Dark...brutal...violent......
AWESOME!
The third installment in the Hunger Games trilogy is not for the faint of heart. But, if you're willing to dive into some pretty heavy, dark stuff, you won't be disappointed...other than in the fact that the series is done!
I don't want to give anything away, but I will say that this triliogy now tops my list of favourites...and the fact that all TEN copies of The Hunger Games are signed out right now is not at all suprising to me. And, if you haven't yet added your name to our hold list for Mockingjay, you'd better hurry...the list is getting longer by the minute.
Heist Society ~ Ally Carter
What a fun book - I thoroughly enjoyed reading this one! If I were a movie producer, I'd snap up the rights to Heist Society immediately (what a cool job THAT would be!).
I was hooked from the beginning...where the author, Ally Carter, gives you just enough descriptive clues that you know Katarina Bishop (Kat) is no ordinary student: she's always scoping out the situation ("Kat was used to looking at a room and seeing all the angles"); you glimpse inklings of her past ("Every nerve in her body seemed to stand on end as she realized that somehow, in the last three months, she had become someone who wore squeaky shoes").
Kat's father has been framed for the theft of some extremely valuable art...and unless she can prove her father's innocence - or recover the art - some very dangerous men are going to be very unhappy.
I was hooked from the beginning...where the author, Ally Carter, gives you just enough descriptive clues that you know Katarina Bishop (Kat) is no ordinary student: she's always scoping out the situation ("Kat was used to looking at a room and seeing all the angles"); you glimpse inklings of her past ("Every nerve in her body seemed to stand on end as she realized that somehow, in the last three months, she had become someone who wore squeaky shoes").
Kat's father has been framed for the theft of some extremely valuable art...and unless she can prove her father's innocence - or recover the art - some very dangerous men are going to be very unhappy.
This Teens' Top Ten nominee gets high marks in my book. Heist Society reads like a wonderful crime caper - not unlike the Oceans 11 movie. It has lots of action and suspense, but also doesn't take itself too seriously. It's a quick read, perfect for the end of summer or a weekend...and I'm going to keep my eyes open to see if it gets made into its own movie - I've already mentally started casting it. Once you've read it, let me know who you think should be part of Kat's crew!
Graceling/Fire ~ Kristin Cashore
Only a few more weeks of summer (although I'm already back at school!) so I'd better get moving on all the Top Ten Nominees!!
Kristine Cashore's Fire is on the list, but I wanted to start by reading her first novel, Graceling. The 2 books are related to each other by one character, but you can read Fire without having read Graceling (although I'm glad I read them in the order I did!).
Let me just start off by saying that I LOVED Graceling. Five out of five, for sure, on the Rez Recommends scale. I reminded me quite a lot of The Hunger Games, which I also loved: feisty heroine, great adventure, amazing characters, a little bit of romance, political intrigue...all around great!
Graceling Plot summary: Katsa is a Graceling - which means she has special powers...in her case, the extraordinary fighting skills: she can take down an entire room of soldiers all on her own, and barely break a sweat. Her uncle, the power-hungry King Randa, takes advantage of these powers and uses her as a hired thug. Katsa's tired of bullying people and starts to defy her uncle. During a secret rescue mission, she meets Po, another Graceling (you can tell a Graceling by their eyes - each eye is a different colour - but they each have different skills/Graces). She's immediately drawn to him, but can't quite figure him out...the chemistry between the two of them is refreshing - there's clearly a romantic attraction, but it's not the over-the-top, swooning that seems to be quite popular these days. Anyway, the two of them uncover a plot to overthrow all Seven Kingdoms...let the action begin!! (Actually, the action starts right in the first few pages - I dare you not to get sucked in!). Overall, I LOVED it...I was thrilled to find a book that I enjoyed as much as The Hunger Games and couldn't wait to start the next book, Fire.
Fire Plot Summary: Once again, the hero of the story is female. This time, Fire, is part human, part monster...she is stunningly beautiful and has the ability to control the minds of anyone she meets. But this gift comes at a price...people obviously fear her, and that fear often leads to hate so she's always in danger - from humans and monsters. When Prince Bringan brings her to King City to try and uncover a treasonous plot, she must use this gift to try and save the kingdom. Maybe because I had such high expections after enjoying Graceling so much, I was a little disappointed in Fire. It took much longer for me to get engrossed in the story...it was like the author got a bit bogged down in the mythology/background story. Or maybe there were just more characters that I was trying to keep track of. It started off really well - the Prologue, which links the 2 books together, was fantastic. And then it seems to slow down for a while. But, if you stick with it, it's definitely worth the effort...similar elements make it a great great: adventure/suspense, a little bit of romance, great characters. Overall, Fire gets 4 out of 5 on the Rez Recommends scale. And again I should say, maybe my impression was skewed because I read it so closely after I finished Graceling.
No word yet on whether there's another book on the horizon, but I certainly hope so.
