Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

Don't get too comfortable thinking that Katniss and Peeta will have life easy now that the Hunger Games are over. No, no, no. Not when the author is Suzanne Collins. In The Hunger Games sequel, Catching Fire, Ms. Collins takes her readers on another emotional roller coaster. Afterall, this year is the seventy-fifth anniversary of the Hunger Games so these games will be a Quarter Quell - a unique, never-before played version of the game. Those in the Capitol who plan the Quarter Quell have a surprise in mind. Remember, Katniss and Peeta defied the Capitol establishment; they are not happy about that.

If you're like me and have been taken in by these stories, you'll want to borrow Catching Fire from your library soon - but read The Hunger Games first. The citizens of Panem are in an uproar but will they be able to stop the madness of the Hunger Games? How can these disparate regions join together in a revolution? Will they be able to? Some of those questions are answered in Catching Fire but much more is uncertain and lives are at stake.

I've tried to learn when the sequel will be published but since Catching Fire was just released, it may be awhile before we can read about Katniss and Peeta again. You may want to keep an eye on Suzanne Collins' website for updates.

See you at the library!

Reviewed by Mrs. Boehm

Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay

Even if you are not into historical fiction, this book is a must read. It takes you back to July 1942 in Paris when all the Jews were rounded up by the French Police and taken to various concentration camps. A 10 year old Jewish girl, Sarah, locks her 4 year old brother in their secret hiding space and promises to come back for him before she is taken away with her parents. It is a journey of a little girl who just wanted a normal life and couldn't understand why she was being taken away by French Policemen that were her parents' friends. Sixty years later, an American journalist is given a writing assignment to investigate the roundup. She discovers various things about Sarah and what she went through. Sarah's Key is an easy read and it just draws you in. It is one of those books, you just can't put down. Surely, even if you are not a reader, you will be captured by Tatiana de Rosnay's compelling way to tell a story.

Reviewed by Mrs. Kiehler

Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson

Here is an author that is worthy of your time. Laurie Halse Anderson is Writer Lady - notice the URL of her website. Speak is her first published work (from 1999) and it won numerous awards. Can you imagine having your first book win national awards? Amazing! As a matter-of-fact, in the 10 years since its publication, all of the other books she's written are award winning at the national and state level. If you haven't delved into one, now is the time. She not only writes for teens but she has written award winning books for young children and tweens. This year she won the Margaret A. Edwards Award for three of her books for teens - “Catalyst”; “Fever 1793”; and “Speak”. Our BHS media center owns each of these so stop by and pick one up.

In Speak, Laurie Halse Anderson reveals the hidden story behind 9th grader Melinda Sordino's reclusiveness. She is an outcast at her high school. She is not motivated to do anything and she's lost her friends. They are all angry with her because she called the police at a summer party that was going out of control. Her friends don't know why she did that and she can't tell them. She's actually not talking to anyone, not even her parents. She has turned inward and struggles with life. Ms. Anderson has written a story that will draw you in and keep you in its clutches as she slowly reveals details, bit by bit, until you feel the frightening pain that Melinda endured. You won't want to put this book down and you may just be able to finish it in a day, or at least a weekend.

Reviewed by Mrs. Boehm