Movie news: the Hunger Games screen test.

There are more details in the video. What do you think? Personally, I think it's phenomenal. I can't wait for the movie.

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins.

I'm going to assume that you've heard about Suzanne Collins' bestselling series, the Hunger Games. And so, I won't bother to tell you about it.

I read this series in September. I got lucky; the first two books came from the library at the same time, and I received Mockingjay the next week. No waiting for me!

The good:

This world Collins' created is, not wonderful, but very believable. She's an incredible writer and I really loved how she created Panem. As a setting, it's terrifying. The thought of a world like that, where the Capitol sacrifices the Districts' children like that is horrifying.

    Katniss is such a strong protag. Not something that we usually find, but she was perfect. What I loved most about her is how unlikable she is. Really, she's not a very likable person. There are only a few things that stand out about her: her love for her family, her loyalty (ie. willingness to go to the Games for Prim) and her strength.

Gale and Peeta: what a struggle. Throughout the whole series I wavered back and forth between them. I think that straight up as characters, I liked Gale more. He was able to survive (not that Peeta didn't) and he was always there for Katniss. But then there was the boy with the bread. I loved that aspect of it; that she remembered him for what he did so many years ago.

I really sympathized with Gale. Can you imagine watching the girl (or guy) you love playing romance with another boy?

I think that, in the end, Peeta was what Katniss needed. Gale didn't understand what she went through, and she needed someone who had that.

The bad:

Finnick Odair. He was, hands down, my favorite secondary character. He suffered through so much, so much heartache, but he was still strong. His relationship with Annie was beautiful. And then he died. I sobbed through that part. I cried when Annie had their baby and it looked like him.

Prim: yet another death. I hated it.

The whole love-triangle thing. How did Suzanne expect us to choose between Peeta and Gale? I almost didn't read the epilogue because I didn't want to know who Katniss choose.

President Snow, brilliant a character though he was, freaked me out. I don't enjoy reading about creepy old men.

These books hit my list of top ten read in 2010. I haven't covered nearly all I could say about them, but this is what I've got. Read them? What did you think?

Love, Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli.

Love, Stargirl is the sequel to Stargirl. It picks up a year after Stargirl ends, when Stargirl has moved to Pennsylvania, with new friends, new experiences, and new trials. 


Love, Stargirl is written as the world's longest letter, addressed to Leo. Stargirl feels abandoned by Leo and funnels those feelings into her letter. 


This book is omigoodness amazing. It trumped Stargirl- big time. Here's why:


Dootie: She was cute and clever and loud and lovable.

Perry: he was adorable. And likable. And funny. And the perfect mix of bold and shy. And... I liked him better than Leo. 

Betty: every book needs an agoraphobic. Especially one as lovable as Betty. 

I liked this book TONS more than Stargirl.  I think because Stargirl narrates this one, as apposed to Leo, who I never really got attached to. It's perfect.
 

movie review: I Am Number Four.

 A teenage fugitive with an incredible secret races to stay one step ahead of the mysterious forces seeking to track and destroy him in this sci-fi action thriller from director D.J. Caruso (Disturbia, Eagle Eye). With three dead and one on the run, the race to find the elusive Number Four begins. Outwardly normal teen John Smith (Alex Pettyfer) never gets too comfortable in the same identity, and along with his guardian, Henri (Timothy Olyphant), he is constantly moving from town to town -- the perpetual new kid in a series of strangely familiar schools. Despite the fact that his nomadic lifestyle has made it difficult to form meaningful connections, John experiences the joy of first love with a beautiful young woman (Dianna Agron) and begins to unlock his full potential after arriving with Henri in a small Ohio town. With each passing day, John gains a stronger grasp on his extraordinary new powers, and his bond to the beings that share his fantastic fate grows stronger. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi (from here.)


Last night my best friends and I decided somewhat out of nowhere that we were going to see this movie. Two things: 1) Originally we were going to the Justin Bieber movie, and 2) I haven't read the book yet.

Anyways.

I really, really, really liked this movie. There were definitely some jump-out-of-your-seat moments (we were the loudest people in the theater) and overall, I loved it. Sarah was my favorite. I mean really, photographer? Jealous of her camera collection. And her outfits! They were crazy-cute.

I liked the special affects. Those were good. I liked the lizard. (you'll understand if you see it.)

Basically, this movie was amazing.

(sorry this review is so scattered. I'm still reeling over Love, Stargirl. review coming soon!)

Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli.

Stargirl Carraway is the new student at Mica High School in Arizona. She brings something that is lacking in the school's environment: individuality. She turns heads everywhere with her floor length prairie dresses, her ukulele, and her pet rat, Cinnamon. She astounds the students, and soon, rises to popularity. The students at Mica High realize that there is something beyond conformity.


Before long the students turn on Stargirl, ostracizing her and her boyfriend Leo, who fell in love with her after just one smile.

This book- oh my goodness, beyond words. It is absolutely beautiful. There is something beyond robots who dress the same, talk the same, listen to the same music. Stargirl, who changes the school from the first moment she walks in, brings that to them.

I'm actually still halfway through this book, so I can't tell you much about the ending. I wanted to write this while it was still fresh. Going into this book, I expected Stargirl to be someone beautiful and perfect and different, not the freckled homeschooler that she is. I love how it's narrated by Leo, and how much you connect with him. This book is beautiful. Read it, please.

Edit: I just finished it, and it made me cry, in the very best way. Finishing this book felt like losing a friend. Stargirl was enchanting. "When a Stargirl cries, she does not shed tears, but light." 

Hollywood Nobody, by Lisa Samson.

Scotty Dawn, fifteen, cheese lover, homeschooled, quirky teenager. Scotty travels with her vegan mother, who insists Scotty calls her Charley. They live in an old RV called Y, and Charley is a food stylist for, typically, low-budget films. 


On the way to their most recent movie, Scotty starts a blog, Hollywood Nobody, about the ins and outs of the stars she spends her days with. Charley's secrets gradually begin to trickle out, and Scotty wonders if the things she's always believed in really were true. 

I really, really, really liked this book. Scotty was so easy to relate too, and she made a very likeable narrator. I enjoyed the addition of the blog posts, but, in my opinion, the negative comments seemed somewhat forced and unrealistic. I've been blogging for nearly two years and I have never once gotten a negative comment. Honestly, it's something I'm kinda looking forward too.

So the blog aspect of it: I really enjoyed that. It was fun to read about another teenager with a blog, and how that figured into her life. This book is Christian fiction, and I agree with this review that says the religious aspect seemed forced. I liked the relationship with Seth, although it was a little odd.

All in all, I loved it! (and the cover! not a fan of covers with faces, but this one totally pulled it off.)

Posers, Fakers, and Wannabes.

Brennan Manning and Jim Hancock team together to re-create Manning's book Abba's Child for teens. This book is honest and real. It show cases a picture of how the devil tries to manipulate teens and their emotions. One of the most outstanding parts, in my opinion, was the way Manning and Hancock described the devil: the ultimate Poser. Posers, Fakers, and Wannabes addresses being who you really are in God's sight; in short, Abba's child. It talks about how God's grace sets us free to be real, the person he created.

This book was really interesting. You should read it!

Note: I received this book free of charge from NavPress. I was not required to write a positive review, just an honest one.

(ps. keep your eyes open for new reviews! Matched, Sapphique, the Maze Runner, and Across the Universe all coming up soon!)