Changes

You might have noticed some changes around here. I've added links to my examiner articles over to the right (go on and read them, I'll wait). I've also added some new widgets from Amazon... because I am now an Amazon Associate. I *think* what that means is that if you need something from Amazon and you get there from my blog then I'll get a tiny percentage. I'm not 100% sure if it only counts for the books I review or you could buy anything you want. If you're familiar with how it works feel free to comment and correct me!

I also changed my About Me over to your left... My big kid is starting 1st grade, my medium kid is starting preschool, and that leaves me with just my little kid (before the next one comes along). So I think I can devote a bit more time to this (and the examiner) and not do sucky reviews anymore. To that end, I will now accept donations from up and coming authors. I HATE writing negative reviews because I always feel bad for the author which is why I always refused donations before. But if you're an author trying to get your book out there and you promise not to cry if I don't like it then I will give you a fair shake.

I hope to have some giveaways and fun things like that and get some more followers and try to reclaim a little of my pre-baby standing in the book review world.

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I'm an Amazon Associate now. If you click on the links for the books I review I might make a tiny bit of money.

YA Authors You Need to Read

FYI-- Over at the examiner, you know, that other place that I write about YA fiction?, I've been doing a series of articles of "YA Authors You Need to Read." Not the classic YA authors like Paula Danziger or Norma Fox Mayer, or even Francesca Lia Block. These are the newer YA Authors that are writing good stuff and getting YA literature a lot of well deserved attention.

If you're interested, this link should work to get to the listing of all of them: http://www.examiner.com/x-36817-Albany-Young-Adult-Fiction-Examiner~topic927085-YA-authors-you-need-to-read?selstate=topcat#breadcrumb

If it doesn't work you can just go here, http://www.examiner.com/x-36817-Albany-Young-Adult-Fiction-Examiner and click on the category "YA Authors You Need to Read"

If you have any suggestions or comments, feel free to comment over there.

The Hunger Games--Suzanne Collins

“The Hunger Games”
Suzanne Collins
Scholastic Press, NY 2008
374 p.

When “The Hunger Games” begins it is easy to think that it takes place in a long ago primitive time when people had to live off the land and were brutal and cruel just to survive. Although Katniss is just a young teen she is the hunter of the family, bringing home rabbits and squirrels to feed her starving mother and younger sister. Food is scarce in her district and the hunting is illegal but mostly overlooked. As Katniss tells her story we learn that it does not take place long ago, but rather is in the future. War has obliterated the United States as we know it and has been replaced by 13 districts called Panem. Like the 13 colonies that created the United States, they rebelled against an oppressive government. Unlike those 13 colonies, they lost. In retaliation the government of Panem destroyed the 13th district and rule the other isolated 12 districts with an iron fist.

One of the methods the government uses to control its people is with an extreme reality show called “The Hunger Games.” Each district sends one boy and one girl tribute to the games every year. The tributes must survive in the wild on their own, much like today’s “Survivor”-type reality shows, while cameras show their every move to the audience at home. The winner of the games is the last tribute standing—after killing all of the tributes. The games are violent and sadistic. Tributes have no choice but to participate—it’s either kill or be killed. The gamemakers manipulate the weather and cause natural disasters to force the tributes to come together in one location and fight to the death.

“The Hunger Games” brings together the horrific entertainment of our past—the Gladiator games—with the voyeuristic sadism of our present—reality shows—and gives us a future with human nature at its worst. The dystopian story continues in “Catching Fire” and concludes in the upcoming “Mockingjay.”

Lord Sunday--Garth Nix

I read this in April. I know this, because I wrote my review for the examiner in April. The review that I am going to copy and paste and put right here:

Title: "Lord Sunday"
Keys to the Kingdom series
Author: Garth Nix
Publisher: Scholastic Press, NY 2010
320 Pages

Garth Nix has finished his seven book Keys to the Kingdom series with the shocking conclusion "Lord Sunday."

"Lord Sunday" picks up where the cliff-hanging "Superior Saturday" leaves off with Arthur battling Saturday, Sunday, the Piper, and the Nothing that is destroying the House all while trying to hold on to the final speck of his humanity. As in the previous books Arthur’s main task is to find the lost Will and the special Key, but this task is more daunting since it is the last part of the Will and the most powerful Key that he must find in order to claim his place as Rightful Heir to the Architect and restore the Kingdom. Arthur is more powerful than ever and is no longer a mortal human, but even he needs help to accomplish this task.

Nix’s fans will not be disappointed in his final installment to the epic series. There are no loose threads—the fates of Suzy Turquoise Blue, Leaf, and the rest of Arthur’s friends and family are nicely wrapped up. The last chapters are mind-blowing and heart wrenching. Arthur must sacrifice everything if he chooses to save the Kingdom—and the people he loves—from oblivion. Readers waiting for answers to the big questions of the series will find them in "Lord Sunday. "