The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
By: Avira Karthik
02/21/2025
In the nation of Panem, which lies in a place once known as North America, is the Capitol,
a radiant city. Surrounded by 12 districts, the Capitol requires two children from each district,
a boy and a girl, chosen by lottery at the yearly Reaping, to be thrown into an arena to
participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death.
"Happy Hunger Games! And may the odds be ever in your favor!"
- Effie Trinket, The Hunger Games.
The book is written from the perspective of 16-year-old Katniss Everdeen from District 12,
a very skilled hunter, who is great with a bow and illegally hunts in the woods to keep her
family alive and fed. Katniss has a sister, Prim, whom she loves more than anyone or anything.
“Her name’s Prim. She’s just twelve. And I love her more than anything.”
- Katniss Everdeen, The Hunger Games
When Prim is chosen at the Reaping to be a part of the Games, Katniss instantly volunteers to replace her sister as the girl tribute for District 12, almost immediately ensuring her own death.
"Effie Trinket crosses back to the podium, smooths the slip of paper, and reads out the name in a clear voice. And it’s not me.
It’s Primrose Everdeen.”
- Katniss Everdeen, The Hunger Games
Katniss will face many challenges throughout the book and in the arena, from dehydration to the Career Tributes, the tributes from Districts 1, 2, and 4, who have been training their entire lives for the Games. Among the most dangerous threats are the Capitol mutations, genetically engineered animals created by the Capitol for different purposes. One of these is the Tracker Jacker wasps, who will track tributes down until they find them, and whose stings will slowly drive people to insanity, followed by a painful death. Katniss teams up with Rue, the District 11 girl tribute, and blows up the Career tribute's supplies. Sadly, Rue is killed by the District 1 boy, and Katniss fulfills Rue’s last wish by singing to her.
“At some point, you have to stop running and turn around and face whoever wants you dead. The hard thing is finding the courage to do it.”
- Katniss Everdeen, Catching Fire
Throughout the book, Katniss has to keep up the act that she is in love with Peeta, the District 12 boy tribute, to earn sponsors from the Capitol. Nearing the end, she allies with him and risks her life multiple times to save him from death. Katniss sparks a fire that spreads throughout the nation of Panem, even causing rebellion among the districts, and becomes a symbol for many, earning names such as the Mockingjay. Katniss becomes the girl on fire, a girl who will never stop fighting for her life.
"Cinna has given me a great advantage. No one will forget me. Not my look, not my name. Katniss. The girl who was on fire."
- Katniss Everdeen, The Hunger Games
The Hunger Games is my favorite book of all time, and it had me wondering what happened next at every twist, turn, and page; the pacing is perfect. Katniss is such a great character, with her loyalty to her district and family, her ability to fight through everything, and her will to survive. I love dystopian books like this one because they let you see what is wrong with the way we live, and also how we take things that appear in our everyday lives for granted. For example, in The Hunger Games, everyone is forced to work the same job as their district. On the other hand, we are free to pick whichever jobs we choose, not ones that we are forced to have.
“Only I keep wishing I could think of a way…to show the Capitol they don’t own me. That I’m more than just a piece in their Games.”
- Peeta Mellark, The Hunger Games
However, it is more violent than other books I have written reviews about, and there is a little romance, so I would recommend it for middle schoolers. It exhibits themes of survival against sacrifice, life against love, and friendship against boldness. If you can read between the lines of the story, it can teach you many things.
This book is very exceptional, and I highly recommend you read it. It is a dystopian novel and part of a trilogy, the other two books being Catching Fire and Mockingjay. There is also a prequel, The Ballad of the Songbirds and Snakes, and another prequel is coming out next month, called Sunrise on the Reaping.
"Fire is catching, and if we burn, you burn with us."
- Katniss Everdeen, Mockingjay.
