Book Review: Twenty Five to Life by R. W. W. Greene

Mr. Greene has been a teacher at our school for years, retired, then came back to teach this past year. He donated this book to our collection and I am so glad that he did because I really enjoyed the story.

In Julie's world the age of legal majority is 25 and she is only 23. When she learns that he mother wants to move her out of her childhood home, she decides to step out on her own, even though that will lead to an illegal existence. Even worse, the world has changed - between global warming, and the bombs that various countries lobbed at each other - the air isn't even safe to breath. But she runs anyway, and finds herself in a sketchy world that was beyond her imaginings.

What is the best part of this book? For me it was the characters. Mr. Greene did a great job of creating some very three dimensional characters who, though flawed, were intriging and likeable. People I wanted to meet.

Try this book. You will find it on the shelves of the Nashua South Library (as soon as I get it cataloged.)
 

Book Review: The Prey by Tom Isbell

This is one of the books that was offered to incoming Freshman just prior to summer vacation. 

Are you an action/adventure movie watcher? reader? game player? Well this might be a great book to pick up and read.

A quick description: Warring nations launch nuclear bombs at each other creating an event called Omega. The radiation and percussion of these bombs change the world and increasing the fractured politics with different factions dividing themselves from each other. Children and animals are born with birth defects or altered. Lawlessness becomes the norm.  Most devices that are electronic don't work. - This is the story of several teens - boys who are in a facility for "less thans" (and yes that is as terrible as it sounds) and the girls here were assigned to a facility for twins - where an evil doctor carries out horrific experiments on them. (yes there are overtones of Naziism.) How does one move on from those horrible circumstances? Read this book to find out.

Between these pages you will find bravery, leadership, uncertainty, evil, friendship, and even love. 

You can find this book in the hands of 9th graders, on the shelves on Nashua South, or check out the Online Catalog for Nashua Public Library.

 

Book Review: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins

The prequel to the Hunger Games trilogy, this is the story of a young Coriolanus Snow - the future Panem President in the trilogy. From reading the first 3 books, we know President Snow is evil, but what made him that way? An excellent student at the prestigious Academy in the Capitol District, Snow has been trying to hide the fact that he and his family are really struggling for money and food. Snow is excited to learn that as one of the students chosen to mentor tributes in the upcoming 10th anniversary Hunger Games, he could win a university scholarship if his tribute wins the Games. Confident that his high marks, his family's history and sacrifices made to the District will earn him a tribute from a traditionally strong District, Snow is discouraged when he is assigned the female tribute from the notoriously weak District 12, Lucy Gray Baird. Snow’s motivation for Baird to win is complicated by his feelings for her. 

Overall this was an entertaining book but for me, but it fell a little flat as it didn't give me the insight into Snow that I was expecting. The story covers one year in his life so there remains a huge expanse of time - and life experience - between Snow being 18, his rise to power and his time as President of Panem. Maybe this was deliberate and leaves the author with the option to fill in the blanks with future stories? I did really enjoy the parts of the story about Snow recalling life as a young boy growing up during the rebel uprising, and how 10 years afterwards, the Capitol and the Hunger Games weren't nearly as glitzy and over the top as we see in the first novel (however, there were definitely signs in this story of heading in that direction). I think this is a good read for Hunger Games enthusiasts as they will likely recognize and appreciate the connections to the trilogy. This recently released novel is currently available as an audiobook for FREE on Hoopla with your public library card.

Book Review: The Rule of One by Ashley and Leslie Saunders

In a future United States, The Rule of One is designed to reduce the population in order to help a country riddled with problems due to climate change including food and water scarcity. Twins Ava and Mira's father is the head of the Texas Family Planning division, tasked with enforcing The Rule of One, and he has managed to keep the twins a secret through their first 18 years of life . The twins have grown up playing a tightly controlled "game" where only one is visible at a time. But then things go wrong and... - This is a fast-paced books with lots at stake.
Check out the Trailer or the Saunder Sisters' story behind the story.

Book Review: Anthem by Ayn Rand

A dystopian novel about living in a futuristic society in which everyone lives for the good of the group. There is no individual will and thought is discouraged. One of the members of this society has a desire to learn and slowly breaks out of the whole and begins to see himself as an individual. (Originally written in 1937 then published in 1938.) This was recommended to me by Madeline. It is readily available through Project Gutenberg. Try it! https://www.gutenberg.org/files/1250/1250-h/1250-h.htm