Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

The Hunger Games was chosen by a very cool group of sophomore guys to be our next choice for book club. The library is trying to gather as many copies as quickly as possible - get in line for your own copy! For a video trailer about this book, click here.

Check out the game based on the book.

Christine by Stephen King

What if a car was alive? Would it be friendly, like Herby, or be murderous? These are among the questions Stephen King addresses in Christine. The novel is set in suburban Pittsburgh during the late 1970s. The book's two principle characters, Arnie and Dennis, are riding down the road when Arnie suddenly spots the car of his dreams. The apple of his eye is none other than a beat-up 1957 Plymouth Fury, complete with two-toned red and white paint. Arnie buys the car from an ancient, vulgar war veteran named Roland D. Lebay, who seems relieved to sell the vehicle. All seems well until Arnie begins to change, people start dying in the night, and the car mysteriously begins to "heal" itself. After reading this book, you will never walk in front of an empty car again. -Michael, class of 2009

Freakonomics

What do schoolteachers and sumo wrestlers have in common? How is the Ku Klux Klan like a bunch of real estate agents? And why do drug dealers live at home with their moms? Steven Levitt, the author of Freakonomics, addresses these questions and countless others in this fast-paced read.

Although these questions may seem unrelated and insignificant at first glance, he ingeniously intertwines them to form a compelling message. In addition, he examines many pieces of traditional economic issues, finding strikingly different conclusions especially in regards to crime and parenting. Finally, and even most importantly, Levitt supports his arguments with an endless amount of statistics, making his logic seemingly flawless. All in all, Freakonomics is a wildly entertaining book appropriate for a wide range of readers. - Ben, class of 2009

Dorian Gray

I have to say right off the bat that The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde deserves to be considered one of the Greats. The book starts off very slow, but good things come to those who wait, and boy will you be rewarded. The story focuses around Dorian Gray and how he can go about life as an immortal. When I say immortal I mean he cannot die, but that does not mean he is not dead on the inside. Throughout the course of the book Gray begins to change, and with time comes the strain of guilt and description. The last 50 or so pages reel you in like a fish on a worm, and you have to take the bait. So please do read this book. You never know, you may look at a picture of yourself in a whole new light. - Bryan, class of 2009

The Things They Carried

In The Things They Carried Tim O'Brien is the narrator of stories he and the members of his company experienced during the Vietnam War. These stories range from how they dealt with death to the mental hardships that followed them after the war was over. This book hits different aspects of life with many different perspectives. The great detail in the stories allow the reader to feel what goes on in the mind of soldiers in war. These feelings that the characters have are just extreme versions of what regular people have, which it makes it easier to relate to the characters.

Tim O'Brien teaches the readers that though life is full of struggles there are ways to get through them. If he can get through the hardships of war, it gives us hope to overcome the hardships of everyday life. Without a doubt, there are some very depressing parts in this book, but it is also uplifting in a way and brings up some very interesting ideas. I would recommend this book to anyone, especially to those that feel their life is too tough; I think this book will give you a new perspective.- Joe, class of 2009

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The Things They Carried details the life of soldiers in Vietnam. Considered a work of fiction, yet based on some of the author's own experiences. The collection of short stories range from tall tales to events that happened after the war had ended. Some of the best stories was "The Man I Killed" and "Speaking of Courage." "The Man I Killed" was written in a style that can only be described as mental shock. The entire time, sentences get mixed around and vary from paragraph to paragraph, truly showing the confusion and guilt of killing someone. "Speaking of Courage" speaks of a man named Norman who came back after to Vietnam only to find guilt. He seemed at a loss and all he ever wanted to do was to find someone to talk to. Displaying something that many soldiers feel after war, it is one of the most important short stories in the novel. It must be confessed that this book is NOT a true war novel. This is about soldiers and the things they experience, but there are few or no battles in the stories. The only battles they have are within their minds. -Vijay, class of 2009

Dante's Inferno

Right out of the 1300s comes this epic work of classic proportion. Dante believed that there was a lot of corruption within the Catholic Church, so much of the work is a metaphor trying to point out these beliefs.

