The Hunger Games (The Hunger Games, #1) by Suzanne Collins

 The Hunger Games (The Hunger Games, #1) by Suzanne Collins-374 pages

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Katniss Everdeen is 16 and doing her best to feed herself and her family in District 12 of Panem. District 12 is the poorest of the districts and putting food on the table is not easy. However, Katniss can hunt and often brings back squirrels and other meat to trade in the Hob. On Reaping Day, Katniss hopes that neither she nor Gale nor her sister Prim is chosen. In a nightmare scenario, her sister Prim (who is 12 and has only 1 slip in the drawing) is drawn as the girl tribute. Katniss volunteers as tribute and now must compete in the 74th Hunger Games. Peeta Mellark is the boy tribute for District 12. This is the story of Katniss and Peeta's harrowing experience in the 74th Hunger Games. 

I previously read this and have watched the movie several times, but this is our next selection for the Sci-Fi/Fantasy Book to Movie Club and it fits right in with this month's blog challenge. I liked it the first time and nothing changed in that regard on this second reading. It feels like a very timely book (along with the rest of the series) considering current events. 

Specials

 Specials by Scott Westerfeld 374 Pages

Summary:  Tally thought they were a rumor, but now she’s one of them. A Special. A super-amped fighting machine, engineered to keep the uglies down and the pretties stupid.

But maybe being perfectly programmed with strength and focus isn’t better than anything she’s ever known. Tally still has memories of something else.

Still, it’s easy to tune that out—until she’s offered a chance to stamp out the rebels of the New Smoke permanently. It all comes down to one last choice: listen to that tiny, faint heartbeat, or carry out the mission she’s programmed to complete. Either way, Tally’s world will never be the same.

My Thoughts: And this is where the book series lost me. To me this book was essentially her turned into an alien. The description of how she should look was terrifying and I just hated it, at that point with so many physical and mental and emotional changes she is no longer a human. She is terrifying and not even beautiful. It took way to long for me to finish this book, I didn't want to, but I finally did and I have realized that this series that I enjoyed as a young adult, is no longer my cup of tea. If you like scifi/dystopian weirdness, this book is for you, but it got past the point of believable for me and it lost the magic that the first book had. 

Pretties

 Pretties by Scott Westerfeld 361 pages

Summary: Tally has finally become pretty. Now her looks are beyond perfect, her clothes are awesome, her boyfriend is totally hot, and she’s completely popular. It’s everything she’s ever wanted.

But beneath all the fun—the nonstop parties, the high-tech luxury, the total freedom—is a nagging sense that something’s wrong. Something important. Then a message from Tally’s ugly past arrives. Reading it, Tally remembers what’s wrong with pretty life, and the fun stops cold.

Now she has to choose between fighting to forget what she knows and fighting for her life—because the authorities don’t intend to let anyone with this information survive.

My Thoughts: By the time I got to the second book I was pretty annoyed with Tally. She became pretty so she could willingly take the cure when the time came, but she completely forgot about everything that happened and her first love. Yes, it's supposed to happen like that, but later in the books she's shown to be stronger than the altered brain and in this book she's acting like a dumb dumb. Her best friend Shay who was taken from the Smokies as well is AWFUL in this book and she's extremely horrid to Tally in every possible way. Yet again she escapes and yet again is taken back and she's changed EVEN more so. 

Uglies

 Uglies by Scott Westerfeld 448 pages

Summary: Tally is about to turn sixteen, and she can’t wait. In just a few weeks she’ll have the operation that will turn her from a repellent ugly into a stunningly attractive pretty. And as a pretty, she’ll be catapulted into a high-tech paradise where her only job is to have fun.

But Tally’s new friend Shay isn’t sure she wants to become a pretty. When Shay runs away, Tally learns about a whole new side of the pretty world—and it isn’t very pretty. The authorities offer Tally a choice: find her friend and turn her in, or never turn pretty at all. Tally’s choice will change her world forever.

My Thoughts: Look I loved this book series as a teenager. However, reading it today, I did like the first book. the dystopian aspect was intriguing. The beauty standards and how everything affects the environment. I enjoyed reading the inner turmoil Tally faces because society has ingrained in her head that she is "ugly" and needs to be beautiful in order to matter. 

I love that she was strong enough to make the journey to find the Smokies in order to infiltrate and betray them. Her inner turmoil from that point on is should she betray these people or not. This book is about realizing right and wrong, standing up for what you believe in, and friendship. 

