Nation

S
Nation

By: Terry Pratchett

304p

Double Day

ISBN-10: 0385613717
ISBN-13: 978-0385613712

Annotation:
After a giant wave sweeps his island village away, Mau my attempt to survival with the rituals that have been instilled in him.

Summary:
Pratchett tells the story of Mau a boy on the verge of manhood, who must travel an island alone and return to his home village in order to achieve the much desired rank of becoming a man. It is during this trial that a tidal wave crashes on his island and the surrounding ones causing death and destruction. Forcing Mau to abandon his trial and return to his home, which has also been ravaged. It is here that he must attempt to rebuild his home and routine all the while battling the voices of his ancestral Gods, and the miscommunications of the other survivors, including the young “proper” woman Daphne. As the “tribe” becomes larger and larger, Mau is forced to take more of the responsibilities of that of a leader.

Pratchett allows readers the ability to examine how life may be different if they were ever forced to survive with only their wits and minimal training. This is a much more difficult adventure than anything ever on survivor.
Mau and his tribe must adapt to not only the major changes such as survival but the every day ones as well, such as language difficulties, and birth issues, in a far more humorous manner than one would expect.

Readers of Pratchett's other works may be disappointed that this novel is not part of his Discworld series. Even though, this novel shares many similar aspects and may not be as much of a shock to his die hard fans.

Hunger Games

Hunger Games
By: Suzanne Collins

384p
Publisher: Scholastic Press

ISBN-10: 0439023483
ISBN-13: 978-0439023481

Annotation

In a future North America, where the rulers of Panem maintain control through an annual televised survival competition pitting young people from each of the twelve districts against one another, sixteen-year-old Katniss's skills are put to the test when she voluntarily takes her younger sister's place.

Summary
First in a new and exciting series. Hunger Games takes us to a future, in which teens are forced to fight for survival for the enjoyment and amusement of the society. Filled with well developed characters, Collins creates a world easy to fall into.

Katniss is a skilled hunter and much more able to survive the pitfall of the Hunger Game than her sister. She is placed with Peeta, the bakers son as her teammate, a boy who had a crush on her since the age of 5. t will take a lot for her to learn how to rely on other people, but this challenge will teach her more about herself than even she realizes.

Collins novel will keep teens up into the late hours trying to discover what happens next. Not far from the reality show we are already used to, the situations are similar enough to allow the individual to ponder the possiblity of this becoming our future. Teens will appreciate all the action and adventure Katniss and Peeta are faced with. Collins does not shy away from the horror and gore so this is great for teens who prefer their fiction a little on the darker side.

Teens will be chomping at the bit, for the next installment of this sure to be smash hit series.