in a new rebellion? Only some of your questions will be answered, as there is yet another book in this promised trilogy. (I, for one, can’t wait.)

The 400-page book is full of characters you can easily relate to and identify with. In terms of plot, the book progresses at a rapid pace, grabbing your attention and never letting go, even after the last page is turned.

I recommend this series to anyone looking for a captivating read you just can’t put down. Catching Fire is a roller coaster filled with excitement, suspense, and absolute wonder. It is perfect for both teens and adults.

— Quinn Jacobson, former Scholastic Kid Reporter

Book Review Breathe: A Ghost Story

If your home had a ghost, what would you do? I know I would certainly get the heck out of there and convince my parent to move faster than you could say “Trick or Treat” five times. Well, I suppose that's where Cliff McNish's character, Jack, and I differ.

In the book Breathe: A Ghost Story by Cliff McNish, the reader is taken into many different worlds through just one boy, Jack, as he is a medium between the world of the living, the world of lost souls, the world of the other side, and the world which exists between the living and the non-living.

When Jack's father dies, and Jack and his mother move into a new home out in the country, Jack hopes to contact him through some supernatural occurrence, but instead Jack finds himself in direct contact with another non-living soul in the home. At first Jack presumes his connection with the ghost – aka the Ghost Mother – will lead him to contact his dad, but he soon discovers the evils that lie within this home and the dangers that await.

You will want to read Breathe with the lights on for fear that a ghost may be lurking in your own home. Even more frightening than the ghosts were the parts of the story describing the world of the lost souls. McNish's description of this terrifying and unsettling world will have your hairs standing up on your arms, and you'll reach for a blanket due to the chills you'll be feeling!

I want to thank lucca4 for recommending this book in the entry Get ready, get set and RECOMMEND!

I give Breathe: A Ghost Story 4.5 out of 5 stars.

—Carly M., STACKS Staffer

Book Review: Daughters of the Sea #1: Hannah

Gather 'round, readers, and let me tell you a story.

There once was a young orphan girl named Hannah who, upon turning 15, was assigned to work on a farm in Kansas. As she traveled from the Boston orphanage to the wide pastures of the farmland, the strangest things began happening: she began shedding her skin like a snake, leaving behind crystalline rocks of salt in her wake. The condition was so perplexing that she was sent back to Boston.

It was the turn of the 20th century, and Hannah was then assigned to suitable employment as a scullery maid at one of the grandest houses in Boston. She tried to fit in, to disappear, as her job duties required. But she felt a longing for something greater, a longing she couldn't name except when she caught a rare glimpse of the ocean. Through the drudgery of the day-to-day work, through tiptoeing around the issues of the house's eldest daughter (not to mention her strange, sinister cat), through the unexpected connection with a famous painter employed by the master of the house, Hannah felt the sea calling to her. And soon, after she and the servant staff were sent to a remote island in Maine for the summer season, she began answering its calls, and the life-changing secret of her existence was revealed.

Daughters of the Sea: Hannah, by Kathryn Lasky, is a gorgeously written and completely captivating book for ages 12 and up. From its beautiful cover to its intriguing premise (“The tide is turning,” warns the back cover), I was immediately taken with Hannah's journey and found myself anxiously flipping through the pages to discover what would happen. While I guessed the truth about Hannah fairly early in the book (I won't ruin it here!), I had to keep reading to find out how the painter, the cat, and the rich eldest daughter all tied into the premise. And I'm glad I did; the book really picks up in pace once Hannah relocates to the cottage in Maine, and the descriptions of the island and the sea made me long for a turn-of-the-century New England summer of my own.

So tell me, commenters, does Daughters of the Sea: Hannah sound like something you’d like to read? Let me know in the comments!

—Morgan, Scholastic Staffer

Book Review: Deep and Dark and Dangerous

On September 4, 2009, I asked Stacks users in the post Get ready, get set and RECOMMEND! to recommend books for Ink Splot 26 reviews and to get into the festive Halloween mood of October, one of the books I chose to read and review this month is Deep and Dark and Dangerous: A Ghost Story by Mary Downing Hahn. As suggested by Springlilly17, Hahn's book was definitely eerie. However, did it earn five stars? You'll have to keep reading to find out.