Squire

 Squire by Tamora Pierce 369 Pages

Summary: The path to knighthood is full of surprises. . . .

Keladry of Mindelan dreams of becoming squire to the famous female knight Alanna the Lioness, but she worries that she will not be selected by her hero—perhaps not by any knight master. When Kel is picked instead by the legendary Lord Raoul, the unexpected honor shocks her enemies across the realm. Kel must quickly prove herself up to the task, mastering her fighting and leadership skills while discovering what it takes to be part of the royal guard. A new romance is blossoming as well, bringing with it the rush of first love and the unexpected challenges of balancing knight work and a relationship. All the while, Kel prepares for her biggest fear: the infamous “Ordeal,” the last challenge that stands between her and knighthood.

My Thoughts: Poor girl has been through so much baloney. She has to grapple with the fact that her hero (Alanna) cannot be her knight mentor as Alanna could be seen as helping Kel along by magic. She discovers romance and is confused as all she also wants is her shield. I love how in each book she is constantly proving herself worthy and will stop at nothing to become a knight. 

Page

 Page by Tamora Pierce 290 Pages

Summary: When they think you will fail . . . fail to listen.
 
As the only female page in history to pass the first year of training to become a knight, Keladry of Mindelan is a force to be reckoned with. But even with her loyal circle of friends at her side, Kel’s battle to prove herself isn’t over yet. She is still trying to master her paralyzing fear of heights and keep up with Lord Wyldon’s grueling training schedule. When a group of pages is trapped by bandits, the boys depend on Kel to lead them to safety. The kingdom’s nobles are beginning to wonder if she can succeed far beyond what they imagined. And those who hate the idea of a female knight are getting desperate—they will do anything to thwart her progress.

My Thoughts: I love how this book series progresses. Unlike the Alanna series where she became a knight by the end of book 2, this series gives each book a different tier level. Book 1 she's on probation, book 2 she's a page, book 3 she's a squire, and book 4 she's a knight.

This gives us more in-depth about the insane amount of training and trials knights to be were put through during that time period. This book not only touches on friendship and bullying, but also facing your fears and overcoming the obstacles that can hinder you. 

First Test

 First Test by Tamora Pierce 258 Pages

Summary: Keladry of Mindelan is the first girl who dares to take advantage of a new rule in Tortall—one that allows females to train for knighthood. After years in the Yamani Islands, she knows that women can be warriors, and now that she’s returned home, Kel is determined to achieve her goal. She believes she is ready for the traditional hazing and grueling schedule of a page. But standing in Kel’s way is Lord Wyldon. The training master is dead set against girls becoming knights. He says she must pass a one-year trial that no male page has ever had to endure. It’s just one more way to separate Kel from her fellow trainees. But she is not to be underestimated. She will fight to succeed, even when the test is unfair.

My Thoughts: This book is for all the girls who've been told they can't achieve something because they are not a man. Kel has no magic and just sheer determination to become a knight even if it means getting bullied and her years as a page and squire miserable. This first book shows how much the Training Master does not want a female in with the boys and will do everything in his power to get her to quit, as will several of the boy bullies. This book series also ties in with the other two Tortall Universe series. Kel faces many trials and tribulations to prove her worth and I love a strong woman character! I think she is the strongest out of the 3 main female characters, Alanna, Daine, and Kel. 

The Realm of the Gods

 The Realm of the Gods by Tamora Pierce 352 Pages

Summary: During a dire battle against the fearsome Skinners, Daine and her mage teacher, Numair, are swept into the Divine Realms. Although they are happy to be alive, they are not where they want to be. They are desperately needed back home where their old enemy, Ozorne, and his army of strange creatures are waging war against Tortall.

While trapped in the perilous realms of the gods, Daine discovers her mysterious parentage. But as the secrets of her past are revealed, so is the treacherous way back to Tortall. And so Daine and Numair embark on an extraordinary journey home, where the fate of all Tortall rests with Daine and her wild magic.

My Thoughts: This is the final book and how I wish there were more about Daine. I also forgot to mention this series is within the same universe as Alanna and we get to meet Alanna again along with many other friendly faces whom we met in the Alanna series. 

This book is focused on the lands of the Gods and how to get back home to finish the war so everyone can be saved. Daine struggles with finally understanding her parentage and if she even wants to go back to Tortall. She also has to deal with even more Immortal beings while in the Divine Realms. 