Basically, the story of The Inferno is that Dante – the main character, as well as the author – realizes that he is not living his life with enough morals, so he tries to better himself. Before he can return to righteous ways, Dante is beaten back by a leopard, a lion, and a she-wolf, all representing different sins in life. Just when Dante seems to feel lost in sin forever, the ancient poet Virgil arrives and says that he will take Dante on a voyage through Hell in order to make him a better person. Dante agrees on the odyssey, and the story begins to unfold.

I thought this was a very well written novel and a fine translation into English too, thankfully. It is hard to say who would like this book, but if you like an oddly fast paced, and a slightly more than difficult read into the ironic punishment of others, then go out and read The Inferno. I would recommend this book because I enjoyed how Dante was such a real character even in modern times, even though he came into existence as a fictional character in the 1300s. Rating: 19/20. A very good read. - Grayson, class of 2009

Identical by Ellen Hopkins

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to have a mirror image of yourself sharing your clothes, your parents, your friends, your face? In Identical, Ellen Hopkins' latest book in verse, sixteen-year-old Kaeleigh and Raeanne experience this everyday.

Kaeleigh, the quiet, reserved, and innocent twin, strives to get good grades and attempt to get close to others despite the enormous circumstances holding her back. Raeanne, rebellious and wild, is the twin that constantly indulges in alcohol, drugs, and sex. Their mother Kay, a political stateswoman running for Congress, is rarely ever home. Their father Ray, a district judge, drowns himself in alcohol every night and has become a terrifying stranger in their own home. This family didn't always live in such misery.

Years before the time the book takes place, Ray, drunk, crashed the family car on the highway, leading to a fatal accident that changed everything. It sucked away Kay's love, and caused Ray to fall into a deep state of mental distortion. As the story progresses, it becomes clear that Ray's alcohol isn't his only problem. Since the accident when the twins were nine, Ray seeks out his daughter Kaeleigh often and sexually abuses her. For long years has Kaeleigh kept silent, her mother turning her cheek and her twin fearful but not responsible enough to do anything about it.

This novel is full of love, loss, lust, pain, self-mutilation, ghosts of the past, regret, surprises, madness, and redemption. If you enjoyed Crank, my personal favorite of Hopkins' books, you'll love Identical. The ending is one of the best I have ever read. I never saw it coming. - Kelly, Class of 2009

Across the Face of the World

In Russell Kirkpatrick's Across the Face of the World, two brothers find themselves on a quest to rescue their parents, after they are kidnapped by supernatural warriors from another land called Bhrudwo. It is set in a fantasy nation called Faltha and follows the two brothers, along with their compilation of companions, across the face of the world to rescue their parents and warn their country of its own peril.

I would not recommend this book to anyone who does not like the fantasy genre, because it is not going to change your mind. But if you are a fan of the genre it's a good read and worth your time, if only for the amount of time and detail Kirkpatrick is able to put into the weather without being boring. It is part of a three part series, and I found it interesting enough to want to read the next book. - Sarah, class of 2009

Picasso at the Lapin Agile

Steve Martin's Picasso at the Lapin Agile is a hilarious imagined meeting of Pablo Picasso and Albert Einstein at the historical Lapin Agile bar in Monmarte, Paris. There, among a cast of characters including the hilarious old Gaston and saucy, intelligent Germaine, the two men debate the merits of talent and genius, and what it is to be brilliant, ultimately defining the twentieth century. The book is witty, intelligent and carries Steve Martin's personal brand of utter hilarity. Recommended for anyone who likes theatre and loves to laugh. - Jenni, class of 2009

Eragon

In Eragon, Paolini's first in the trilogy, a farm boy named Eragon who lives in the land of Alagaesia is seemingly blessed with a precious blue stone. He lives with his uncle and cousin, his only family, and thinks he has found something valuable. However, one night the "stone" breaks open revealing a dragon, a race thought extinct. He and his family is soon attacked by strangers, forcing him to set out on an exhilarating adventure to find answers about himself and his dragon. The battle scenes and dilemmas Eragon faces will keep you reading. While I recommend this to everyone, this is a must read for anyone who likes fantasy adventures. - Michael, class of 2009

Give Me a Break

John Stossel is one of the most entertaining people you will ever know. He currently works for ABC news and is well known for his confrontations and very straight forward, revealing interviews.