I don't know about any of you, but cabins and camp sites have always freaked me out a little. They're usually in the middle of nowhere with only a small town as the nearest outlet and are often surrounded by wooded areas. Not to mention the fact that every time I've been to a camp site or cabin, telling ghost stories is generally on the night's agenda. So if you like ghost stories and mysteries, then you'll like Deep and Dark and Dangerous.

Set in a small and quaint town in the northern East Coast, Ali travels with her aunt and younger cousin to their long-deserted family cabin. Ali often wonders why her mother rarely mentions the cabin and why the family has not been back in so long. But against her mother's orders, Ali decides to go, mainly just to get away from her controlling mom.

The cabin and lake seem pleasant at first and Ali is having a great time playing with her younger cousin, until a new girl, Sissy, shows up at the beach one day and claims Ali's cousin for herself. Despite Ali's happiness that her cousin has a new friend, Ali finds Sissy extremely cruel and disrespectful, not to mention strange as she just seems to appear out of nowhere.

The plot begins to take a strange and eerie turn as we find out more about Ali, her family and Sissy. Once you're finished reading story, you'll definitely want to stay away from cabins and nearby lakes for a little while.

Thank you to Springlilly17 for recommending this book! It's perfect for this time of year.

I give it 4.2 out of 5 stars.

—Carly M., STACKS Staffer

Book Review: Dear Dumb Diary

Unless you've been living in a cave, most of you avid readers have probably heard of the Dear Dumb Diary series by Jim Benton. (I mean, we've only written about it on Ink Splot, like a zillion times!) Recently I crawled OUT of MY cave to discover this series! At first I thought, “Oh cool, another cute middle school series” but after reading it — WOW — these books have some bite! And I am hooked.

Jamie Kelly is your average middle-schooler with an average (but evil) best friend, Isabella, and an average (but sickeningly beautiful) nemesis, Angeline. Okay, maybe I'm being dramatic, but Jamie is dramatic . . . and did I mention hilarious?

In the Dear Dumb Diary books (there are 8) Jamie warns us not to read her diary in disclaimers such as, "Only a super gross person reads another person's diary." And, "If you are Angeline, I did NOT give you permission, so stop it." Each book is like a mini-journal which follows something going on at the time in Jamie's life.

Like right now, I just finished Book 4: Never Do Anything Ever in which Jamie starts collecting money for an online charity to channel her “inner beautiosity.” Which is basically because Angeline has been collecting money for charities and Jamie wants to outdo her (and attract the attention of her super-cute crush, Hudson). It backfires, thanks to Jamie's aforementioned friend Isabella — but I can't reveal exactly how things go wrong! You'll just have to read it for yourself!

Besides an overall entertaining story, each of the little daily occurrences and descriptions are wickedly funny. For instance, Jamie is paired with a bunch of misfits on her team in gym class, and she refers to one guy as “That Ugly Guy Whose Name I Forget” . . . or as she calls him for short, “TUGWNIF.” You feel like you are reading something slightly naughty or mean . . . but then you remember this is someone's "diary" and you're not supposed to be reading it . . . and somehow it's okay! It's hard to describe, so I can only recommend you read the series!

And if you've already read any Dear Dumb Diary books, give me a shout! What are your favorite books of the series? Let me know which ones I should check out next!

— Ratha, STACKS Writer

Book Review: The Devil's Arithmetic

I think The Devil's Arithmetic by Jane Yolen ranks not only as one of the best Holocaust fiction books for children, but as a general all-around well written book. In addition to other Holocaust survivor stories such as Number the Stars by Lois Lowry, Journey to America by Sonia Levitin, and Daniel's Story by Carol Matas, Yolen's story was so emotionally capturing that I couldn't stop reading. Readers of any age will become captivated with Hannah Stern's story as she is transported from modern day to the time of the Jewish Holocaust – a time of hardships, struggles and ultimately death for the Jewish people of Europe.