Emperor Mage

 Emperor Mage by Tamora Pierce 368 pages

Summary: When Daine is sent to Carthak as part of a Tortallan peace delegation, she finds herself in the middle of a sticky political situation. She doesn’t like the Carthaki practice of keeping slaves, but it’s not her place to say anything—she’s only there to heal the emperor’s birds. Her worries only expand once she learns that her own power has grown in a dark and mysterious way.

As the peace talks stall, Daine puzzles over Carthak’s two-faced Emperor Ozorne. How can he be so caring with his birds, and so cruel to his people? Daine is sure he’s planning something—a terrible, power-hungry scheme. And she knows that she must fight this powerful Emperor Mage; the life of her beloved teacher is at risk.

My Thoughts: This book was a fun re-read because it showed us one of the Tricksters Gods (The Hag) and it showed us a new world other than Tortall. It illustrates how far Tortall has come and how in the past Carthak is with slaves still being owned and the Emperor with his regular Zoo and Immortal zoo where the animals were kept in smaller cages and not treated as well as his beloved Birds. 

This book also illustrates the turn of Numair and Daine's relationship and it's a beautiful way to show it. I just adore this book series. 

Wolf-Speaker

 Wolf-Speaker by Tamora Pierce 352 pages

Summary: When Daine is summoned to help a pack of wolves—dear friends from her old village—she and Numair travel to Dunlath Valley to answer the call. But when they arrive, Daine is shocked to learn that it’s not only animals whose lives are threatened; people are in danger, too.

Dunlath’s rulers have discovered black opals in their valley. They’re dead set on mining the opals and using the magic contained in the stones to overthrow King Jonathan. Even if it means irreversibly damaging the land—and killing their workers. Daine must master her wild magic in order to save both her animal friends and her human ones.

My Thoughts: This second book in the series starts the looming of a great war with Immortals and humans. This book has Daine confidentially diving into what Wild Magic she does know and helping out her family of wolves who had taken her in when her own family was killed. I loved learning about all the magical immortal creatures and watching Daine on her quest to learn more about her abilities and take the next steps. 

Wild Magic

 Wild Magic by Tamora Pierce 368 pages

Summary: When Daine comes down from the mountains, she carries with her two things: a dark secret about her own past, and a strangely powerful magic that even she doesn't understand.

Soon Daine has a job working for Onua, the queen's horsemistress, who is astonished at the girl's way with animals. It's almost as if she can speak to them....

Daine and Onua travel to Pirate's Swoop, where Daine finds herself swept into a war that threatens all of Tortall, a war where magic is one of the main weapons.

The wall between the worlds is cracking.

The magical creatures are returning.

Now Daine must master her own magic, and face her own dark memories, if she is to save her new home from destruction.

My Thoughts: Y'all I LOVED this book as a teenager. She has this amazing connection to animals and I was (and still am) Jealous of that ability. Imagine how much easier it would be to figure out what was wrong with an animal if we could just communicate with them. Anyways, this was my favorite series out of all the Tamora Pierce books. I loved Daine's attitude and strong-headedness. I loved Numair and Daine's connection as well. This book is about trusting others and realizing that not everyone is out to get you, that people will help you and care for you. 

Lioness Rampant

 Lioness Rampant by Tamora Pierce 336 pages 

Summary: At last, Alanna of Trebond has become the first female knight errant in Tortall. She sets out on an impossible quest to find the Dominion Jewel, a legendary gem that, in the right hands, has limitless power for good. But while she searches for the one thing that can save her war-torn country, her nemesis returns from the dead and begins to wreak havoc. Only Alanna has the power to prevent Tortall's utter destruction...

In this final verse of the Song of the Lioness quartet, Alanna grows from heroine into legend.

My Thoughts: Alanna has worked hard to become a knight but still has to face one last obstacle. This novel turns Alanna from a female knight, into a hero that will be sung about for ages. She has embraced her magic and her title, but is restless and needs to prove herself. This book also touches on Alanna's internal turmoil of how to be a lady knight AND a mother. If she could even consider herself to allow herself to marry. To face her fears about love and marriage and to face them. The book shows how much Alanna has grown over the entirety of the 4 books and brings the series to a great end. 

