All Fall Down

Title: All Fall Down (An Embassy Row Novel)
Author: Ally Carter
Grade Level: 8 and up
Pages: 310
Publisher: Scholastic Press 
Reviewed by:  Kirkus Reviews (November 15, 2014)
A 16-year-old Army brat, unpleasantly in the public eye, copes with grief over her dead mother and fears for her own mental health.In this new series by the author of the Gallagher Girls books, Grace is sent to live with her grandfather, the United States ambassador to Adria. Trouble-prone Grace causes an international incident on her very first day. Besides, everybody in Adria thinks she's crazy; Grace has spent the last three years insisting she saw her mother murdered by a gruesomely scarred man, though all the evidence says it was an accident. Grace doubts herself when she sees evidence of sinister doings in Adria: conspirators in the palace, secret tunnels and--worst of all--the Scarred Man walking Adria's corridors of power. Though some of the local kids try to help, Grace hates being surrounded by the competent and attractive multinational kids of Embassy Row while she's heavily medicated, prone to self-harm, and too pale and blonde to be pretty. Grace's adventure waffles among spy thriller, an examination of grief and an exploration of mental illness. It rockets wildly to and fro; the setup for the inevitable second volume doesn't follow even slightly naturally from the mystery's conclusion. Still, the mix-and-match bucket of tropes creates a not-entirely-infelicitous goofy whole: Hallucinations, mean girls and kidnappings abound. Will appeal not only to psychological-thriller fans, but to those who want a little glamour, some A-list social politics and a bit of high school nastiness mixed in with their suspense. (Thriller. 12-14)

 All Fall Down (Embassy Row, Book 1). (n.d.). Retrieved December 18, 2015, from http://www.titlewave.com/search#anchor-review-award 
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Code of Honor

    • Title: Code of Honor
    • Author: Alan Gratz
    • Grade Level: 8 and up
    • Pages: 278
    • Publisher: Scholastic Press 
    • Reviewed by:  School Library Journal (July 1, 2015)
An Arab American teen, Kamran has always considered himself fully American-a high school star football player who dates one of the most popular girls and a homecoming king contender. He plans to attend West Point for college, like his army officer brother, Darius. All of this changes when authorities identify his brother as a deserter and terrorist, responsible for the bombing of the U.S. embassy in Turkey and the deaths of 53 people. Life takes on nightmarish proportions when Kamran is first ostracized by his friends and classmates and then taken into custody and held as a prisoner by the U.S. government. Despite days of questioning and watching videos of Darius, the teen refuses to acknowledge that his brother is a terrorist. As he pays closer attention to the videos, he realizes that his brother is trying to give him information about terrorist plans by using scenarios from games the two used to play and the Code of Honor they signed when they were children. With help from surprising sources, Kamran escapes and heads out to find his sibling. Exciting, at times ripped from the headlines, and scary, this cinematic work has layers of intrigue and danger in each scene. The well-developed protagonist reacts in typical teen fashion, with anger, doubt, rage, and faith in his brother. This action-packed novel will appeal to a variety of readers and will raise questions about patriotism, loyalty, and trust. VERDICT A winner for independent reading and deeper discussion with its timely topic, strong writing, and appealing characters.-Janet Hilbun, University of North Texas © Copyright 2015. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

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    Hunger Games: Mockingjay

    "My name is Katniss Everdeen.
    Why am I not dead?
    I should be dead."

    -Katniss Everdeen, Mockingjay



      • Age Range: 11 and up
      • Grade Level: 8 and up
      • Lexile: 800
      • Series: The Hunger Games #3
      • Pages: 392 pages
      • Publisher: Scholastic Press August 24, 2010
      • Language: English
      • ISBN-10:  0439023483
      • ISBN-13:  9780439023481
    • Reviewed by: goodreads.com
    Katniss Everdeen, girl on fire, has survived, even though her home has been destroyed. Gale has escaped. Katniss's family is safe. Peeta has been captured by the Capitol. District 13 really does exist. There are rebels. There are new leaders. A revolution is unfolding.

    It is by design that Katniss was rescued from the arena in the cruel and haunting Quarter Quell, and it is by design that she has long been part of the revolution without knowing it. District 13 has come out of the shadows and is plotting to overthrow the Capitol. Everyone, it seems, has had a hand in the carefully laid plans--except Katniss.