His book Give Me A Break starts off almost like an autobiography and talks about how he got into his line of work. He talks you through his many daring experiences that got him to where he is today. He has many very entertaining stories that will make you laugh, fill you with anger or even disgust. Basically, the whole book is all about his libertarian views and he tries to show, through his personal experiences, that the government has too much control in our lives. That is why I liked it. Not only did he use personal facts, he used funny, interesting stories that he went through firsthand.

Even if you are not a libertarian I believe you will find this book to be interesting. It might even change your views when it comes to the political spectrum. I think this book is mainly for people who are interested in governmental and political issues but, again, anybody can read it. -Steve, class of 2009

Annette Vallon

Annette Vallon by James Tipton is the story of a simple woman in the times of the French Revolution, who was raised with the luxuries of being an aristocrat and writes of her experiences in the Revolution. Annette was always an individual valuing poetry above parties and is content with her life as a teacher to her niece and nephew until she meets William Wordsworth.

Anyone would really enjoy this book, it has action, romance, and history in every page. What would you do if you faced the guillotine but still loved the enemy? -Julia, class of 2009

Dracula

Bram Stoker's Dracula is a classic that everyone should take the time to read. Written in shorthand, by journal entries of the main characters, the book is completely and entirely enthralling. The book begins with an innocent visit to Count Dracula's house, and before you know it, you're caught up in the action! Trapped inside the castle, everything is amiss, and the book ventures through the journey of turning things right again. The book and packed with details, and while it's captivating, it can be a bit of a long read. Dracula is great for anyone who loves classic literature, or a just a great vampire novel! - Shelby, class of 2009

Good Calories, Bad Calories

Gary Taubes, author of Bad Science and Nobel Dreams, is a correspondent for Science magazine. In Good Calories, Bad Calories, Gary Taubes is on a mission to find the reason why a large proportion of Americans are obese and unhealthy.

A large portion of this book focuses on carbohydrates and fat. Through research, Gary Taubes explains why one of these two could possibly be the culprit for fat accumulation in the human body. Taubes also covers other areas such as cholesterol, blood pressure, Alzheimer's disease, cancer, exercise, diabetes, hunger, and more. This is a non-fiction book. Gary Taubes spent approximately five years writing this book and he included over 1,300 sources in his bibliography.

Anyone interested in eating more intelligently or looking for a challenging read would enjoy this book. What if you could eat as much as you want and still lose weight (provided that you eat the right things)? - Garret, class of 2009

Angels and Demons

Dan Brown is the author of The Da Vinci Code, which is the sequel to Angels and Demons.

Robert Langdon is a professor of Religious Symbology at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts. His specialties include classical iconology, symbols of pre-Christian culture, goddess art, and the decryption of ancient ciphers. One night, he receives a mysterious call from a man who claims to have information on a long lost cult that was known for their secrecy and riddles. Langdon is intrigued and decided to follow the man’s instructions and travel to Switzerland to unravel the mystery of the Illuminati, not knowing that attempting to do so will result in his life, and the lives of many others being threatened.

Angels and Demons is a very fast-paced book. It has short chapters and is filled with suspense and surprises. Readers who enjoy faced-paced, action filled books will love Angels and Demons.Can you figure out the secret of the Illuminati before they get you? - Caitlin, class of 2009

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Angels and Demons was written by Dan Brown and it's the prequel to 'The Davinci Code'. The story revolves around Robert Langdon, who is a symbologist at Harvard University. He's called upon by a director at CERN, a physics research laboratory in England, to check out a death of someone involving a symbol. The man was killed by someone who was apart of a cult, who opposed the man's work at CERN. His work was stolen and taken to the cult layer somewhere in Italy. Robert works with the man's daughter, Vittoria, to try and find the stolen item and the killer. They track down the layer using multiple clues from ancient poems, architecture, and art around Rome. The story was very fast paced and it always kept me wondering what was going to happen. There were a bunch of riddles to solve, which was really interesting. If you like mystery novels, then this is a book you should check out, it's great! - Kelsey, class of 2009

Marley & Me

Marley & Me introduces the reader to newlyweds John & Jenny Grogan. They live in Florida and are both writers for two different newspapers. They believe that a nice addition to their family would be a puppy. The cute little furball they brought home with them soon grew into 97 pounds of chaos.

