The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

I picked this book up on the suggestion of a friend and I cannot thank her enough! This book was absolutely stellar! There's suspense, drama, and a creatively designed dystopic world! The characters have depth and are very engaging as they race around an arena trying to kill each other!

Before getting ahead of ourselves, some back ground information is necessary. When global warming destroys the United States, the remaining land is divided up between 13 districts. When District 13 decides to fight back at the inordinate amount of control the central government is exerting, they are put down and destroyed. As a reminder of this ill-advised uprising, every year there is a nationally televised gladiator-esque game show pitting two contestants from each district against everyone else in a battle to the death.

Katniss, our 16 year-old volunteer, is a strong, determined heroine. If she can be called that. Her drive to return home forces her to be brutal and harsh, while she is still likable as a character. Her alter-ego Peeta, also from her district, is generous to a fault. The story follows them as they try to escape the other 22 players and learn of the evil that lurks in the government. Do they make it out? Read it and discover the truth!

Note: The sequel to this book is coming out September 1, 2009. Get them both!!

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Flygirl by Sherri L. Smith

This fantastic historical fiction, set during World War II, is about one girl's dream to fly. Ida Mae is a fair-skinned African-American girl whose father taught her to fly so that she could help dust the crops. Sadly, his passing in a tractor accident left behind Ida Mae, an older and younger brother, her mother and her grandfather to tend to their strawberry farm in Slidell, Louisiana.

With World War II coming to the home front, Ida Mae's brother quits school (where he is studying to become a doctor) to join the fight as a medic. Frustrated by her imposed role due to her gender and race, Ida Mae decides to try out for the WASP (Women Airforce Service Pilots). She "passes" for a white woman and goes through her training.

She meets some special and interesting characters along the way, like the wing walker Patsy "Cakewalk" Kake and the sweet, charming Lily Lowenstein. Their story provides a look into the all guts and little glory that was the life of a WASP.

While based on actual history, this particular story is not true; that the author knows about. Compellingly written with some Southern charm and accurate historical facts, Flygirl is a must read for teens looking to get a little history lesson while enjoying a good story.

Fresh start for this blog

So I have decided to change the basis of this blog. I will be writing book reviews and mixing in a little information about myself periodically. As many of you know, I work in a library and intend on becoming a librarian one day. As a precursor to that I am writing book reviews to broaden my vocabulary, explore new book genres, and reflect on the plethora of books there are to read in this world.

If you have any suggestions of books for me to read and subsequently review, please let me know. Enjoy!