Tag: YA Lit

Books

Book 21: The Lightning Thief – Rick Riordan

Geoff W

What an intriguing novel. It is the first book in a series of five novels in the Percy Jackson and The Olympians series. I have wanted to read this book since I first heard they were making it into a film. I did not realize at the time what sort of novel it was, who it was geared towards or the more specifics of the series, but I liked the general idea of it.

In this first novel of the series we meet a host of mythological characters and find out that the gods of Olympus and all of their connections remain alive. This is the story of Perseus (Percy) Jackson and the other Heroes who are half-bloods, half-god half-mortal. The reader is quickly thrown into the action when a teacher/monster attacks Percy and he realizes that he is not like other kids his age. Fast forward to where Percy and his mom encounter his best friend Grover (a satyr) at their rented beach house and the story gets fully underway.

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Books

Book 12: Mockingjay – Suzanne Collins

Geoff W

[To see an updated review of when I re-read it in 2013 before the release of the films click here.]

I honestly don’t know how I feel about Mockingjay. My reaction isn’t as strong as it was to either The Hunger Games or Catching Fire. I’m not sure if it has to do with the psychological aspect of the novel or the context of this novel or the ending of such a strong trilogy in such a lack-luster manner. As with the first two I read the novel very quickly and enjoyed the read.

However, I once again have to say that I believe the trilogy would’ve been stronger if it was a quadrilogy or even five novels. More detail of the minor characters of the skirmishes would have created a stronger ending to the series and would’ve perhaps built more realistic characters and created empathy with many of them. DON’T READ AFTER THIS IF YOU WANT TO READ THEM ON YOUR OWN (SPOILERS).

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Books

Book 11: Catching Fire – Suzanne Collins

Geoff W

[To see an updated review of when I re-read it in 2013 before the release of the films click here.]

Similar to The Hunger Games, I pretty much read this in one sitting. I hadn’t planned on reading it for at least 24 hours after I’d finished Volume I, but I just couldn’t keep myself away.

IF YOU DON’T WANT TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENED IN The Hunger Games DON’T READ AFTER THIS POINT!

Catching Fire picks up approximately six months after the end of the 74th annual Hunger Games. We check in with Katniss, Peeta and everyone in District 12 prior to Katniss and Peeta’s champion tour (yes they both one, with the threat of a double suicide, the gamemakers had no choice but to crown them both champions.

As the first chapter ends, the impact of Katniss and Peeta’s actions at the end of the games comes to light with a visit from the President who makes threats against Gale, Katniss’ love interest, and hers and Peeta’s families. It is from this point on where you not only realize how young Katniss is, but also how much she has on her shoulders.

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Books

Book 10: The Hunger Games – Suzanne Collins

Geoff W

[To see an updated review of when I re-read it in 2013 before the release of the films click here.]

Wow. I have no other words for this book.

How do you sum up something this intense? I wanted to cry within the first five chapters and was completely riveted and did not want to stop reading (and didn’t). The novel is a conglomeration of science fiction writers throughout history, from H.G. Wells, George Orwell, William Golding, and even Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale, and modern reality TV.

The Hunger Games is a dystopic novel about the US in the untold future where there were thirteen districts (thirteen colonies anyone?) and the capital. The capital won some sort of long-standing battle against the rebellion and completely obliterated one of the districts (13 – unlucky!) and indentured the other twelve. Each year the 12 districts have to send one female and one male competitor to the Hunger Games. These games, televised on national TV are a deathly battle where only one person can survive and they have to kill or be killed by the other 23 competitors. The quirky (seems to be my new word) characterization of the novel provides many brief respites from the seriousness of the task at hand and the oppressive government.

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Books

Book 2: Out of the Pocket – Bill Konigsberg

Geoff W

Out of the Pocket was a random decision. I’d never heard of the author, but I got an eReader and it was one of the books I could down load from the local library, so I thought why not? It’s primarily geared towards young adults/teenage readers, (as can be seen by my quick reading) but I still enjoyed it. Although not the best book ever written, or even the most exciting book ever written, it reminded me of great sports biographies I’ve read, specifically Inside Out: Straight Talk from a Gay Jock by Mark Tewksbury.

It’s the story of a High School football player forced out of the closet, while simultaneously learning that his dad has cancer. The story was mostly believable, if not a bit too utopic sometimes. There was nothing too overtly political or challenging to stereotypes, but I honestly believe this type of book can do just as much for LGBT rights in this country as many of the protests. (There is an entire argument of assimilation, but that’s not for this blog).

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