Now, I'm on to Teens' Top Ten nominee, Heist Society by Ally Carter. I'm only a few chapters in, but I'm loving it so far...I'll let you know when I'm done!
Kristine Cashore's Fire is on the list, but I wanted to start by reading her first novel, Graceling. The 2 books are related to each other by one character, but you can read Fire without having read Graceling (although I'm glad I read them in the order I did!).
Let me just start off by saying that I LOVED Graceling. Five out of five, for sure, on the Rez Recommends scale. I reminded me quite a lot of The Hunger Games, which I also loved: feisty heroine, great adventure, amazing characters, a little bit of romance, political intrigue...all around great!
Graceling Plot summary: Katsa is a Graceling - which means she has special powers...in her case, the extraordinary fighting skills: she can take down an entire room of soldiers all on her own, and barely break a sweat. Her uncle, the power-hungry King Randa, takes advantage of these powers and uses her as a hired thug. Katsa's tired of bullying people and starts to defy her uncle. During a secret rescue mission, she meets Po, another Graceling (you can tell a Graceling by their eyes - each eye is a different colour - but they each have different skills/Graces). She's immediately drawn to him, but can't quite figure him out...the chemistry between the two of them is refreshing - there's clearly a romantic attraction, but it's not the over-the-top, swooning that seems to be quite popular these days. Anyway, the two of them uncover a plot to overthrow all Seven Kingdoms...let the action begin!! (Actually, the action starts right in the first few pages - I dare you not to get sucked in!). Overall, I LOVED it...I was thrilled to find a book that I enjoyed as much as The Hunger Games and couldn't wait to start the next book, Fire.
Fire Plot Summary: Once again, the hero of the story is female. This time, Fire, is part human, part monster...she is stunningly beautiful and has the ability to control the minds of anyone she meets. But this gift comes at a price...people obviously fear her, and that fear often leads to hate so she's always in danger - from humans and monsters. When Prince Bringan brings her to King City to try and uncover a treasonous plot, she must use this gift to try and save the kingdom. Maybe because I had such high expections after enjoying Graceling so much, I was a little disappointed in Fire. It took much longer for me to get engrossed in the story...it was like the author got a bit bogged down in the mythology/background story. Or maybe there were just more characters that I was trying to keep track of. It started off really well - the Prologue, which links the 2 books together, was fantastic. And then it seems to slow down for a while. But, if you stick with it, it's definitely worth the effort...similar elements make it a great great: adventure/suspense, a little bit of romance, great characters. Overall, Fire gets 4 out of 5 on the Rez Recommends scale. And again I should say, maybe my impression was skewed because I read it so closely after I finished Graceling.
No word yet on whether there's another book on the horizon, but I certainly hope so.
Now, I'm on to Teens' Top Ten nominee, Heist Society by Ally Carter. I'm only a few chapters in, but I'm loving it so far...I'll let you know when I'm done!
Twenty Boy Summer ~ Sarah Ockler
So, I've been doing quite a bit of reading this summer (including the first 3 books in Michael Grant's Gone series...wow!!!) and finally finished one of the Teens' Top Ten nominees - Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler. And I LOVED it!
I have to admit, based on the book's title and the cover, I thought it was going to be a slightly fluffy, but fun, romance novel. And although it definitely had romance, it was so much better than I was expecting.
Anna and Frankie are best friends. The summer before, Frankie's older brother dies - and we learn, right at the beginning of the book, that Anna had secretly started dating Matt just before he died...and promised Matt that she'd let him tell Frankie - which he never had a chance to do. The 2 best friends head off to Frankie's family cottage for the summer where Frankie is convinced to move on with her life, and drag Anna along with her, by embarking on the Twenty Boy Summer.
The author is just so good at describing things in a completely honest, real way. Grief, friendship, love. The two friends - and the way they deal with Matt's death - are so believable and real. How do you get over such a loss? Is it possible to move forward?
It earns a 5/5 from me on the Rez Recommends scale!
I have to admit, based on the book's title and the cover, I thought it was going to be a slightly fluffy, but fun, romance novel. And although it definitely had romance, it was so much better than I was expecting.
Anna and Frankie are best friends. The summer before, Frankie's older brother dies - and we learn, right at the beginning of the book, that Anna had secretly started dating Matt just before he died...and promised Matt that she'd let him tell Frankie - which he never had a chance to do. The 2 best friends head off to Frankie's family cottage for the summer where Frankie is convinced to move on with her life, and drag Anna along with her, by embarking on the Twenty Boy Summer.
The author is just so good at describing things in a completely honest, real way. Grief, friendship, love. The two friends - and the way they deal with Matt's death - are so believable and real. How do you get over such a loss? Is it possible to move forward?
It earns a 5/5 from me on the Rez Recommends scale!
Rez Recommends 2009-2010
Check out this year's Rez Recommends list - these are your favourites from the 2009-2010 school year! (The titles with an * asterisk are on the Rez Recommends list for the 2nd year in a row). These books will all be on display when you come back in September. Click here for full book descriptions and comments from students!
