Book Suggestion

Imagine that it's about 200 years in the future. The world as we know it today no longer exits. The continent known as North America no longer looks the way we know it. The ice caps have melted and the seas have swallowed a large portion of the east coast. Earthquakes washed almost all of the west coast into the ocean. The area is now known as Panem and consists of the Capitol (the main area for all business and livelihood for Panem), located in the Rocky Mountains, and twelve outlying districts that incorporate the remaining land mass. The Capitol is in complete control of the districts way of life, from work to play. No one is allowed to do anything that isn't sanctioned by the Capitol. The reason for the control: seventy-four years ago, during the Dark Days, the rebellion was defeated and the districts lost everything to the Capitol. One way the Capitol keeps the districts in line and to remind them of their loss in the rebellion is the Hunger Games. Every year, the districts are required to send one male and one female tribute into the Hunger Games, the ultimate reality show where the tributes battle in an area specially designed by game makers until there is only one person left standing, all while the entire nation of Panem watches on television. The catch- the tributes are between the ages of twelve to eighteen, the youth of the district.

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins is a fantastic book. It takes you to a place you've never seen, even though some of the landmarks are very similar to what we know. It follows the journey of a Hunger Games tribute, Katniss, as she battles in the Games to save all those she loves. This is a fairly quick read, aimed mostly at young adult audiences. There are several graphic scenes that young children probably shouldn't read. It's great for either boys or girls with lots of action and a little romance. I've read all three books in this series, and I read them in three days! I loved The Hunger Games so much, I downloaded the audio version to keep on my iPod in my car and reread all three.

The books: The Hunger Games, Catching Fire, and Mockingjay
You can find Suzanne Collins's website here.


If you read it, let me know what you think!

"[The Hunger Games] is a violent, jarring, speed-rap of a novel that generates nearly constant suspense...I couldn't stop reading." --Stephen King, Entertainment Weekly Review

"I was so obsessed with this book I had to take it with me out to dinner and hide it under the edge of the table so I wouldn't have to stop reading. The story kept me up for several nights in a row, because even after I was finished, I just lay in bed wide awake thinking about it...The Hunger Games is amazing." --Stephenie Meyer, www.stepheniemeyer.com

"The Hunger Games is as close to perfect an adventure novel as I've ever read. I could not put it down. Collins has transformed the ancient Labyrinth myth into a terrifyingly believable tale of future America. Readers will be hungry for more. --Rick Riordan, author of The Percy Jackson Series and The 39 Clues

“[The Hunger Games] is a great book, and very thought-provoking. Read this along with your teen and discuss it.” --Charlaine Harris, www.charlaineharris.com

"BEST. CHILDREN'S BOOKS. EVER." "A Recent Book That Rocked My Dystopian World" --Jon Scieszka, Newsweek

Before and After

The full moon has been extrordinary the last two nights, especially with the winter weather we've had. Here's a shot I took last night...

After the clouds began moving in a little later...

And finally tonight, an icy-snowy-super-cold mess.