Author Bio:
Suzanne Collins started her career at Nickelodeon, writing for children’s shows. She often moved because of her father’s time in the Air Force, spending a good amount of time in Indiana and Belgium. Collins received an M.F.A in 1989 in Dramatic Writing from New York University. Collins was the head writer for Scholastic Entertainment’s show, Clifford’s Puppy Days. Although the Hunger Games is her most successful series, it was not Collins’ first best-selling series, instead, it was the Underland Chronicles.
The First Men in the Moon by H. G. Wells
By: Max Richmond
02/21/2025
Science fiction is a very diverse genre of literature. Herbert George Wells, known as HG Wells, is
typically considered the father of science fiction. He broke his leg when he was eight, so he had
nothing to do but read. Soon, reading was not enough. Wells wanted to write. In fact, his very first
novel was what he called a “scientific romance.” He laid the foundation for many different themes
in science fiction, such as time travel and extraterrestrial war. His ninth book, The First Men in the
Moon, explores ideas such as antigravity and subterranean life.
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The story is narrated by Mr. Bedford, who loses his job and travels to Kent, the English county
where Wells was born, in hopes of writing a groundbreaking play. He meets Mr. Cavor, a scientist
who has spent his whole life focusing on the concept of blocking gravity. Together, they create
a substance capable of stopping the “radiant energy” from Earth and other celestial bodies.
Using it, Bedford and Cavor are able to pack some snacks and travel to the moon. Wells
theorized that the air on the moon was quite similar to ours, but less dense, so the duo
is able to walk the moon with no issues.
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Along their trip, they watch jungles grow in real time, eat bad mushrooms, and see giant cattle.
The biggest discovery is that of the Selenites, Wells’ version of aliens in this book. After quite a bit of panic, Bedford leaves the moon, with no proof that he was ever there aside from a bar of gold. The antigravity material and the recipe to make it are lost forever, and Bedford continues to write his play.
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The First Men in the Moon ends rather abruptly, without a deep resolution or permanent change, which is how most of Wells’ stories end. He preferred to have his stories be so plausible that they could’ve happened already. The book is 258 pages long, excluding the introduction, so it takes about five hours to read. It has a lexile level of 1130, and is a fantastic read for anyone with time to spare. The First Men in the Moon, in addition to several other Wells books, is available in the Griffin’s Nest if you want to read it for yourself.
Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
By: Max Richmond
01/10/2025
Optimism is good for your health. According to Harvard University, “research tells us that an
optimistic outlook early in life can predict better health and a lower rate of death.” However,
pessimism is good every now and then, as it reminds people to be cautious and be deliberate
in their actions. Many philosophers from the beginning of civilization have theorized of a perfect
society, and each one’s version is different. However, many authors have since stirred in a bit of
pessimism and developed these theoretical societies further, only to find them to be quite cruel,
unnatural, or simply inhumane. Aldous Huxley, author of Brave New World, was one of these
pessimists, intent on disproving the idea of everyone simply getting along and never having any
conflict. Huxley had written several philosophical works before creating Brave New World in
1932, and wrote for thirty years after, finishing off his legacy with Island, which is Huxley’s version
of a true utopia.
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The novel itself is based around the concept of manufacturing humans in a factory to make
them as agreeable and orthodox as possible through the use of subliminal messaging,
pharmaceuticals, drugs, and other such manipulative things. The book follows no character
in particular, but rather an event that stirred the overwhelming harmony that the people of Brave New World experience. However, the book changes the character it’s following so abruptly and so often that I found it hard to keep track of who was currently the subject of the text. Someone else who had read the book before me had actually written notes in my copy to keep track of who was talking and which paragraphs were in each setting. However, I found nothing else negative about the book.
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Although Brave New World has an official lexile rating of 840L, I would personally bump it up to 1000L. I struggled in some sections in the book, and my lexile is well over 840L, which is why I moved it higher. The book is around 260 pages and takes about 8 hours to read. If I had to give it a movie rating, I would classify it as a TV-14 book. Overall, Brave New World by Aldous Huxley is an eight out of ten book for anyone who wants to take on the challenge of reading it without notes. I recommend reading another book from the dystopia genre before this one.