The Woman Who Rides Like a Man

 The Woman Who Rides Like a Man by Tamora Pierce 256 Pages

Summary: A knight at last, Alanna of Trebond heads out to seek adventure in the desert of Tortall. Captured by desert tribesmen, she is forced to prove herself in a magical duel to the death. But her real challenge doesn't come until after she wins. As the first female shaman, Alanna must fight to change the ancient traditions of the stubborn desert tribes -- for their own sake and for the sake of all Tortall.

This third book in the Song of the Lioness quartet continues Alanna's saga as she strikes out alone and discovers herself anew.

My Thoughts: I think I enjoy the third book of the series the most. She is at a crossroads where she's had to use her magic and has a hatred for it. She winds up with the Bahzir tribe and has to face what it's like to be a woman among a male dominated area, even stricter than where she resides. I love the grapple she faces between wanting to flee from her magic and wanting to help out a couple of magical children gain control of their powers. This novel is about finding your path while fighting against everyone else to prove your worth. 

In The Hand of The Goddess

 In the Hand of the Goddess by Tamora Pierce 240 pages

Summary: Disguised as a boy, Alanna of Trebond becomes a squire -- to none other than the prince of the realm. But Prince Jonathan is much more to Alanna; he is her ally, her best friend, and one of the few who knows that she's really a girl. Now it will take all of Alanna's awesome skill, strength, and growing magical powers to protect him from the mysterious evil sorcerer who is bent on his destruction--and hers!

Here continues the story of Alanna, a young woman bound for glory who is willing to fight against enormous odds for what she believes in.

My Thoughts: The second book in the Song of the Lioness Quartet focuses on Alanna as a squire. Again I adore this author and I feel like I'm going to repeat myself a LOT. I love how  much Alanna despises her magic in this series and doesn't want to deal with it. She pushes away an important part of her life because she wants to prove herself to the world that even as a female she CAN and will become a knight no matter what. This book introduces her awesome animal companion and a dark sorcerer who will stop at nothing to get what they want. While there is romance in this book, the main theme is discovering yourself and realizing the importance of friendship and hard work. 

Alanna: The First Adventure

 Alanna: The First Adventure by Tamora Pierce 240 Pages

Summary: In a time when girls are forbidden to be warriors, Alanna of Trebond wants nothing more than to be a knight of the realm of Tortall. So she finds a way to switch places with her twin brother, Thom. Disguised as a boy, Alanna begins her training as a page at the palace of King Roald. But the road to knighthood, as she discovers, is not an easy one. Alanna must master weapons, combat, and magic, as well as polite behavior, her temper, and even her own heart.

Filled with swords and sorcery, adventure and intrigue, good and evil, Alanna’s first adventure begins—one that will lead to the fulfillment of her dreams and make her a legend in the land.

My Take: I absolutely LOVE Tamora Pierce! I love how she writes about strong women and she is for women's rights and equal rights for all! Anyways this book series, Alanna is a strong female lead. What gets to me is her determination to hide the fact that she's female so she can become a knight. I would recommend it for any young adult who wants to read about a strong female character. I did notice in my re-read that the male character she ends up with is a bit older than her and in this age and society that is frowned upon, but back then it was normal. 

FARMER BOY by LAURA INGALLS WILDER

 FARMER BOY by LAURA INGALLS WILDER (Pgs 384)

The second book in the treasured Little House series, Farmer Boy is Laura Ingalls Wilder’s beloved story of how her husband, Almanzo, grew up as a farmer boy far from the little house where Laura lived. This edition features the classic black-and-white artwork from Garth Williams. 

The nine Little House books have been cherished by generations of readers as both a unique glimpse into America’s frontier history and as heartwarming, unforgettable stories. The Little House series has captivated millions of readers with its depiction of life on the American frontier.

While Laura Ingalls grows up on the prairie, Almanzo Wilder is living on a big farm in New York State. Here Almanzo and his brother and sisters help with the summer planting and fall harvest. In winter there is wood to be chopped and great slabs of ice to be cut from the river and stored. Time for fun comes when the jolly tin peddler visits, or best of all, when the fair comes to town.

Almanzo wishes for just one thing—his very own horse—and he must prove that he is ready for such a big responsibility.

This was always one of my favorite books in the Little House series!

