Thursday, May 28, 2009

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

"I clasp the flask between my hands even though the warmth from the tea has long since leached into the frozen air."

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Summary: By winning the annual Hunger Games, District 12 tributes Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark have secured a life of safety and plenty for themselves and their families, but because they won by defying the rules, they unwittingly become the faces of an impending rebellion.

Publisher: Scholastic; 391 pages


11 comments:

Mary said...

I was so excited when I received an ARC of this title I could barely stand it! If you’ve read THE HUNGER GAMES you will NOT be disappointed in this sequel.

Two concerns for this book as it relates to our Mock Newbery discussion:
1. Does it fall within the designated age group of 14 and under?
2. Does the fact that it’s the middle book in a trilogy – with a real cliffhanger ending – impact our discussion?

The publication date on this title is September 1st. You’ll want to read this one! It’s a real page-turner.

Clare said...

I have to admit, I am feeling a little jealous of myself for getting to read an AR copy of this book! I loved this book even more than the first.
I do not think that this book falls within the designated Newbery age group only b/c I think it deals with some pretty mature issues. Not that I think that all bets are off as soon as it gets mature, I just don’t see a younger audience understanding all of the sci-fi concepts and/or ethical issues.

DaNae said...

Show-offs, could I possible bribe you with the best Snikerdoodles you will ever taste for over-night post?

Beth said...

Oh, now that's just being mean, Mary and Clare.

(Any chance I can bribe you into sharing the wealth? :D)

sarahjane said...

I agree with Clare that this book is a bit above Newbery-age. It's not really even the violence that makes me think that, but some of the other more adult issues that are dealt with. Great book!

Karen said...

This is a very worthy sequel to The Hunger Games. I'm not a fan of books in which so many characters bite the dust, but I'm finding this trilogy more thought provoking than the usual dystopian sci. fi., and Catching Fire takes the ball and runs with it. Very well written, and lots of surprises. I was lucky enough to borrow an ARC, but want to read it again.

Rina said...

I loved this book and thought it a wonderful successor to The Hunger Games, but I don't think it falls in 14 and under. This is a Printz contender, not Newbery.

Kris said...

14 and under is such a wide age range -- keep in mind that most 14-year-olds are high school students. My 13-yr-old daughter read both Hunger Games and Catching Fire and loved them both. Did she "get" all of the themes presented? Probably not, but she did get them at the level she was able to understand them, if that makes any sense. Definitely this one falls at the upper level of the Newbery age range, but I do think it falls in the range.

Now, is this the "most distinguished" work of children's lit published this year? It's definitely a gripping story, the characterization is well-done, but (dare I say this?) I hesitate to say it's the best. Time will tell, I guess.

Holly said...

Read it over a weekend so that I could turn it back in to the library and let someone else read it. I thoroughly enjoyed it, as I suspect most fans of Hunger Games will. It does leave you hanging...

Jen said...

1. I think this is a Printz contender because of the mature themes in it.

2. Collins conveniently held out on information until the final pages, making it feel like a pat Scooby Doo ending.

3. The cliffhanger ending probably rules it out, too. Doesn't stand alone well.

It was a fast and furious read, but just as I think the gamemasters never would have actually let two people live in book one, I think her way out of book two is implausible and a cheat to the readers.

Anonymous said...

I loved this book. Just like the first book, The Hunger Games. They were both about a girl who goes on a tv show called the hunger games. Twenty-four kids have to fight out in the forest to the death. Katniss (the main character) lives through the first time through and in the second book, she has to go back. You will enjoy this book. But, please read the first one. Good job Suzanne Collins.