What I found so fascinating and different about this story is that Hannah also holds the memories of her life in modern times. All of these memories become a sort of facade as she spends more and more time in the Nazi concentration camp. This depiction of draining memories of those who survived in the concentration camps is an accurate telling of how the Nazis wanted the Jews to live; to drain them of their past and happy lives and only follow the rules.

One of my favorite quotes in this sad and heartfelt story is when Hannah says to Gitl, "How can you laugh?" to which Gitl replies, "Without laughter, there is no hope. Without hope, there is no life." This particular quote especially struck home for me. Thinking about all of the sad events that have happened, there has always been one family member who has tried to make our family laugh.

Lastly, after reading this book you'll also take away the following message: "Don't take what you have for granted because you never know when it will be stripped away." This message is certainly one worth keeping.

I give this book 4.8 out of 5 stars.

—Carly M., STACKS Staffer

Book Review: Running Out of Time

When I first saw the title Running Out of Time, by Margaret Peterson Haddix, I thought to myself, “Well that sounds interesting.” Then when I read the back cover I was even more intrigued. Picture the 1998 blockbuster film, The Truman Show, set in the classic book series Little House On the Prairie, by Laura Ingalls Wilder — that should give you an idea of Haddix's thrilling story. However, if you haven't seen either The Truman Show or read Little House On the Prairie, then you're probably a little confused right about now. Well, keep on reading . . .

In Running Out of Time, Haddix begins the story by taking us inside the world of an 1840s Indiana village where we meet thirteen-year-old Jessie, her family and friends. There is nothing really odd about this town except for the miraculous cure of diseases that were so prevalent in the mid-nineteenth century. But things in this tiny little community begin erupting when children start dying of diphtheria. Jessie's mother tells her she must get help, but how? This is when the story takes a really interesting turn as Jessie learns that the year is really 1996 and she, her family and the rest of the community have actually been living inside a tourist site, being observed by outside people and scientists.

Intrigued yet? I thought so . . .

So in order to save the dying children in the community, Jessie must escape the locked-down facility and venture into the world of the late-twentieth century. Never having seen an automobile, television or even used a telephone, Jessie has to figure out how she's going to find help while still trying to blend in and look like a normal teenager from the 90s.

What happens next you ask? Well, I'm not going to give away everything in the story, but I will tell you that I really enjoyed reading my second book by Haddix. It was fun, interesting and made me really think about how it would feel to be Jessie. I only wish there were more in the book about Jessie's adventures and experiences when adjusting to her new world. I felt that the book ended a little too soon, whereas I would have liked for it to keep going.

I give this book 4.2 out of 5 stars.

—Carly M., STACKS Staffer

Book Review: When You Reach Me

Get ready to meet Miranda, Sal, Annemarie, and the rest of the characters from the highly acclaimed book, When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead. If you're asking yourself, "What makes you think I want to meet them?" I totally see where you're coming from. When Sonja, STACKS Staffer first gave me the book, I was a little hesitant thinking to myself, "This sounds a little too sci-fi and weird for me," but I was completely wrong.

The book starts with a great quote by famed physicist, Albert Einstein, which immediately gained my attention and I knew this book was going make me think. The story begins with Miranda, the narrator, describing her mom's acceptance to The $20,000 Pyramid (one of the best game shows ever). However, as Miranda is talking, you realize that is not speaking to us, the readers, but she is speaking to someone else! From there on I had to find out who that person was that she was telling the story to.

Other than the mystery surrounding the person Miranda is writing to, I enjoyed reading about New York in the 1970's and how utterly different it would be to go to school in a big city. From being able to leave school for lunch to walking home along Broadway, the experiences and events that Miranda and her friends encounter are both so very different from my elementary school experience, and yet there were also a surprising amount social similarities.

I give this book 4.1 out of 5 stars.

Hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

—Carly M., STACKS Staffer

Which Books Will Win Your Vote?

