Mockingjay

It’s here! It’s amazing! Mockingjay lived up to all my expectations and more! I was so excited when I got my pre-order from Scholastic this past week, and devoured the entire book within 36 hours, then passed it on to a friend. Now that I’ve had a few days to absorb the awesomeness, I think I may re-read it when I get it back! (On a side note, for pre-ordering from Scholastic, I got a cool Mockingjay pin just like the one Katniss has worn throughout the books. What a great little extra! I can't wait to wear it to school - I'm sure I'll have students trying to get me to part with it!)


WARNING: If you haven’t read the previous two book, The Hunger Games and Catching Fire, DO NOT read this summary, as it will contain spoilers!

Summary: Katniss Everdeen has been through a lot since that day she stepped forward and took her sister’s place in the Hunger Games; two entrances into the arena, threats from President Snow, the destruction of her home district. After being rescued from the arena during the Quarter Quell, she now finds herself in fabled District 13, a secretive district that might have the power to face the Capital. Like many of the people of district 12, her family and Gale are safe, but the same cannot be said for Peeta, who is a prisoner of President Snow.

Will Kat agree to let the rebels make her their Mockingjay; the public face of the rebellion? Can she learn to trust the other former tributes who are now a part of the rebellion? Can she somehow save Peeta? And finally, the big question: who will win Katniss’ heart in the end?

I've been asked what kind of books the Hunger Games series is.  It doesn't really fit any single definition. The series is so multi-layered, it is adventure, science fiction, social commentary, romance, a coming-of-age story on steroids. It is a war story, a new addition to the exciting world of dystopian fiction, and a tale about the importance of family.  It defies labels and is simply a great tale that leaves you pondering long after the last word has been read.

Mockingjay is full of action and surprises. As she did in the past two books, Collins will occasionally break your heart as you feel the losses and betrayals Katniss has to endure in the quest to be truly free. I had goosebumps more than once, got angry many times, and cried at times when Katniss couldn’t allow herself to do so. Read it!

Themes:
Freedom
Friendship
Rebellion
Loss

Age Appropriateness:
Grades 7 and up

Areas of concern (content):
Foul Language: none
Nudity/Adult Content: none
Violence: Yes, it is a war, after all.

Masterpiece

Elise Broach is another author who has been featured on the Sunshine State list before. I really enjoyed Shakespeare’s Secret, so I was excited to dive into Masterpiece.


Summary: This book brings together two unlikely friends; Marvin is a beetle who lives under the kitchen sink, James is the young boy who lives in the apartment where that kitchen sink is located, along with his mother, step-father, and younger half-brother. When James gets a pen-and-ink set from his artist father for his birthday, Marvin can’t resist; he creates a miniature drawing as a gift for James. When James’ mother sees it and assumes it is his work, James and Marvin find themselves caught up in a mystery.

This book is a great choice for those who enjoy Blue Balliett’s books. It involves missing art, forgery, and friendship. Lots of fun! Be ready though – the ending will make you wonder. Did James do it on purpose?

Themes:
Friendship
Trust

Age Appropriateness:
Grades 2 and up

Areas of concern (content):
Foul Language: none
Nudity/Adult Content: none
Violence: none

Savvy

This book has been on my reading list for a while now, but had gotten buried in my pile of “to be reads.” I am so glad I uncovered it.


Summary: Mississippi (Mibs) Beaumont is looking forward to her magical 13th birthday – the birthday when her savvy will make itself known, as it has for everyone else in her family. Her brother Rocket is electric (literally), Fish’s moods affect the weather, and her mother is perfect in everything she does. Everyone in her family has some special gift that makes them unique, and Mibs is anxious to discover hers.

When her father has a car accident just before her big day, landing him in the hospital unconscious, Mibs prays that her savvy will be something that can bring him back to them. Her birthday goes from bad to worse when a well-meaning neighbor insists on having a birthday party for her (a big no-no, since her savvy could be anything!) Mibs escapes, planning to go to the hospital and wake her father.

What follows is a hilarious and sometimes heartbreaking road trip involving a henpecked Bible salesman, a waitress, and a handful of kids, all of whom have unique talents, secrets, and reasons for going on the run.

After reading it, I totally understood why this is a Newbery Honor book.

Themes:
Self-esteem
Family
Friendship


Age Appropriateness:
Grades 3 and up

Areas of concern (content):
Foul Language: none
Nudity/Adult Content: none
Violence: none

Diamonds in the Shadow

Caroline B. Cooney must have an “in” with the group who picks Sunshine State Books, because she has another one on the list this year.  ;) Her last offering on the list, Code Orange, was a thriller that was frightening because it could happen. Diamonds in the Shadow is no different – a tense and suspenseful book that takes modern day issues and weaves them into the lives of her characters, everyday Americans.


Summary: When the Finch family’s church agrees to sponsor a family of refugees from Africa, they get more than they could imagine. More responsibility; when the apartment for the family falls through, the Finch family takes them into their home. More mystery; the Finch children, Jared and Mopsy, both begin to wonder if this family is who they say they are. More danger; the Amabo family has something in their possession that another refugee wants, and he will do whatever it takes to get it.

The characters in this story, especially Jared and Mopsy, are well developed and it is interesting to watch them change as the story builds. Both learn a great deal about themselves, what it means to be charitable, and how far some people must go in order to simply survive.

