The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

The Hunger Games.  By Suzanne Collins. Scholastic Press, 2008.  384 pages.

Plot: The novel’s setting is in the territory of Panem, formerly the United States, and a dozen districts that make up this country. This postapocalyptic setting is one filled with struggle and strife.  The Capitol, the controlling entity of this setting, has created a competition each year called the Hunger Games, to pit territory against territory, a fight to the death.  What comes to be understood is that these games are a product of the Capitol attempting to “still” the past actions of those who spoke against the “powers” that be.  It appears the Hunger Games might well be  a “reminder” to all participants and residents of who has control.  As the story begins, we meet our young female protagonist, Katniss, who has decided to take the place of her younger sister and place herself in the arena of competition instead.  The plot throws the reader into the center of the action as we follow Katniss through the dangerous competition where the struggle to survive is a minute by minute challenge.  Inserted into this storyline is the character of Peeta, a sensitive young man, also representing the same territory as Katniss.  The Hunger Games are a bloody event televised for the voyeuristic curiosity of territorial audiences.  As the games continue, Katniss is faced with challenge after challenge, barely surviving, yet calling upon the memories of home and the powers of her mind and heart, to beat the Capitol at their own game. Will she succeed?  Will she come to understand the confusions of her own heart?  Will she find renewed strength through the relentless challenges placed in front of her? Who, in the end, has control?  Let the games begin.

Review/Personal thoughts:  This novel’s gripping plot grabs you from the first page as you find yourself in the midst of Katniss’ struggles.  The story is layered with commentary on social hierarchies, the “haves” and “have-nots”, the challenge of poverty, the desire to rebel in a world that silences you, the resiliency of spirit, the desire to remain loyal and true to one’s convictions, and the power of love.  It is also a novel loaded with contradiction as the reader, while following the action of the games, is well aware that this is bloody entertainment to keep the people “in their place”.  The tragedy is that the games exist at all, pitting territory against territory, human vs. human, who have no say in the existence of such a brutal competition.  The question constantly exists of “why is this even happening?”, “why are people forced to be in such a blood bath?”  And yet, in the midst of this contradiction, the reader is rooting for Katniss and Peeta to survive in a battle you wish would never exist at all.  This is an excellent novel that tweens are sharing with one another. There is a commitment to Katniss and her journey, a desire to watch this powerful young protagonist take on any challenge placed in front of her. As each page is read, Katniss has an ally in the reader.  

Genre: Science Fiction

Reading Level: 5.3  Interest level: Ages 11 and up

Awards: ALA 2009 Best Books for Young Adults

Best Tween Books 2008

Grand Canyon Reader Award Nominees 2011: Tween Books

Things Not Seen by Andrew Clements

Things Not Seen. by Andrew Clements. Philomel Books, 2002. 251 pages.

Plot: Bobby Phillips is a normal fifteen year old boy living in Chicago. He doesn’t stand out in a crowd.  One fateful morning he experiences a life altering event that few have ever experienced. He gets up, goes into the bathroom, looks into the mirror and sees nothing.  Every other day of his life he has looked into the mirror and seen himself - today he sees nothing. Overnight he has become invisible.  Of course he is concerned, but he doesn’t panic.  He tell his parents. Of course they are concerned , but they don’t panic.  Bobby’s dad is a scientist and he tries to solve the mystery. His parents don’t want anyone to find out.  Bobby can go out undetected in the world, but he is naked!  He meets Alicia, a girl at the library, and is comfortable talking with her because she is blind.  They become close friends.  In the meantime Bobby’s parents have been in a car accident. They are fine, but the police have been notified that Booby hans’t been in school and they suspect the parents are criminally involved with Bobby’s disappearance.  Alicia works with Bobby and they are led to the corporate offices of Sears, the manufacturer of an electric blanket suspected as a reason for the invisibility. Police investigations, private investigations, mystery and solar eruptions all lead to an exciting conclusion.

Review/Personal thoughts:  Even though the premise of the story is not believable, the story flows as if it is totally believable.  All of the characters interact as if this is just a problem they need to solve. Bobby is the narrator of the story and is very likable. Themes explored are friendship, first romance, honesty and family. I especially like Alicia’s heartfelt letter to Bobby where she tenderly describes her hopelessness and finally self-realization through her relationship with Bobby.  This book was recommended to me by a tween and now I recommend it to you.

Genre: Fiction, Fantasy

Reading Level: 5.0 Interest level: Ages 10 to 15.

E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial

E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial: Film, 1982 Studio: Universal Pictures Director: Steven Spielberg Run time: 115 minutes.

Plot: This is the story of the connection between a 10-year old boy named Elliot and a stranded extra-terrestrial affectionately named E.T. E.T. is a very non-threatening, actually quite adorable, alien creature who got left behind by his spaceship as it hastily departed Earth.  Elliot finds E.T., befriends him and brings him home.  He doesn’t tell his single parent mom about his new friend.  Elliot begins to form very powerful psyche, emotional and physical bonds with E.T. Elliot says, “You could be happy here, I could take care of you. I wouldn't let anybody hurt you. We could grow up together, E.T.”  There are scenes where E.T. gets dressed up for halloween, government agents attempt to steal E.T. and E.T. nearly dies. Ultimately, Elliot realizes that the best thing for E.T. is for him to return to his home.  Everything he does from that point on is to help his friend reach that goal.