The September Live Chat will be Kids' Choice. That means that you guys get to vote for which books you want to talk about. But what if you haven't read all of the choices? Here is a quick rundown of each of the books so you can make an informed decision. Don't forget to vote for your top 3!

Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney
6^th grader Greg has to deal with school, bullies, girls, and just life in general in this hilarious book. It is actress Sammi Hanratty's favorite book. Here's what she has to say about it:

If you still need more convincing, read Jack's review on Ink Splot 26.

Ripley's Believe It or Not
All the strangest things you can imagine —and some that you could never imagine — are in this book: a man who is tattooed to look like a lizard! a two-headed sheep! a two-nosed pig! If you like weird, gross trivia and the revolting pictures to go along with it, then this is your kind of book.

Frindle by Andrew Clements
5^th grade jokester, Nick, tries to annoy his teacher by calling his pen a "frindle." But what first seems like a harmless prank soon becomes a media frenzy when the whole class starts using the new word, and the joke spreads across town like wildfire.

The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo
For readers who love fantasy, talking animals, princesses and castles, this is your book. Despereaux is a kind and sensitive mouse who falls in love with a princess. Talk about a doomed relationship! But it's a very sweet story.

How I Survived Middle School by Nancy Krulik
On the first day of 6^th grade, Jenny finds out that her best friend is ditching her for the popular crowd. Ouch! For more about this series, plus fun games and activities, visit the Middle School Survival web site.

Tunnels by Brian Williams & Roderick Gordon
When 14-year-old Will discovers a secret, dangerous underground world, it puts him and his father in incredible danger. Check it out in this video. Still need more info? Ink Splot 26 Blogger, Rob, recommends this series as one his favorites of 2008.

Swindle by Gordon Korman
What would you do if an adult swindled you out a million-dollar baseball card? Would you try to steal it back? These kids could would! Here is a video of the author describing this fast-paced and funny adventure story.

Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell
Our own Ink Splot 26 Blogger, Ratha, raves about this book. Read her review.

How to Steal a Dog by Barbara O'Connor
If you love dogs, you'll love this book about two kids who get themselves into a lot of trouble. Here is a video of the author telling you about it.

Now that you have gotten a small taste of each of these books, go vote for the ones you want to discuss in the Live Chat.

— Sonja, STACKS Staffer

Book Review: Savvy

If I could have a savvy, what would I want it to be? Well it'd be cool to be able to read others' minds. However, the difficulty in being able to shut out other people's thoughts might prove to be a problem. Maybe the ability to know everything would be cool. At least then I would never have to study or bother to look things up. Unfortunately, that could also be a potential problem given that some people might take my knowledge for arrogance. I guess having a savvy wouldn't be so great after all. Now I know how Mississippi Beaumont ("Mibs" for short) feels when she gets her savvy on her thirteenth birthday.

Savvy by Ingrid Law is an amazing story filled with many great moral messages. It is about a young girl, Mibs Beaumont, who inherits a deep-rooted family trait called a “savvy.” A savvy is a predetermined power that all Beaumonts receive on their thirteenth birthdays. Some might even call these attributes superpowers.

On Mibs' thirteenth birthday, she discovers that her savvy is the ability to hear the voices of other people's body art (tattoos and doodles). Though it might sound cool, and could be the closest thing to hearing someone's mind, Mibs discovers that real people's voices often get confused in the midst of the other voices she is hearing.

As Mibs struggles to gain control of her new-found savvy, she embarks a wild journey with her brothers, fourteen-year-old, Fish, whose emotions can determine the weather, seven-year-old Samson, whose quietness and tranquility get lost in the crowd, and friends-of-the-family, Bobbi and Will Junior, in order to save her critically hospitalized poppa.

I found this book exceptionally intriguing and entertaining while at other times quite touching and sad. At every moment Law managed to incorporate an underlying message which made this book all the more enjoyable. Messages such as learn to live with what you are given, listen to your own voice instead of others, and take the bad with the good, are just some of the thought-provoking concepts Law brings to the table.