He crashed through screen doors, chewed through drywall, ate phones & answering machines, anything that entered this dog's path was demolished. Though this dog may be insane, his heart is pure. He was there for the family throughout everything. Though it may seem predictable, the ending of this book leads the reader to tears. It doesn't take a dog lover to love this dog. Can a dog really teach a human how to live? -Cara, class of 2009

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Marley and Me wasn't just another dog story. Marley and Me was about so much more. It was about the loss of unborn life. The sting of depression. The love that can be found in a soul-mate. The story was about trial, and overcoming trial. It was about what it means to truly live. Marley and Me didn't follow the life of a Labrador Retriever named Marley; instead it followed the intriguing lives of a man named John Grogan, and his wife Jennifer. The story developed as John and Jennifer's relationship developed, and Marley was there every step of the way, teaching them lessons. Through his antics, comic demeanor, adorable appearance, and undying love, Marley showed the Grogans so much about what it was to truly live life. The tale proves heartwarming for dog lovers and romantics alike. However, be prepared for a some tears, because this heart-string pulling adventure will surely bring about a heartfelt response. - Lauren, class of 2009

Here's the Story

You may know Maureen McCormack as Marcia Brady from the hit television show The Brady Bunch. She wrote this memoir to come clean about many of the scandalous issues in her life. It starts off describing how she got into the business, and goes on explaining her drug addiction and struggles with eating disorders. This memoir was a page-turner. Many of the things in it, I was shocked to read. She writes as if she's speaking directly to you, telling you about her personal life. It was heartbreaking but at the same time, interesting to read. I'd recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of her, or the show, or anyone who enjoys reading memoirs about stars. -Stephanie, class of 2009

Why Courage Matters: The Way to a Braver Life

As a prisoner of war and naval officer, John McCain has seen countless acts of courage. In this book, Why Courage Matters: The Way to a Braver Life, McCain shares his stories and stresses the importance of being couragous in both small problems and huge conflicts.

He begins his book with the story of Ray Benavidez, a master sergeant involved in the Vietnam War who willingly risked his life to save his comrades. Angela Dawson, a mother of five from Baltimore also made the book. She is no one special, just an ordinary mother trying to give her kids the best life possible. However, when drug dealers start causing trouble outside her home, she takes matters into her own hands and refuses to back down. She ends up paying a terrible price for her courage. McCain gives advice for being brave and pushing through the tough times and turns to many others for inspiration and first-hand examples. Even if you aren't a fan of John McCain, you can't help but like him when you read this book! -Courtney, class of 2009

The Stand

The Stand, is another outstanding novel written by Stephen King. He has has many other famous works such as IT and Carrie, which still inspire new horror writers today. The Stand is a story about the fight over good and evil, after a deadly virus wipes out a large percent of the world's population. The survivors must chose between joining the army of a demon who wishes to enslave all man kind, or the few stragglers who have kept their faith in something higher. It all leads up to an amazing climax where the fate of the future generation of mankind is decided.

Stephen King does an excellent job on character build up in this novel. He gets you so deeply involved in their mind and feelings, it keep you reading simply because you want to see what happens to them, because he makes you care. Also, the need to know the end of the book will keep you reading for hours. This is a great book for anyone who is a Stephen King fan. Quite frankly, it may be his best written book. You will also enjoy this book if you enjoy books about the struggles of good and evil. Even people who are into the sociological views of the world would probably enjoy this book. It is the end of the known world. The lines are drawn. Who will win the final battle of good and evil? -Alex, class of 2009

Tree Grows in Brooklyn

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn is a story of a girl named Francie. The story starts with Francie as a little girl and follows her and her family until she reaches adulthood. Throughout the novel Francie is faces times of hardship and struggle, dealing with a loving father and his addiction to alcohol and a mother that carries the entire family, but cannot seem to show Francie as much love as she does to her brother Neeley. As the story goes on, Francie begins to find herself as she leaves the school she loves and enters in the to the real world to support the rest of her family. From this, Francie finds herself living the life of an independent adult at the age of 15, when growing up is something she is still getting used to.

