Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

I just finished reading the Suzanne Collins trilogy.  I was wondering if any of you have read them, and what you think about grade level.  Online, I'm seeing from 5th grade up, some say 7th.  There was a lot of violence, but it was an important part of the plot and not too gory.  This first book in the trilogy made the New York Times Notable Children's Book and ALA Notable Children's Book Lists.  As well as ALA Top Ten Best Books for Young Adults and ALA Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Readers lists.

 If you haven't read the books yet, here's what Publisher's Weekly has to say, "A gripping story set in a postapocalyptic world where a replacement for the United States demands a tribute from each of its territories: two children to be used as gladiators in a televised fight to the death.Katniss, from what was once Appalachia, offers to take the place of her sister in the Hunger Games, but after this ultimate sacrifice, she is entirely focused on survival at any cost. It is her teammate, Peeta, who recognizes the importance of holding on to one's humanity in such inhuman circumstances. It's a credit to Collins's skill at characterization that Katniss, like a new Theseus, is cold, calculating and still likable."

"When I Crossed No-Bob" by Margaret McMullan

From Margaret McMullen's webiste: http://www.margaretmcmullan.com/whenicrossednobob.html

Life as an O'Donnell is all twelve-year-old Addy knows, and life as an O'Donnell means trouble. Tucked away in a gray patch of woods called No-Bob, the O'Donnell clan has nothing but a bad reputation. So when Addy's mama abandons her on the afternoon of Mr. Frank Russell's wedding celebration, nobody is very surprised.

A reluctant Mr. Frank and his new wife take Addy in, and Addy does everything she can to prove that at least one O'Donnell has promise. But one day, Addy witnesses a terrible event that brings her old world crashing into the new. As she finds herself being pulled back into No-Bob and the grips of her O'Donnell kin, Addy is faced with the biggest decision of her life. Can she somehow find the courage to do what's right, even if it means betraying one of her own?

Sequel to HOW I FOUND THE STRONG

Mutiny on the Bounty

This is my favorite genre, which I like to call "non-fiction that reads like fiction".

Tells of the famous mutiny on the British naval vessel Bounty in 1787. Commanded by William Bligh and, under him, Fletcher Christian, the ship sailed from England to Tahiti. After leaving the island, simmering tensions boiled over, and Christian took command of the ship, forcing Captain Bligh and sailors loyal to him onto a small boat. Miraculously, Bligh and his men survived and made their way back to England. Meanwhile, some of the mutineers returned to Tahiti, while others made their way to Pitcairn Island. O'Brien writes clearly, balances both sides of the story, and illustrates the book with dramatic watercolor-and-gouache paintings. The artwork sets the story's tone, defines the period, and brings the characters to life. Blocks of text almost give this the look of a graphic novel

My First... by Eva Montanari

"All Alice wants for her birthday is a doll. That is all—just a doll! She gets the baby carriage and embroidered socks ready. But her parents give her something entirely different! Will she learn to appreciate the extraordinary nature of her present? Will you? Unique artwork with unusual perspectives and colors fill this special book about a young girl’s enjoyment of her book."

from Amazon.com

Sophie Peterman tells the truth by Sarah Weeks

"PreS-Gr 2—In no uncertain terms, a girl warns readers about the perils of a new sibling. Looking like an alien at first, and the object of unwarranted praise and attention, a baby is prone to all manner of gross behaviors. Sophie reveals that the situation doesn't get better as the infant grows into a toddler (known as a "monster"): stealing Halloween candy, swallowing lucky marbles, and exhibiting general uninhibited behavior. She softens, though, when the monster begins to focus affection on her but leaves readers with a warning not to reveal this softness to parents lest they repeat the experience. "
from School Library Journal

A Dragon's Child: The Story of Angel Island by Laurence Yep

This story is based on the transcripts from one family's immigration interviews with the United States immigration officials at Angel Island, off the coast of California. Parts of the story are fictional, but each chapter begins with one of the interegation questions that the main character, Gim Lew Yep, or his father were asked during their interviews. The interviews were very intense, and officials would ask very indepth questions about Gim's house, his family and their occupations, the neighbors and their homes, as well as the numbers of doors and windows within a home. Such questions were asked to ensure that another individual didn't enter into the US under false pretenses. This story was an eye-opener into Chinesse immigration.

