Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

Even though I realize we are not the first to read this series, we thought we'd add our names to the pile.

The second book in the trilogy, Catching Fire, was way more awesome than the first in my mind. I felt more desperate to finish (didn't think that was possible after Hunger Games) and MUCH more let down to have to wait for the next one.

I love the relationship between Peeta and Katniss. It just makes me SO excited to see how Collins resolves it.

And I loved the way I felt like I was also trying to "solve the arena" in this one.

So, my husband is reading it right now...Therefore, while this is not a review at all, this is going to count as my opinion of Catching Fire. I consider this a MUST READ.

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins is an amazing book and I loved it. It also fulfilled the Youth Fiction category on this.

The Hunger Games is set in the future and in the area that was formerly North America. It is a new nation with an overwhelmingly powerful government, called the Capitol, that oversees 12 districts that the government created. Every year, the Capitol holds the Hunger Games, a gruesome and horrible competition. A girl and a boy between the ages of 12 and 18 is chosen from each of the 12 districts to compete for their district. The competition is a fight to the death and the last one standing wins. Katniss is 16, from District 12, and after her little sister's name is the one chosen, she volunteers to take her sister's place in the competition. She knows it is a death sentence for herself but she knows she has a better chance than her little sister. Katniss knows a lot about survival but she is going up against others from the richer districts that have trained for the event for their entire lives.

I highly recommend this book and I think you should all read it. Megan read it too and I am sure she will sing the praises as well.

Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli & Love, Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli

As part of this goal, I picked up Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli to fulfill the youth fiction category. It is a book about a high school in Arizona. There is a girl that has been home schooled her entire life but then decides to go to a public school. She is incredibly different and everyone thinks she is completely crazy. She doesn't care what people think about her and she continues to do whatever she wants. Slowly, people begin to recognize the beauty of her being different. One of my favorite lines in the books is, "It is a rebellion she led, a rebellion for rather than against."

It is a fabulous book and I highly recommend it!

After I finished Stargirl, I also read the sequel Love, Stargirl that continues the story. I didn't love the sequel as much as the first book, but I did still enjoy it. Go read at least Stargirl!!

Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac by Gabrielle Zevin

As far as YA fiction goes, I enjoyed this book. However, I wouldn't recommend it as a change your life must-read novel. It was fun and entertaining.

Naomi, the MC, konks her head and has amnesia. She doesn't remember anything, including her boyfriend, best friend, dad's fianceeor really her purpose in life.

As she "wakes up," she starts to see her role in the world from an outsider's perspective and recognizes some things she wishes she could change.

Zevin is very good at portraying the teenage angst that is so familiar if you ever were a teenager or have ever worked with them.

I'd suggest this book as a "coming down off a classics" novel. In other words, this was a good read after finishing The Count of Monte Cristo.