THE BORROWERS AFIELD by MARY NORTON

 THE BORROWERS AFIELD by MARY NORTON (Pgs 224)

Driven out of their cozy house by the rat catcher, the Borrowers find themselves homeless. Worse, they are lost and alone in a frightening new world: the outdoors. Nearly everything outside -- cows, moths, field mice, cold weather -- is a life-threatening danger for the Borrowers. But as they bravely journey across country in search of a new home and learn how to survive in the wild, Pod, Homily, and their daughter, Arrietty, discover that the world beyond their old home has more joy, drama, and people than they'd ever imagined.

TWILIGHT OF DEMOCRACY: THE SEDUCTIVE LURE OF AUTHORITARIANISM by ANNE APPLEBAUM

 TWILIGHT OF DEMOCRACY: THE SEDUCTIVE LURE OF AUTHORITARIANISM by ANNE APPLEBAUM  (Pgs 224)

Across the world today, from the Americas to Europe and beyond, liberal democracy is under siege while populism and nationalism are on the rise. In Twilight of Democracy, prize-winning historian Anne Applebaum offers an unexpected explanation: that there is a deep and inherent appeal to authoritarianism, to strongmen, and, especially, to one-party rule--that is, to political systems that benefit true believers, or loyal soldiers, or simply the friends and distant cousins of the Leader, to the exclusion of everyone else.

People, she argues, are not just ideological; they are also practical, pragmatic, opportunistic. They worry about their families, their houses, their careers. Some political systems offer them possibilities, and others don't. In particular, the modern authoritarian parties that have arisen within democracies today offer the possibility of success to people who do not thrive in the meritocratic, democratic, or free-market competition that determines access to wealth and power.

Drawing on reporting in Spain, Switzerland, Poland, Hungary, and Brazil; using historical examples including Stalinist central Europe and Nazi Germany; and investigating related phenomena: the modern conspiracy theory, nostalgia for a golden past, political polarization, and meritocracy and its discontents, Anne Applebaum brilliantly illuminates the seduction of totalitarian thinking and the eternal appeal of the one-party state.

First read this in 2020, I wish that I didn't feel the need to re-read it now.

Sword Catcher by Cassandra Clare

 Sword Catcher

2023 | 624 Pages

Summary: In the vibrant city-state of Castellane, the richest of nobles and the most debauched of criminals have one thing in common: the constant search for wealth, power, and the next hedonistic thrill.

Kel is an orphan, stolen from the life he knew to become the Sword Catcher—the body double of a royal heir, Prince Conor Aurelian. He has been raised alongside the prince, trained in every aspect of combat and statecraft. He and Conor are as close as brothers, but Kel knows that his destiny is to die for Conor. No other future is possible.

Lin Caster is one of the Ashkar, a small community whose members still possess magical abilities. By law, they must live behind walls within the city, but Lin, a physician, ventures out to tend to the sick and dying of Castellane. Despite her skills, she cannot heal her best friend without access to forbidden knowledge.

After a failed assassination attempt brings Lin and Kel together, they are drawn into the web of the mysterious Ragpicker King, the criminal ruler of Castellane’s underworld. He offers them each what they want most; but as they descend into his world of intrigue and shadow, they discover a conspiracy of corruption that reaches from the darkest gutters of Castellane to the highest tower of its palaces.

As long-kept secrets begin to unravel, they must ask themselves: Is knowledge worth the price of betrayal? Can forbidden love bring down a kingdom? And will their discoveries plunge their nation into war—and the world into chaos? (Courtesy of Goodreads)

Review: Reading this a second time was definitely a great way to recap the story before I dive into the sequel that recently came out. Its that sort of story where you still find more details on each reread and it really emphasizes the author's attention to the world building and characters. I highly recommend this story to fantasy lovers out there!

Warriors: The Prophecies Begin: Forest of Secrets by Erin Hunter

 

Warriors: Forest of Secrets

2004 | 368 Pages

Summary: Allegiances are shifting among the Clans of warrior cats that roam the forest. With tensions so delicately balanced, former friends can become enemies overnight, and some cats are willing to kill to get what they want. Fireheart is determined to find out the truth about the mysterious death of brave ThunderClan warrior Redtail. But as he searches for answers, he uncovers secrets that some believe would be better left hidden. (Courtesy of Amazon)

Review: I am very glad to see that this series is still very popular with kids. I figured it would be fun to go back through the series as an adult to notice the things I didn't as a kid. It's a relaxing read for me, and is definitely a great book for getting kids into chapter books. This series was one of my first when I was younger, and I couldn't recommend it enough!