Scary Stories for Young Foxes by Christian McKay Heidicker
By: Maya Lovria
12/20/2024
Seven fox kits in the Antler Wood beg their mother for a really scary story, but none of hers are scary enough. So, they disobey her instructions and go seek the storyteller in Bog Cavern. Their mother says that the story they would hear there would scare the white into their tails.
The storyteller’s story is about two little fox kits named Mia and Uly. Mia and her mother have to flee
after what happens to her siblings. Uly has to escape from his father, who despises him and tries to get
his mother to kill him because of his forepaw, which had been curled against his chest since birth. The
storyteller tells the seven fox kits about them, and the horrors they have to face.
The story they hear soon proves to be too much for most of them. One by one, the frightened kits scurry
home to their mother, until there is only one left.
“The first flees the teacher with dark, gooey eyes.
The second from six sisters whose tongues tell lies.
The third escapes a woman who peels foxes skins
The fourth slinks away from the Golgathursh’s grin.
The fifth wets the ground when he smells Mr. Scratch.
The sixth turns tail when the Paw finds its match.
The seventh little fox in the wood all alone, facing down a ghost beneath branches of bone.
One little fox stays the whole night through.
But can she make it to the end?
Better yet, can you?”
Seven Stories for Young Foxes is a very good book. However, it might be a little too much for younger readers, so some students should probably steer clear of it until they’re older. It is told in eight parts, and between each part you can read the kits’ reaction - and after almost all of them, one leaves. I would recommend this book for people 10 or 11 and up, but it depends on the person. This book is a great choice for people who love a good horror story.
About the Author: Christian McKay Heidicker
Christian McKay Heidicker wrote Scary Stories for Young Foxes, which won the Newbery Medal, and its sequel, Scary Stories for Young Foxes: The City. He also wrote the Thieves of Weirdwood series. He lives in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Sources:
The book, Scary Stories for Young Foxes by Christian McKay Heidicker
https://www.commonsensemedia.org/book-reviews/scary-stories-for-young-foxes
https://www.amazon.com/Scary-Stories-Young-Christian-Heidicker/dp/1250181429
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne
By: Max Richmond
12/06/2024
Jules Verne’s 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea is an absolute classic and has been considered one since its release in 1869. His books have been published in over 100 languages, but 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea is one of Verne’s best, and our school library has a copy. Jules Verne was a French author who wrote and published over 60 books.
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Originally written in French, 20,000 Leagues under the Sea has around 270 pages depending on the
edition, but may be a 15-20-hour long read. It has an official lexile rating of 1100 and will definitely
teach you some new vocabulary along the way.
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The main storyline of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea follows three men who are taken aboard
the submarine of Captain Nemo, who dubbed his vessel, the Nautilus. They travel across every
body of water on Earth, finding the largest pearls in the world, travelling beneath volcanoes, and
exploring geothermal vents.
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Captain Nemo and his crew have adapted completely to life underwater, mining coal and sulfur
from submarine deposits and turning it into electricity to power the ship. (At the time the book
was written, electricity and its generation were still quite new. In fact, the Steam Age hadn’t even
been reached yet!) Captain Nemo can go anywhere, as long as it’s underwater. He travels between
mainland seas, back out to the Ocean, under islands, and explores the pole. However, his three passengers are not so happy under the sea.
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M. Aronnax, our main character, is a nautical professor who thoroughly enjoys seeing how the ship works and the wonders of the water, as many scientists would. His servant, Conseil, follows M. Aronnax everywhere, even if it may cost him his life. The third member of the group is Ned Land, a harpoonist who wants nothing more than to get back to land where he can enjoy the many things only available there. Conseil also shares Ned’s unease, but it won’t be easy to escape as they are trapped beneath about three kilometers of water at all times. Their conflict is resolved, but not without a price. What I can say, though, is that they all traveled at least 20,000 leagues under the sea.