The Amabo family and their plight is also great reading, as it shows just how alien things that we take for granted can be to those from other nations. Watching them learn about such common (to us) things as supermarkets and telephones made me, as a reader, really look at my own life and wonder how I would survive if I lost the many conveniences I take for granted.

Themes:
Survival
What makes a family
What is right (moral)?

Age Appropriateness:
Grades 5 and up

Areas of concern (content):
Foul Language: none
Nudity/Adult Content: none
Violence: mild

The Season

I must confess a weakness for anything Jane Austen. So when I saw the Publisher’s Weekly review for this book contained the magic words “in the spirit of Jane Austen,” I immediately grabbed a copy and jumped in. I was not disappointed.


Summary: Alex, otherwise known as Lady Alexandra Stafford, is not looking forward to her first official London season – in fact, she loathes the idea. Her strong opinions and adventurous spirit are not proper accessories for a young lady just entering the marriage market of the London aristocracy. Her mother, however, is determined to see her married off to someone wealthy, respectable and, Alex is sure, terminally boring.

Alex quickly finds herself the center of attention – there is no lack of possible suitors that her mother finds satisfying. From the roguish Lord Stanhope to Lord Blackmoor, who has been raised almost as a brother to Alex, she finds herself in a variety of awkward situations and amidst petty jealousies.

The season turns out to be much more exciting than Alex hopes for as she drags her best friends Ella and Vivi into a mystery that involves one of her oldest friends. Murder, espionage, and a healthy dose of romance make this a fun read. The quick twists and turns will make it a book you’ll want to read over to see what you missed the first run through.

Themes:
Courage
Individuality
Friendship

Age Appropriateness:
Grades 6 and up

Areas of concern (content):
Foul Language: none
Nudity/Adult Content: none
Violence: mild

Catching Fire - Book 2 of the Hunger Games

This was, for me, a rare book - I couldn't wait to see what happened, but I also didn't want it to end because I still have a couple of weeks to wait for the next (and final) book.  As I read, pieces kept coming together to form a puzzle that came together perfectly at the end, making me proud of what I had figured out along the way and frustrated (much like Katnis) over the information that was hidden.

Summary: Having won the Hunger Games, Katniss and Peeta should be safe now.  But things are changing quickly; Katniss's gamble may have saved her and Peeta, but it has also started a fire that the Capital is angrily trying to quench - the fire of rebellion. Katniss sees signs of it on their "Victory Tour" and also finds life in District 12 much changed with the arrival of a new Head Peacekeeper.

Now the Capital has thrown another evil curve her way, forcing Katniss and Peeta to fight for their lives once more. Katniss knows that she cannot save them both again.  With threats direct from President Snow hanging over her head, Katniss must choose her path: will she fan the flames of dissent, risking the lives of everyone she loves? Anyone who has read the first book knows this is not an easy decision, but the choice is clear.

The end of Catching Fire is full of shocks and frustration, leaving the reader with plenty of carrots in preparation for the release of Mockingjay. For this reader, that release can't come soon enough.  I'm so glad I pre-ordered!!!


Themes:
Courage
Justice
Freedom
Friendship

Age Appropriateness:
Grades 7 and up

Areas of concern (content):
Foul Language: none
Nudity/Adult Content: none
Violence: yes.

The Girl Who Could Fly

Although this is on the Sunshine State List for grades 3-5, I can really see my middle school students enjoying this book as well. It’s a fun read, and has enough twists and turns to keep it from becoming too predictable.


Summary: Since she was a little girl, Piper McCloud has been different from everyone else, from her very normal parents to her normal neighbors in her normal home of Lowland County. When Piper was a baby, she often hovered over the ground, but she has now learned that she can fly! Although Piper loves soaring through the clouds, her parents just want her to keep her feet on the ground and try to fit in.

When Piper lets her secret out at a community picnic, her parents find their house under assault by the media, all wanting a look at the girl who can fly. In comes an answer: INSANE, a secret school for children with unusual abilities.

The children at INSANE have a variety of powers, ranging from telekinesis to weather control. Piper loves her new school, with its soft blankets, gourmet meals, and new friends. But things aren’t as they seem, and Piper may be in more trouble now than she ever was in her normal home!

Themes:
Courage
Individuality
Friendship


Age Appropriateness:
Grades 3 and up

Areas of concern (content):
Foul Language: none
Nudity/Adult Content: none
Violence: mild

Changeling

Of the Sunshine State Books I have read so far for this year, this is my favorite. I am a big fan of fantasy and strong female characters, both a big part of this novel.


Summary: Neef has spent her entire life living among the fairies of “New York Between.” She is a changeling, a human who was taken as a baby and replaced with a fairy lookalike. Her fairy godmother, Astris, is a white mouse, and her godfather is a Pooka. Neef’s quiet protected life comes to an end when she breaks a fairy law. Now she must meet a challenge given to her by the Green Lady, ruler of Central Park or else become the prey of the Wild Hunt.

Along the way, Neef will explore parts of New York Between she’s never seen, find her “other half” and discover friends in unexpected places. It’s a fun adventure full of the folklore of many cultures, blended nicely into modern culture.

Themes:
Courage
Knowing Yourself
Friendship

Age Appropriateness:
Grades 4 and up

Areas of concern (content):
Foul Language: none
Nudity/Adult Content: none
Violence: mild