    The success of the rebellion hinges on Katniss's willingness to be a pawn, to accept responsibility for countless lives, and to change the course of the future of Panem. To do this, she must put aside her feelings of anger and distrust. She must become the rebels' Mockingjay--no matter what the personal cost.
    Mockingjay (The Hunger Games, #3). (n.d.). Retrieved December 2, 2015, from https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7260188-mockingjay?ac=1&from_search=1

    Literary Awards 
     Goodreads Choice Award for Favorite Book, Young Adult Fantasy, Favorite Heroine, and Favorite Hero (2010)

    After the bombing of District 13, Katniss Everdeen finally accepts the request of President Alma Coin and her adviser Plutarch Heavensbee and becomes the symbol of the rebellion, the Mockingjay. However, President Snow in the Capitol broadcasts a message of Peeta Mellark live contradicting Katniss. She believes that his life is in danger and convinces President Coin to rescue Peeta and the others Victors. But she has a surprise with his reaction.

    After young Katniss Everdeen agrees to be the symbol of rebellion, the Mockingjay, she tries to return Peeta to his normal state, tries to get to the Capitol, and tries to deal with the battles coming her way...but all for her main goal; assassinating President Snow and returning peace to the Districts of Panem. As her squad starts to get smaller and smaller, will she make it to the Capitol? Will she get revenge on Snow? Or will her target change? Will she be with her "Star-Crossed Lover", Peeta? Or her long time friend, Gale? Deaths, Bombs, Bows and Arrows, A Love Triangle, Hope. What will happen?
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    Hunger Games: Catching Fire

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    • Age Range: 12 and up
    • Grade Level: 8 and up
    • Lexile: 820
    • Series: The Hunger Games #1
    • Pages: 391
    • Publisher: Scholastic Press 1, 2009 
    • Language: English
    • ISBN-10:  0439023483
    • ISBN-13:  9780439023481
    • Reviewed by: Horn Book Magazine (September/October, 2009)
    Six months have passed since Katniss and Peeta won the Hunger Games, and now they are ready to embark on their Victory Tour of the districts, but they do so under an ominous threat to the safety of their family and friends, a threat delivered in person by President Snow himself. It turns out that Katniss's Games-ending stunt with the berries has been read not only as an expression of her devotion to Peeta but also as an act of defiance of the Capitol -- and because most of the districts fester with unrest, the Capitol is pressuring her to reinforce the first interpretation. The Victory Tour and its aftermath give her time to work through her ambivalence toward the rebellion (Does her celebrity obligate her to participate in the uprising?) and romance (How does she really feel about Gale? about Peeta?), but the Hunger Games are fast approaching, and since this is the seventy-fifth anniversary, these Games will be a Quarter Quell, an opportunity for the Capitol to add a cruel twist. This year's twist seems particularly so, but Katniss and company are equal to it. The plot kicks into another gear as the fascinating horrors of the Hunger Games are re-enacted with their usual violence and suspense. Many of the supporting characters -- each personality distinct -- offer their own surprises. The stunning resolution reveals the depth of the rebellion, while one last cliffhanger sets the stage for a grand finale. Collins has once again delivered a page-turning blend of plot and character with an inventive setting and provocative themes.
    Literary Awards:
    Golden Duck Award for Hal Clement Award for Young Adult (2010),  
    Children's Choice Book Award for Teen Choice Book of the Year (2010), 
    Indies Choice Book Award for Young Adult (2010), 
    Teen Read Award Nominee for Best Read (2010),
     DABWAHA Romance Tournament for Best Young Adult (2010) 
     Goodreads Choice Award for Favorite Book and Young Adult Series (2009) 
     
    Director: 
    Rating: PG-13
    Length: 146 Minutes
    Reviewed by: Jason Buchanan, Rovi

    The Hunger Games saga continues in this
    sequel that finds a revolution brewing as Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) and Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson) take a "Victor's Tour" of the districts, and President Snow (Donald Sutherland) plots their downfall during preparations for the Quarter Quell, which only occurs every 25 years in celebration of the Capitol's victory over the districts. Hoping to put an end to the growing threat of rebellion, President Snow announces that the Quell's tributes will be reaped from the existing pool of victors -- guaranteeing Katniss a place in the arena. Though Katniss vows to keep Peeta safe even if it means sacrificing her own life, her fellow tributes have a different plan.

    The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (2013) Synopsis - Plot Summary- Fandango. (n.d.). Retrieved December 1, 2015, from http://www.fandango.com/thehungergames:catchingfire_155962/plotsummary




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