Module Fifteen...The Hunger Games

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. 

Collins, S.  (2008).  The Hunger Games.  New York, NY:  Scholastic.

Synopsis:  In a post-apocalyptic North America, The Capital is the center of a country that is supported by thirteen districts.  District thirteen rebells and is crushed in the rebellion.  As penance, The Capital institutes The Hunger Games.  One boy and one girl from each district is lead to an arena and made to fight to the death against the other children.  At the 74th annual Hunger Games, Katniss Everdean and Peeta Mellark are chosen from district twelve.  Katniss's father had died in the mines, which is the main industry for that district (each district had their own industry).  Despite her closed-off exterior, she is an instant favorite of those watching the games but is this enough to save her?

Impressions:  When I first read the book I was moved beyond words.  In some ways I was mad at the deaths of the children, especially sweet little Rue.  But at the same time I found myself thinking about the book well after I read it.  The characters were so well written and the story was wonderful.  I can not wait to read the rest.  I can understand why some find the story disturbing and I do not believe it is a story for the very young, but I think over all it is a great book.

Reviews:

THE HUNGER GAMES. (2008). Kirkus Reviews, 76(17), 941.  Library, Information Science & Technology Abstracts with Full Text, EBSCOhost (accessed May 1, 2013).

Katniss Everdeen is a survivor. She has to be; she's representing her District, number 12, in the 74th Hunger Games in the Capitol, the heart of Panem, a new land that rose from the ruins of a post-apocalyptic North America. To punish citizens for an early rebellion, the rulers require each district to provide one girl and one boy, 24 in all, to fight like gladiators in a futuristic arena. The event is broadcast like reality TV, and the winner returns with wealth for his or her district. With clear inspiration from Shirley Jackson's "The Lottery" and the Greek tale of Theseus, Collins has created a brilliantly imagined dystopia, where the Capitol is rich and the rest of the country is kept in abject poverty, where the poor battle to the death for the amusement of the rich. Impressive world-building, breathtaking action and clear philosophical concerns make this volume, the beginning of a planned trilogy, as good as The Giver and more exciting. However, poor copyediting in the first printing will distract careful readers--a crying shame. (Science fiction. 11 & up).

Goldsmith, F. (2008). The Hunger Games. Booklist, 105(1), 97.  Library, Information Science & Technology Abstracts with Full Text, EBSCOhost (accessed May 1, 2013).

This is a grand-opening salvo in a new series by the author of the Underland Chronicles.  Sixteen-year-old Katniss poaches food for her widowed mother and little sister from the forest outside the legal perimeter of District 12, the poorest of the dozen districts constituting Panem, the North American dystopic state that has replaced the U.S. in the not-too-distant future.  Her hunting and tracking skills serve her well when she is then cast into the nation's annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death where contestants must battle harsh terrain, artificially conceited weather conditions, and two teenaged contestants from each of Panem's districts.  District 12's second "tribute" is Peeta, the baker's son, who has been in love with Katniss since he was five.  Each new plot twist ratchets up the tension, moving the story forward and keeping the reader on edge.  Although Katniss may be skilled with a bow and arrow and adept at analyzing her opponents' next moves, she has much to learn about personal sentiments, especially her own.  Populated by three-dimensional characters, this is superb tale of physical adventure, political suspense, and romance.

Library Use:

One of the best ways to use it would be as part of a discussion on banned books or books that are on lists that have controversial titles.  

Module Fourteen...The Monsterologist.

The Monsterologist: A Memoir in Rhyme ghostwritten by Bobbi Katz
Illustrated by Adam McCauley

Katz, B.  (2009).  The Monsterologist:  A Memoir in Rhyme.  New York, NY:  Sterling Publishers.

Synopsis:

This book is a clever list of poems about the travels of a man who is a self-proclaimed “monsterologist”.  The “monsterologist” tells the stories of historical monsters:  Count Dracula, trolls, ogres, werewolves, grendels, golems, Medusa, Cyclops, ghosts, witches, King Kong, Godzilla, Bluebeard the pirate, Frankenstein’s monster, Loch Ness monster, The Kraken, zombies, and The Yeti.  He also reports on some “newly discovered” monsters like “The Compu-Monster” (a monster that destroys hard drives), The Verbivore (a monster that destroys book and book spines), and the dredded “Suds-Surfing Sock-Eater”.  The book uses very descriptive language to describe the monsters (which is great for middle-school boys who still like gross things).

Reaction:  I enjoyed this book and thought it was well done.  It’s not Shakespeare but it is cute non-the-less.  I would not have enjoyed it as a young girl just because the writer uses a lot of “gross-out” language but I am pretty sure young boys will enjoy it.  The drawings were inventive and I thought they were perfect for this story.

Reviews:

Chipman, I. (2009). The Monsterologist: A Memoir In Rhyme. Booklist, 106(2), 61.  Library, Information Science & Technology Abstracts with Full Text, EBSCOhost (accessed April 28, 2013).

Definitely not to be mistaken as an entry in the increasingly ubiguitous Ology line, this book offers a collection of hideous beastie-based verses.  From an invitation to visit Count Dracule to an international zombie census, the quality of the poems is wildly inconsistent, sometimes as even from line to line, as when a clever gross-out (“Greasy green lizards / and raw chicken gizzards,”) gets a poem rolling, only to have it fall flat on its face with “spell binding spells / cast by spell-casting wizards.”  More often then not, thought, bursts of devilish humor and winking creepiness keep things moving, and McCauley’s well-designed pages-outfitted in a sort of loose, splashy collage, with a few sturdy fold-outs-have browsing appeal.  Cleverly, alongside old favorites-from medusas and witches to krakens and the Lock Ness Monster-Katz dreams up her own baddies, like the compu-monter, that gobbles up hard drives, and the voracious Verbivore (take heed, librarians!).

Kinnaird, K.  (2010).  The Monsterologist: A Memoir in Rhyme.  Librarians’ Choice Blog.   http://librarianschoices.blogspot.com/2010/03/monsterologist-memoir-in-rhyme.html

In this ghoulish collection of poetry, a renowned “Monsterologist” shares his wisdom with young readers. The scientist’s dangerous world travels and strange experiences with the paranormal are all documented in this clever “memoir” that encourages intrepid children to follow in his footsteps and practice “Monsterology.” Monsters as diverse as Count Dracula, Medusa, The Kraken, Yeti, and Godzilla are all included in this scary collection.

Katz’s bizarrely fun poetry covers a wide range by including both popular and some lesser known monster myths. Older readers will enjoy the rhyme and content of these accessible and entertaining poems. McCauley’s mixed media illustrations are appropriately gruesome and greatly add to the charm of the book. The embossed cover, letters written in script and fold-out pages lend a scrapbook feel to the memoir. This volume will be popular with young people looking for fantasy poetry.

Library Use:

This could be used as part of the display for Halloween, supernatural creatures or as a travel journal, because the “monsterologist” does a lot of traveling.