I give this book 4.5 out of 5 stars.

—Carly M., STACKS Staffer

Book Review: Harriet the Spy

What are the meanest things you've ever thought about your friends and schoolmates? What if you wrote them all down in a journal . . . then your classmates FOUND that journal and read everything? This is what happens in Harriet the Spy, the classic children's book by Louise Fitzhugh. Even though it was published in 1964, (or maybe because it was published in 1964 before books were flashy and sophisticated) it remains a shockingly honest children's book, in my humble opinion.

Harriet is an 11-year-old girl whose life's goal is to become a spy. She spies on people and writes about them in her secret notebook, all the while trying to understand things in her world — like being rich vs. poor, and loved vs. unloved. Harriet herself is the daughter of New York socialites, and was “raised” by her nurse Ole Golly. When Ole Golly leaves the family to get married, Harriet is left lacking a mother figure and advisor. This is just about when her friends find her secret notebook and all the mean things she has written about them.

For example, she writes:

“Carrie Andrews is considerably fatter this year.”

“And Laura Peters is thinner and uglier. I think she could use some braces on her teeth.”

“The reason Sport dresses so funny is that his father won't buy him anything to wear because his mother has all the money.”

“I don't know exactly if I like Rachael or whether it is just that I like going to her house because her mother makes homemade cake. If I had a club, I'm not sure I would have Rachael in it.”

YIKES. So now Harriet finds herself as an outcast, without any friends, and going to school each day is a nightmare. She gets tormented, and most of her nights are spent crying at home alone. How can Harriet fix this situation? You'll have to read the book to find out!

Even though this book was written so long ago, it feels timeless, like it could have been happening to kids at any time. Harriet wasn't a loveable character. I kept waiting for her to become loveable, but she never really did. Despite this, I was rooting for her to somehow redeem herself. She was so mean to her friends, but then they were so mean to her. It was crazy . . . I think this is why I kept reading! I'm not sure if the movie felt like this. (Did anyone see the movie? Michelle Trachtenberg played Harriet!)

I can see why this book is a classic, though. It is honest, frank, and kept me turning the pages. But I don't know many kids who would actually write such mean things down. Maybe it was a product of how she was raised . . . Hmm.

Anyways, have you guys read Harriet the Spy? Give a shout and let me know what you think.

— Ratha, STACKS Writer

Book Review: Dear Dumb Diary Book #8

Oh, WOW.

I mean, I knew there was a series called Dear Dumb Diary. And I knew it was supposed to be funny and witty and relatable. But I finally picked it up the other day and dove in, and was I unprepared for just how hilarious and engrossing and smart it actually was!

Ok, let me start at the beginning. In case you don't know, Dear Dumb Diary is the hilarious journal of Jamie Kelly, a middle schooler who captures all her thoughts and observations in her diary, complete with drawings, which is helpful when she's writing about things like giving Albert Einstein a makeover (he looks quite nice with styled hair) and hosting dog weddings. With earlier titles like Can Adults Become Human? and The Problem With Here Is That It's Where I'm From, I should have expected nothing less.

In Book #8, It's Not My Fault I Know Everything, Jamie has to write a diary as part of her homework assignment. And since there's no way she would ever, ever turn in her ACTUAL diary, she has to double-up on entries. So we readers get to read her real diary as well as the school diary, and it is LOL funny. (Literally, I laughed out loud. A lot!)

Jamie also begins to spend more time with blondwad, aka Angeline, because they are puppy parents-in-law. Which means Jamie's real best friend, Isabella, starts to feel a little left out. And of course, there are appearances by 8th grade cutie Hudson and a whole crop of teachers who exist to torture Jamie. (Or so she would have you believe.)

My first foray into Dear Dumb Diary was a successful one, I must admit. If you like over-the-top, gives-you-side-stitches-from-laughing books, pick up It's Not My Fault I Know Everything, and check out the Dear Dumb Diary web site on The STACKS!

— Morgan B., Scholastic staffer