A Calamity of Souls by David Baldacci
By: Max Richmond
10/18/24
I got A Calamity of Souls for my birthday about two months ago, and I originally used it to fall asleep because the book has a relatively slow start. However, the pace picks up after the second lawyer of the story is introduced, and it keeps
this pace throughout the rest of the book. The main plot of this legal thriller follows two lawyers trying
to defend a black man accused of murdering the prestigious white Randolph family. As the book says
on page 58, “In Freeman County [Virginia, 1968] it didn’t get much easier than convicting a black man
in a court of law, particularly one so obliging as to be at the scene of the crime.”
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The author, David Baldacci, certainly did his research in order to provide an accurate courtroom
experience, and he does a fantastic job of introducing how different legal terms and systems work
without directly explaining them, allowing the reader to understand what’s happening in the
courtroom without giving unnecessary explanations or requiring the reader to have a law degree.
There are multiple subplots about other types of division such as nationality, social class, and
learning speed. Since the story is set a year after the Loving v. Virginia legalized marriage between
races, it also tackles how these divisions affect relationships. In addition to all of this, the
novel discusses how war and disease can permanently affect people.
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A Calamity of Souls is overall a great book and an amazing introduction to legal thrillers if you’re looking for a
new genre. I sincerely recommend that you pick up this book. It is 477 pages long and was a ten-hour read in total for me, but it will most likely be a twelve-hour read for you. This book is around $30.00 USD for a hardcover copy, but there are fifteen copies at the Rochester Hills Public Library if you don’t want to spend any money. I would like to mention that the book does contain mentions of violence, guns, cigarettes, abuse, and it has some swearing. I would place this book at TV-14 if it was a movie or show, so if you don’t want to read something like this, I recommend looking at our "All Ages" section.
Uprising by Jennifer A. Nielsen
By: Maya Lovria
10/04/24
Lidia, a twelve-year-old girl, stands outside her grandfather’s house as Nazi planes fly overhead. A bomb that is dropped nearby leads to her, her parents, and her brother, Ryszard deciding to return to their house in Warsaw. The damage caused by the bombing is shocking for Lidia, but her house is still standing. When they reach their house, her father, afraid of more bombings of Warsaw, tells her and her mother to wait in the shelter near it. Meanwhile, he and Ryszard collect essentials from it.
Soon after, Lidia’s father leaves to join the Polish army and fight back against the Nazis. Shortly after that, the rest of Lidia’s family are joined by their former maid and her mother, who are Jewish and need a place to stay. Lidia and the rest are able to move back into the damaged house now that Poland is occupied fully by the Nazis. Over time, Lidia starts fighting back by attending a secret school and smuggling food to the Jewish people being held in the Warsaw Ghetto. As she gets older, she finds out about her brother’s involvement in a resistance against the Nazis and she wants to do more.
Lidia joins, and starts out running messages for the resistance. Eventually her tasks become more and more dangerous. Does she have what it takes?
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Uprising is based on the true story of Lidia Durr Zakrewski, who really did join a resistance as a teenager. She was aged down by a few years in the book, but many characters in the book either were real people or were based on one or more real people in her life. Lidia was a messenger for the entirety of the Warsaw Uprising and ended up earning the Polish Cross of Valour.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading historical fiction or just who likes a good book.
I enjoyed reading Uprising a lot and hope that if anyone reading this article decides to give it a try, they like it
too.
About the Author: Jennifer A. Nielsen
Jennifer A. Nielsen lives in Utah where she was born and raised. She has written many fiction books, such
as the Ascendance series (The False Prince, The Runaway King, The Shadow Throne, The Captive Kingdom,
and The Shattered Castle), and many historical fiction works including: Uprising, Iceberg and Words on Fire.
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Sources:
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The book, Uprising by Jennifer A. Nielsen.
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https://www.amazon.com/Uprising-Jennifer-Nielsen/dp/1338795082
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https://worldssmallestlibrary.wordpress.com/2024/04/04/uprising-by-jennifer-a-nielsen/
