The Hunger Games

Pages: 374
Genre: Action, Adventure, Futuristic
Rating: 5/5

Summary (from Goodreads.com)

In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. The Capitol is harsh and cruel and keeps the districts in line by forcing them all to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV.

Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives alone with her mother and younger sister, regards it as a death sentence when she steps forward to take her sister's place in the Games. But Katniss has been close to dead before—and survival, for her, is second nature. Without really meaning to, she becomes a contender. But if she is to win, she will have to start making choices that will weigh survival against humanity and life against love.


My Thoughts

THIS BOOK WAS AMAZING. I really took my time with it, marvelling over the writing style and details. The author knew how to capture your attention and imprison it inside her pages. Collins did an unbelievable job with the characters, she took great patience in describing the kids from the other districts without boring the reader, and actually I felt myself hungering to know more about the other tributes. I wondered about what it would be like if she included scenes in the book which were based upon Peeta’s perspective, however, I knew that would only ruin the mystery of being inside of Katniss’s head.

The only wish I had for it was that Collins would have given more flashbacks to what Katniss’s life used to be like in the district, and get to know Gale a little more. Perhaps this will be more covered in the next books, especially Gale...there’s no doubt about that.

All in all, it’s certainly one of my favourites!

The Rules Of Survival by Nancy Werlin

Genre: Tragedy, Reality,
Rating: 3
Pages: 259

Summary

Enter Matt’s world where he lives with his two younger sisters and his crazy, insane mother and all her boyfriends. Meanwhile Aunt Bobby is downstairs stuffing her face with food and not paying the smallest speck of attention to the bigger picture: Matt, Cali and Emma need to get away from their mom. It’s a struggle to survive under the roof of his mom, which feels more like a rain cloud.
But then Matt discovers Murdoch, a man he witnessed rescuing a little boy in the convenience store. And Matt knows if he can get his attention their might just be a little hope. Amazingly, Murdoch begins dating his mom and life’s almost good. But when Murdoch dumps his mom all roads lead to hell. Matt knows he’ll need to take action, but can he survive these measures alone?

Why Read It?

This isn’t a typical “Mom goes through a bunch of boyfriends” classic. It’s a scary adventure for Emma, Cali and Matt, just kids. It’s heartbreaking and infuriating, yet brilliant and satisfying, a story you won’t want to forget. For Girls and Boys!



My Thoughts

The Rules of Survival is basically about these three kids trying to get away from their insane crazy mother. Her actions simply made me want rip her hair out at some points. Other times she confused me with her behaviour.
It’s a great story about overcoming adversity. It covers mostly family relationships and the romantic relationship between Murdoch and her. However, it is mainly about surviving a parent that might as well be a scary uncontrollable teenager.
I rated The Rules of Survival a three because it was a good book, and I don’t think I’d read it again. Mostly because the story line wasn’t in that great of my interest and books like this aren’t something that I enjoy particularly. Reality and Tragedy novels I find don’t lift my mood although sometimes they give me a great sense of relief and that’s why I enjoy them for the most part.
I think the lesson in this book is just to take action and seek help and don’t stop until you get it. I believe that’s an important ability to have, and I’m glad Matt had it in him to get word out, no matter how difficult it was and he kept trying whether he succeeded or failed. I admire him for that. So maybe you want to pick this up and read it, maybe you don’t, but I think you’re missing out on a great novel, after all it’s a National Book Award Finalist, a Los Angeles Times Book Prize Finalist and a ALA Quick Pick!