Monster

Walter Dean Myers is one of my favorite poets, so I was really looking forward to reading this novel.....needless to say, I was NOT disappointed.  I really liked the style of this novel in that it was written like a film script because that is what the main character, Steve Harmon, was interested in.  To be honest, it did take me a little bit of time to get used to it being in this format, but once I got past that and got into the story, I really loved it.                                       The whole time I I was reading,  kept thinking what a talented writer Myers must be to be able to write convincingly from both points of view in the prosecution and the defense.  I found myself as a reader being very convinced that Steve Harmon was innocent in one part of the book and then guilty in the other!  It was like he was playing the devil's advocate with himself.  I liked it though because as a reader, it really made you think and have to make up your own mind.                                                                                                                                                                                                       This story line is also not something that I have personally experienced, but I thought it brought a really good perspective of what a lot of people go through on a day to day basis.  I have been applying to teach in NYC, and this book, though I realize it doesn't happen to everyone, gives me something to think about as I sometimes feel I have lived a sheltered life in suburban Fairport.

I can see this book being used in many different ways in the classroom.  I think it could be used as a whole class read in high school, or with literature circles, or I really think an author study of Walter Dean Myers using this book would be really interesting as well.  I liked how his son was a part of this book with him as well, I think it speaks a lot about the author.  Overall, I give this book a 5 star rating and will look for more novels by Walter Dean Myers.

Catching Fire

The book picks up right where the first one left off, and I do have to admit that it does take a little while to really get started, but once the pace picks up, it is AWESOME!  I was wondering what happened to the contestants after the games when I read the first one, and this book so nicely explains it.  Sometimes the government in Panem seems completely out of control and it is hard to even imagine, yet at the same time I can really picture everything that they talk about! 

I was so happy to be "assigned" Catching Fire as my second book for this week!  After having read The Hunger Games I definitely wanted to continue the series, and probably would have had to postpone another book so I could read that one!  I am not quite finished, but I am loving the book so far!  I am a bit more than halfway through.

My sister came home this week for her college break and was reading The Hunger Games on the train.  She said that she had to try to stop herself from cryiing because she became so invested in the characters and the plot.  She can't wait to read the next one, and I think this holds true for most people that read these books.  I was thinking about how I would use them in the classroom, and I honestly think this series is one of those books that I would want to use simply to get readers to WANT to read.  I think sometimes we, as teachers, try to over-analyze books which then takes the fun out of reading them.  My sister enjoyed the book because she could just read it for what it was and not have to worry about a quiz or discussion etc.  This series is exciting and emotional, and a fun fast read, so I wouldn't want to take that away from the book.  This isn't to say that the book couldn't be used in really creative ways in the classroom and be very successful, its just my inital reaction is to let students read it for independent read or something to that affect.

I can't wait to finish Catching Fire and then begin on the third book!  I need to finish before the movie comes out!

Hungry for More Hunger Games!

Wow, I don't even know where to begin!  I had heard a lot about The Hunger Games before reading them for class. Many of my students raved about the book, but to be honest I was a little turned off by the category of "science fictoin," and figured it was another Harry Potter wanna be. Even though I wasn't really intrigued quite yet, I knew I should probably read it because that is what my students were interested in, and I wanted to see what all of the fuss was about.  I always conveniently ran out of time and didn't pick up the book until now.  I should have known how good the book was based on how difficult it was to get it from the library.  My mom works for Fairport Public Library and is usually able to get books pretty easily for me as she knows the ins and outs of borrowing from other libraries etc.  She told me every single cope (probably around 10) was out of the Fairport Public Library and that there was a wait list for the other books floating around Monroe County.  When I finally got the book, I couldn't wait to get started.  Since there is a movie coming out, I do think a lot more people wanted to read the book as well....including me!  I almost always like the book better than the movie, and try to read the book before seeing the movie, and so I began.

For some reason the science fiction category has always seemed like a turn off for me.  I guess I just clumped things like aliens and space travel into this category and thought it wasn't something that interested me, but this combination of science fiction/fantasy of The Hunger Games has left me wondering what other books I have missed out on for judging the cateogry too quickly.  I just love how the story has so many different elements to it, and it is quite unique to any other books I have read.  I do have to admit, the entire idea behind fighting to the death is pretty violent for middle school students, so I wouldn't be surprised to hear parents complain, but I think the book is so much more than that.  I think it is about Katniss and her journey to grow as a young lady as she learns new things about herself, and about the people she is put into the Hunger Games with!  I think Suzanne Collins did a great job of making the "districts" and that entire community seem strange to the reader while at the same time feeling very familiar to the "states" and things that we have in the United States.  The book is different enough that you feel like it could never happen to you, but still real enough that you can experience the events right along with the characters. 

The book in a lot of ways reminded me of The Trueman Show with Jim Carey in that his life was being filmed for everyone to see, the only difference between that movie and this book was that he didn't know he was being filmed, and the participants of the Hunger Games knew that they were being filmed. It would be interesting to compare the social responses of the characters in each situation when they knew they were being filmed and people were watching as well as when they didn't know people were watching.  I wonder if their actions would have changed?

Overall I loved this book and would recommend it to everyone!  I've already convinced my boyfriend (who hates reading) to read the book before we go see the movie!  It even gets reluctant readers to pick up a book!