Book Review: The Hunger Games

Cover of The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

By Mandy Webster

The Hunger Games. Suzanne Collins. Scholastic Press, 2008.

District 12, located in what was once known as the Appalachian Mountains in what was once known as North America, is one of the poorest of the 12 remaining districts of Panem. On a warm summer day, Katniss Everdeen makes her way to the reaping with the rest of the citizens of her district to find out whose names will be drawn for the Hunger Games.

Katniss, only 16 herself, volunteers to take her younger sister’s place in the games, a vicious death match designed by The Capitol to remind the 12 districts of Panem who’s really in charge. Every year, two tributes between the ages of 12 and 18 are chosen from each district and dropped, Survivor style into unknown territory. Only, in this case, there’s no voting the competition off the island.

After a week of training, the tributes find themselves battling it out, fighting the Gamemakers, as well as each other as all of Panem watches on television. The tributes must kill or be killed. If they don’t kill each other fast enough, the Gamemakers manufacture their own surprising twists to keep the audience entertained.

Book Review: The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks

Cover via Amazon

By Mandy Webster

The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks. E. Lockhart. New York, NY: Hyperion, 2008.

E. Lockhart’s novel, The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks is the story of a voiceless Bunny Rabbit of a girl who quickly learns to speak for herself.

What really stands out for me in this book, from the very beginning, is the tone. In the earlier chapters especially, the novel takes on the tone of an official spy dossier read by the head of some top secret government agency. It’s this purposeful use of tone that really makes this novel the award winner it has become.

While I heard a very distinctive narrative voice from the very first pages of this novel, this strong narrative voice does not remain consistent throughout the entire work. At first, Frankie’s voice slips in only once or twice in each chapter, but becomes more prevalent as the story progresses. In the beginning of the book, Frankie is the voiceless Bunny Rabbit. This is why we do not hear her voice, but that of the narrator. However, Frankie’s own voice is heard more and more as her character gains the ability to speak for herself.

Book Review: Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson

Image by theunquietlibrarian via Flickr

By Mandy Webster

Wintergirls. Laurie Halse Anderson. Penguin Group, 2009.

I’ve been a fan of Laurie Halse Anderson since I read her novel, Speak last spring. So, when I came across Wintergirls in a bargain bin back in November, I had to grab it. And am I glad I did! In Speak, Anderson tackled the topic of rape, and now in Wintergirls, she takes on eating disorders in an equally engaging manner.

Wintergirls is the story of Lia, a teenage girl who is barely recovering from anorexia, after a forced hospital stay, when she learns that her former best friend Cassie has died.

Book Review: When She Hollers by Cynthia Voigt

Cover of When She Hollers

By Mandy Webster

When She Hollers. Cynthia Voigt. Scholastic Inc. New York. 1994

When She Hollers, a YA novel by Cynthia Voigt, is the story of the day Tish decides to tell the truth about the abuse she has suffered at the hands of her step-father. Spurred by her teacher’s chalk message in the classroom, “The truth will set you free,” Tish is determined to let the truth be known.

The entire novel takes place in the space of one day, a day which begins at the breakfast table where Tish informs her step-father, Tonnie that the knife she holds in her hand will be with her now at all times… when she is in the bathroom and when she is in her bed at night.

Tish tries to explain to her mother that Tonnie comes into her room and even stalks her in the bathroom, but her mother refuses to hear her. She goes to school and tries to be her normal self, whoever that is.

The events of the day unfold, as conversations about a classmate who recently committed suicide

Read With Me: January Books

Cover of A Short Story Writer's Companion

By Mandy Webster

It’s the first list of the new year, let’s see if I picked some decent ones this time.

• When She Hollers by Cynthia Voigt. Another suggested read by a professor. I’m trying to read everything my professors have read so I can actually join in conversations at school!
• Blonde Roots by Bernardine Evaristo. Picked this one up at Wal-mart the other day from a $3 bin. I was really disappointed in one of the books I’d chosen for last month (still trying to finish it up by midnight tonight!) So, I thought I’d just grab something that looks like a good read: Something different with an actual plot and an original one at that. Check out the YouTube video below. The audience actually laughs while Evaristo reads an excerpt from the book.
• A Short Story Writer’s Companion by Tom Bailey. Yeah, I know. I still haven’t managed to get through this one yet. But I aim to finish it by the time I start my next class the end of January!

Book Review: “Stitches” by David Small

Cover of Stitches: A Memoir

By Mandy Webster

Stitches: A Memoir. David Small. W.W. Norton & Company, 2009, 2010.

In this graphic novel, Stitches: A Memoir, David Small tells the story of his dysfunctional formative years when art first became his escape from real life.

“I was six.”

“Detroit”

This simple beginning, coupled with Small’s stark black and white illustrations of his own childhood neighborhood quickly sets the reader in time and place. Small’s images expertly describe the dysfunction of a family headed by a detached doctor with a God complex and an angry closet lesbian.

As a child, the main character, David is a sickly boy whose father treats his asthma and constant (yet minor) sinus issues with large doses of radiation. As David grows up, he develops a growth on his neck which his parents seem to ignore for years before finally having it thoroughly checked out.

Book Review: Tantalize

Image via Wikipedia

By Mandy Webster

Tantalize. Cynthia Leitich Smith. Candlewick, 2007, 2008

Cynthia Leitich Smith obviously read too many Twilight books (and possibly Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West) before writing her YA gothic fantasy novel, Tantalize. The parallels between these stories are too apparent for this to be a fluke. If I hadn’t already suffered through two and a half of Stephenie Meyer’s vampire/werewolf tomes, I might have been able to take Smith seriously. But, by the time she began introducing were-armadillos into the story, I was through. Were-armadillos? Seriously? That’s when I gave up and returned Tantalize to the library.

Graphic Novels

Cover of Stitches: A Memoir

By Mandy Webster

I’m about to read my first graphic novel. *gasp*

I’ve never been a fan of comic books, so I’ve never had any interest in reading a graphic novel. But, my son is crazy for comics and has read the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series cover to cover, over and over. I’ve been on the lookout for something a bit more advanced for him, but knowing nothing about the genre, I’ve been at a loss as to what to get.

So, when someone recommended David Small‘s “Stitches,” I thought I’d give it a try. The only thing is, I’m not completely sure it’s age appropriate, so I’m going to have to read it myself first to make sure there’s not anything ‘too’ mature for him.

I’m a writer, so naturally, I am against censorship. I believe it’s best to let your kids read controversial subjects and then talk about them.

Read with Me: December Books

Cover of Wintergirls

By Mandy Webster

OK, I admit it. I am the worst blogger ever. Here we are 10 days into the month, and I am just now telling you what to read. (As if you can’t decide for yourself, right?) I try not to make excuses for myself, but the reason is that it was the end of the semester and I had tons of my own writing to do. Anyway, here’s what’s up for December:

• Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson: Guess what, I’ve already finished it! I picked this out of a bargain bin while shopping the Thanksgiving weekend sales at an outlet mall. When I got home, I started reading and just couldn’t put it down. So, if you’ve already read this one, let’s start talking. I loved this book, and Anderson is quickly becoming one of my all-time favorite YA authors.

Read with Me: November Books

Here’s my list of books to get through this month. Read along with me on one or several, and tell me what you think!

• “Tantalize” by Cynthia Leitich Smith: This is a YA novel mentioned by my professor this semester. My book lists will likely include at least one YA read each month, as those are quick and easy to get through.
• “Creating Character Emotions” by Ann Hood: I am reading this book because I’m struggling to give the characters in my own stories the proper emotions. This specific book was recommended by my professor.