This novel possesses many thought-provoking themes such as maturity, strength, faith, and education and was very easy to relate to my life as a young adult. I really enjoyed this story and would recommend it to all that want to step into the shoes of a girl full of strength, love, and faith that all problems can be solved in the end. Can a tree really grow in the middle of Brooklyn??-Katie, class of 2009

Screwtape Letters

C.S. Lewis is likely most famous for his series The Chronicles of Narnia, but this book rivals those. While Screwtape does not match the entertainment value that one may receive from Narnia, it is a more mature subject that never becomes boring. However, one elemental difference between the two is that C.S. Lewis did not write Screwtape. He was the recipient of a gift, being the book, and he published it.

The book is a composition of letters sent to a man, Wormwood, from his uncle, named Screwtape. These two men are devils, as their main goal in life is to contort the minds of man so that man earns a one-way ticket to hell. The letters revolve around Wormwood's attempts to poison a specific patient of his, while his uncle gives him advice on what to do next or how to correct past mistakes that have been made. Eventually, the man does find the light and see them for who they are, but it took a while. I would recommend this book for people who are able to handle mature concepts, because this book is fairly dark and not very suitable for young children. -Roger, Class of 2009

All the King's Men

Robert Penn Warren was an American poet, novelist, and literary critic. He was a charter member of the Fellowship of Southern Writers.He is the only person to have won Pulitzer Prizes for both fiction and poetry. His book, All the King's Men, tells the story of historian-turned-reporter Jack Burden and his relationship with Willie Stark, a rising political figure in the south. The setting is inferred that it is in Louisiana, but could realistically be anywhere in the early 20th century. Everyone who watches the news should read this book due to the increased political investigations. I really like this book because it brought you behind the scenes of a political campaign. Remember when Rod Blagoyovich tried to sell the senate seat? HISTORY REPEATS ITSELF. - Matt, class of 2009

Profiles in Courage

As senator, John F. Kennedy wrote Profiles in Courage with the intent to reveal the challenges presented to politicians and what kind of courage is necessary to counter them. Kennedy describes what he believes is courage and then highlights men throughout our history who have displayed an impeccable amount of political courage. His first profile sheds light on the struggles of second president John Adams and how he showed courage by standing up for what he thought was best. Often times Adams found himself in disagreement with his fellow leaders, yet, as Kennedy makes known, he follows his own beliefs and defends his policies. Kennedy believes that Adams countered one of the greatest challenges a politician comes upon, giving in to majority rule. Personally, I loved the historical parts, but as a huge JFK fan I couldn’t pass it up! This Pulitzer Prize winning book is great for anyone interested in learning about politics or just in want of an inspirational read! - Rachel, Class of 2009

Before I Die

Before I Die by Jenny Downham is about a 16 year old girl named Tessa who is dying from Leukemia. The book goes through her cancer process between her family and a couple of friends. Tessa creates a list of 10 things she wants to do before she dies. The first thing on her list is sex. The book continues on how each thing on her list leads to another and until she accomplished the biggest thing on her list, to fall in love. As the book continued, the list began to grow to be longer than 10 things once her life began to near an end. Before I Die takes place in the England area and uses some of the English language from over there. I would recommend this book to essentially girls and women. The book was very inspiring, and I was sad when I was done. Read it! - Katerina, Class of 2009

Slapstick

I've only read Kurt Vonnegut's book Cat's Cradle before this, but it does have some similar interesting fantasies as Slapstick. Slapstick is about twins, Wilbur and his sister Eliza. They were believed to be stupid and not live past 14, but in fact when they put their heads together they became one genius. The story follows Wilbur as he tells how his parents rejected them, then how they discovered their intelligence, how Wilbur became a pediatrician, Eliza went to Mars, and how Wilbur became the final President of the USA, and SO much more. The book was definitely a page turner; I couldn't put it down. Its chapters are short and there are lots of breaks in the text which makes the story one continuous flow, but at the same time easy to take a break and then pick up an hour or two later. I recommend this book to just about anyone. It's good for people who don't have large amounts of time to read. There are some parts in which a mature audience is necessary, but if you're in high school you should be able to handle it. What if gravity wasn't constant? What if it used to change? - Ann, Class of 2009