In the meantime, check out your local library...and keep watching for new posts as I read my way through the nominations for the Teens' Top Ten.
Vampire/Supernatural:
In the meantime, check out your local library...and keep watching for new posts as I read my way through the nominations for the Teens' Top Ten.
Vampire/Supernatural:
- All Hallows’ Eve ~ Vivian Vande Velde
- Fell ~ David Clement-Davies
- *House of Night series ~ P.C. Cast & Kristin Cast
- *Mortal Instruments series ~ Cassandra Clare
- Shiver ~ Maggie Stiefvater
- *Vampire Academy series ~ Richelle Mead
- Vampire Diaries series ~ L. J. Smith
Mystery/Action/Suspense/Thriller:
- Angels & Demons ~ Dan Brown
- Black: the birth of evil ~ Ted Dekker
- Catching Fire ~ Suzanne Collins
- Daughter of the Flames ~ Zoe Marriott
- *The Hunger Games ~ Suzanne Collins
- The Lovely Bones ~ Alice Sebold
- Silence of the Lambs ~ Ted Harris
Science Fiction/Dystopia:
- Caretaker Trilogy ~ David Klaas
- *Elsewhere ~ Gabrielle Zevin
- Fray ~ Joss Whedon
- Gone ~ Michael Grant
Realistic Fiction:
- Audrey, Wait! ~ Robin Benway
- Before I Die ~ Jenny Downham
- Chanda’s Secrets/Chanda’s War ~ Allan Stratton
- Crank/Glass ~ Ellen Hopkins
- Fat Cat ~ Robin Brande
- Head Case ~ Sarah Aronson
- The Juvie Three ~ Gordon Korman
- *Looking for Alaska ~ John Green
- Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac ~ Gabrielle Zevin
- Nineteen Minutes ~ Jodi Picoult
- Peace Like a River ~ Leif Enger
- Saving Zoe ~ Alyson Noel
- Scorpions ~ Walter Dean Myers
- *Suckerpunch ~ David Hernandez
- The Truth About Forever ~ Sarah Dessen
- Waves ~ Sharon Dogar
Non-Fiction (True Stories):
- Kiss Off: poems to set you free
- Night ~ Elie Wiesel
Rez Reads...for the summer!
Get a head start on Rez Reads 2010!
Check out the YALSA Teens' Top Ten nominations below (for book descriptions, click here)- this will be the first Rez Reads list for 2010-2011. And don't forget, you can review the books you read for a chance to win some cool prizes - just fill out at Rez Recommends book form and email it to Ms. Martin.
And check back soon for our 2009-2010 Rez Recommends list!
Check out the YALSA Teens' Top Ten nominations below (for book descriptions, click here)- this will be the first Rez Reads list for 2010-2011. And don't forget, you can review the books you read for a chance to win some cool prizes - just fill out at Rez Recommends book form and email it to Ms. Martin.
And check back soon for our 2009-2010 Rez Recommends list!
- Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen
- Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl
- Bloodhound by Tamora Pierce (sequel to Terrier)
- By the Time You Read This, I’ll Be Dead by Julie Ann Peters
- Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins (book 3, Mockingjay, will be published in August!!!!)
- City of Fire by Laurence Yep (first in a planned trilogy)
- City of Glass by Cassandra Clare (final book in the Mortal Instruments trilogy)
- Dragonfly by Julia Golding
- Fire by Kristin Cashore
- Geektastic: Stories from the Nerd Herd edited by Holly Black & Cecil Castellucci
- Hate List by Jennifer Brown
- Heist Society by Ally Carter
- hush, hush by Becca Fitzpatrick
- I Am a Genius of Unspeakable Evil and I Want to Be Your Class President by Josh Lieb
- If I Stay by Gayle Forman
- Incarceron by Catherine Fisher
- Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld
- The Melancholy of Harushi Suzumiya by Nagaru Tanigawa (for our list, we'll read volume 1 of the manga series)
- The Reformed Vampire Support Group by Catherine Jinks
- The Roar by Emma Clayton
- Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater
- Strange Angels by Lili St. Crow (first in the series)
- Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler
- Watersmeet by Ellen Jensen Abbott
- Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson
- Witch and Wizard by James Patterson (first in a series)
Semester 1 Rez Recommends...
Have you read a book this semester that you totally loved?
Or maybe one that was so bad that you want to save anyone else from the pain and suffering you endured?!
Fill out a Rez Recommends form and tell your fellow students about the book…and YOU could win some fantastic prizes!
Prizes include:
Or maybe one that was so bad that you want to save anyone else from the pain and suffering you endured?!
Fill out a Rez Recommends form and tell your fellow students about the book…and YOU could win some fantastic prizes!
Prizes include:
- Chapters gift certificates
- Free Scholastic books
- movie passes
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