Review/Personal thoughts: It is difficult to be neutral in my assessment of this film because it is one of my all-time favorites.  The movie is professionally produced and the characters are as real as life.  The relationship between Elliot and E.T. is precious. Tweens will explore themes of single parent homes, the bonds of friendship, loyalty, tolerance, growing up and letting go.  This movie lets viewers laugh and cry. I have labeled this film as a classic.  Its universal themes and heart warming story have persisted for 28 years and I can only see it entertaining and enlightening audiences that have not yet been born.  I give this movie the highest possible recommendation and hope any tween who hans’t seen it, will get to soon. 

Rated: PG

Interest Level: Ages 7 and up

Awards: Academy Awards, Oscar, Best Effects, Sound Effects/Best Effects, Visual Effects/Best Music, Original Score/Best Sound, 1983

Golden Globe, Best Motion Picture - Drama/Best Original Score - Motion Picture, 1983

Uglies by Scott Westerfeld

Uglies. by Scott Westerfeld. Simon Pulse, 2005. 425 pages.

Plot: The story is set in a postapocolyptic future.  Two friends, Tally and Shay, are in the twelve to fifteen year old age group classified as “uglies.”  Children from birth to age eleven are known as “littles”.  At age 16, literally on your birthday, you get an operation that makes you into a “pretty.”  Everyone waits with joyful anticipation to become one of the “pretties” not only to be physically transformed, but to gain all the privileges that accompany the change. Or does everyone want the operation?  Shay has decided that she wants to remain her natural self and avoid the change, but this society does not allow for the option of refusal.  Shay is forced to run away to a settlement called the Smoke, whose location is unknown to the greater society and is occupied by rebel refugees.  Individuals travel by hoverboards and many technological advances are available.  In order to find Shay, the government refuses to grant Tally her much desired operation unless she secretly helps them locate Shay.  Reluctantly Tally sets out to find Shay, who has left her a note describing where she is and an invitation to join her in the Smoke, and is being electronically tracked by the government. She reaches the settlement, betrays Shay and the government is alerted and sends full battle response to destroy the settlement and capture the renegades.  What will happen when all are returned to Prettytown? What mind altering transformation takes place with the operation that only the government knows about?  Will Shay and Tally become “pretties’? 

Review/Personal thoughts:  I don’t usually venture into science fiction.  I was not disappointed by Uglies.  It will certainly appeal to tweens with the main characters being young girls.  The author does a great job of keeping the reader’s interest with exciting scenes like using hoverboards to sneak into Prettytown and the government’s crackdown on the rebels.  The characters are adequately developed, but I was not particularly drawn to them, although I was pulling for Shay in her quest to resist the conformity. Conformity is one of the themes explored in the book for tweens to consider as well as, body image, the rights of the individual, betrayal, friendship, peer pressure and uncontrolled technology.  I am not in a hurry to read the next book in the series, but my guess is that tweens who like this one will be. 

Genre: Science Fiction

Reading Level: 5.2  Interest level: Ages 11 and up.

Awards:  ALA Best Books for Young Adults 2006

Wall-E

WALL·E: Film, 2008  Studio: Disney/Pixar Director: Andrew Stanton Run time: 98 minutes.

Plot: WALL-E is a robot who roams the earth as the only “creature” left (with the exception of one cockroach companion) after the earth can no longer support human life.  WALL-E gets up every morning and does what he was programed to do - collect and compress trash that has accumulated on the Earth’s surface.  Every once in awhile  he brings back some interesting piece of trash that he adds to his collection which includes a working video screen and old movies. One day the calm of WALL-E’s world is shattered by the landing of a giant spaceship out of which comes EVE, a modern robot sent back to Earth to determine if it can support life again.  WALL-E shares a small growing plant with EVE who is programmed to recognize this as a sign of life, stores it, and shuts down.  WALL-E is confused by EVE’s lack of response and when the spaceship returns for EVE, he goes with her. They arrive at a giant space station that is now home to all of the humans who evacuated earth. The humans are shuttled around on hovering chairs, watch video screens and are all overweight and out of shape.  The evil company issues a computer command to abort the plan to return to earth, but WALL-E, the captain and EVE all lead the humans in a mutiny against the company and it’s evil robots.  Will Earth ever be inhabited by humans again? What happens to the sole living plant?  Will WALL-E and EVE live happily ever after?

Review/Personal thoughts:  This is a great animated film!  Once again I am reminded of how difficult it is for me to place an upper age limit on the interest level of tween material because I, as an adult, love this film. The film has very few spoken words in the first half of the film, but there is no doubt about the communications and “feelings” that are taking place. Themes explored include; love, environmentalism, technology, life, longing, triumph, relationships and personal growth.  Highly recommended by this reviewer.

Rated: G

Interest Level: Ages 5 and up

Awards:  Academy Awards, Oscar, Best Animated Feature Film of the Year, 2009