"A Season of Gifts" by Richard Peck

Mrs. Dowdell is back! The beloved, hilarious and outrageous grandmother from Peck's Newbery award winning series, (A Year Down Yonder and A Long Way from Chicago), is up to her old tricks. In this book, which takes place 20 years A Year Down Yonder left off, a preacher and his family move in next door to Grandma. This novel is from the point of view of the preacher's 12-year-old son. He finds it is a hard road to walk living in such a back water town. But with the help of Mrs. Dowdell, the unexpected happens. This book is a great read for all Richard Peck fans.

The Thief and the Beanstalk by P.W. Catanese

"Nick joins a band of thieves and must break into a large white castle that allegedly holds an old man, Jack--rich from a quest up a magical beanstalk--but when Nick has to journey up the same beanstalk, it holds unfamiliar foes. " Follett
Read more at: http://www.pwcatanese.com/catanese_thief.htm

All Stations Distress! by Don Brown

"THE "UNSINKABLE" MEETS THE UNTHINKABLE -- A gripping acount of the ill-fated maiden voyage of the Titanic. It took 4,000 men to build it, 23 tons of animal grease to slide it into the ocean, 100,000 people to wave bon voyage, but only one wrong move to tear the Titanic apart, sinking it into the pages of history. On a cold moonless night in April of 1912, 2,000 passengers--both the uber-rich enjoying a luxury cruise and the dirt-poor hoping to find a new life in America--struggled to survive. Only 700 suceeded. Lifeboats were launched half-full; women were forced to leave their husbands and sons behind; and even those who made it out alive were forever haunted, constantly wondering "why me?" Told through captivating prose and chilling first-hand accounts, Don Brown take the pieces of the broken Titanic and gives it such a vivid shape that you'd swear you've never heard the story before."--Mackin Educational Resources

Amazon.com Review.

A Dog's Life by Ann Martin

"Squirrel, a stray puppy, tells her life story, from her nurturing mother and brother to making her own way in the world, facing busy highways, changing seasons, and humans both gentle and brutal." Follett

This book has been loved as a Read Aloud in the first grade classrooms at Norwood.

The Maze of Bones (39 Clues- Book 1) by Rick Riordan

Amy and Dan, members of the powerful Cahill family, try to uncover the thirty-nine clues which will reveal the secrets of their lineage and find out what really happened to their parents. (From Follett)

Read the Amazon Book Review on this book.

The Ruins of Gorlan (The Ranger's Apprentice, Book 1) by John Flanagan

Flanagan, John. The Ruins of Gorlan, New York: Philomel Books, 2005.

When fifteen-year-old Will is rejected by battleschool, he becomes the reluctant apprentice to the mysterious Ranger Halt, and winds up protecting the kingdom from danger. (Follett.com)

Amazon.com reiew.

Everything For a Dog by Ann Martin

A companion novel to Martin's A Dogs Life, this book begins with three alternating and seperate narratives-Charlie's, Henry's, and dog Bone's. Charlie's story begins with the pain of attending his dead brother's eight-grade graduation ceremony while Henry's story starts with his Christmas list of "everything for a dog," giving the book its title. Bone, brother of a A Dog's Life Squirrel, is orphaned and is in need of a family. Martin interweaves each narrative into a powerful story about persistence and the need for companionship and connection.

Amazon Review of this book.

Tumtum & Nutmeg: Adventures Beyond Nutmouse Hall

Bearn, Emily. Tumtum & Nutmeg: Adventures Beyond. Nutmouse Hall, Boston: Little, Brown, 2009.

Summary: Wealthy, married mice, Tumtum and Nutmeg, find adventure when they secretly try to help two human siblings who live in a tumbledown cottage with their absent-minded inventor father. Thee novellas in one novel. Cute but the length of the book might intimidate the age group this book is geared towards. Gr. 3-5 Genre: Fantasy

Amazon review: http://www.amazon.com/Tumtum-Nutmeg-Adventures-Beyond-Nutmouse/dp/0316027030/ref=ntt_at_ep _dpi_1