new posts in all blogs
Viewing: Blog Posts Tagged with: suzanne collins, Most Recent at Top [Help]
Results 26 - 50 of 157
How to use this Page
You are viewing the most recent posts tagged with the words: suzanne collins in the JacketFlap blog reader. What is a tag? Think of a tag as a keyword or category label. Tags can both help you find posts on JacketFlap.com as well as provide an easy way for you to "remember" and classify posts for later recall. Try adding a tag yourself by clicking "Add a tag" below a post's header. Scroll down through the list of Recent Posts in the left column and click on a post title that sounds interesting. You can view all posts from a specific blog by clicking the Blog name in the right column, or you can click a 'More Posts from this Blog' link in any individual post.
The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling set a Goodreads record for the all-time biggest “started reading” day. Currently, more than 40,000 people have marked the book “to-read.”
The book unseated Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins as the book with the strongest “started reading” day. Insurgent by Veronica Roth holds third place. As of this writing, The Casual Vacancy has 38 percent five-star ratings on Goodreads.
Goodreads CEO Otis Chandler had this statement: “The Casual Vacancy is one of those stand-out books where people not only pre-order it, they start reading it as soon as they get their hands on it. On Goodreads, it beat the record for our previous all-time ‘started reading’ day which was set by Mockingjay.”
New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.
By:
Bianca Schulze,
on 9/3/2012
Blog:
The Children's Book Review
(
Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags:
General,
Mo willems,
Ages 0-3,
Ages 4-8,
Ages 9-12,
Book Lists,
William Joyce,
John Green,
James Patterson,
Sherman Alexie,
featured,
Jay Asher,
Margaret Peterson Haddix,
Rick Riordan,
Markus Zusak,
Jeff Kinney,
Best Sellers,
Suzanne Collins,
Tom Lichtenheld,
Roland Smith,
Stephen Chbosky,
Jon Klassen,
Rachel Renee Russell,
Anna Dewdney,
Eric Litwin,
Veronica Roth,
Herve Tullet,
Sherri Duskey Rinker,
Teens: Young Adults,
R.J. Palacio,
Add a tag
By Bianca Schulze, The Children’s Book Review
Published: September 3, 2012
Here’s the scoop on the most popular destinations on The Children’s Book Review site, the most coveted new releases and bestsellers.
THE HOT SPOTS: THE TRENDS
Gearing Up for Kindergarten
Best Halloween Books for Kids: Scary, Spooky, and Silly
Review: Scat by Carl Hiaasen
How Picture Books Play a Role in a Child’s Development
Where to Find Free eBooks for Children Online
THE NEW RELEASES
The most coveted books that release this month:
Llama Llama Time to Share
by Anna Dewdney
(Ages 3-5)
Pete the Cat Saves Christmas
by Eric Litwin
(Ages 4-8)
Goldilocks and the Three Dinosaurs: As Retold by Mo Willems
by Mo Willems
(Ages 3-7)
Shatterproof (The 39 Clues: Cahills vs. Vespers, Book 4)
by Roland Smith
(Ages 8-12)
Caught (Missing)
by Margaret Peterson Haddix
(Ages 9-12)
THE BEST SELLERS
The best selling children’s books this month:
PICTURE BOOKS
The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore
by William Joyce
(Ages 4-8)
Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons
by Eric Litwin
(Ages 4-7)
I Want My Hat Back
by Jon Klassen
(Ages 4-8)
Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site
by Sherri Duskey Rinker (Author), Tom Lichtenheld (Illustrator)
(Ages 4-8)
Press Here
by Herve Tullet
(Ages 4-8)
_______
CHAPTER BOOKS
The Heroes of Olympus: The Demigod Diaries
by Rick Riordan
(Ages 10-14)
Insurgent (Divergent)
by Veronica Roth
(Ages 14 and up)
The Fault in our Stars
by John Green
(Ages 14-17)
Wonder
by R.J. Palacio
(Ages 8-12)
Heroes of Olympus, The, Book Two: The Son of Neptune
by Rick Riordan
(Ages 9-11)
_______
PAPERBACK BOOKS
Divergent
by Veronica Roth
(Ages 14 and up)
The Perks of Being a Wallflower
by Stephen Chbosky
(Ages 14 and up)
The Book Thief
by Markus Zusak
(Ages 14 and up)
Thirteen Reasons Why
by Jay Asher
(Ages 12 and up)
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian
by Sherman Alexie
(Ages 12 and up)
_______
SERIES BOOKS
Hunger Games Trilogy
by Suzanne Collins
(Ages 12 and up)
Maximum Ride
by James Patterson
(Ages 13-17)
Dork Diaries
by Rachel Renee Russell
(Ages 9-12)
Diary of a Wimpy Kid
by Jeff Kinney
(Ages 9 to 12)
Percy Jackson & the Olympians
by Rick Riordan
(Ages 9 to 12)
This information was gathered from the New York Times Best Sellers list, which reflects the sales of books from books sold nationwide, including independent and chain stores. It is correct at the time of publication and presented in random order. Visit: www.nytimes.com.
Original article: September 2012: Best Selling Kids’ Books, New Releases, and More …
©2012 The Childrens Book Review. All Rights Reserved.
By:
Bianca Schulze,
on 8/17/2012
Blog:
The Children's Book Review
(
Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags:
Star Wars,
Babymouse,
Laura Ingalls Wilder,
Maurice Sendak,
Lloyd Alexander,
Roald Dahl,
featured,
Sophie Blackall,
Jeff Kinney,
Sydney Taylor,
Diary of a Wimpy Kid,
Beverly Cleary,
Suzanne Collins,
The Hunger Games,
On the Shelf,
Annie Barrows,
Quest for Literacy,
Hugh Lofting,
Ivy + Bean,
Jennifer L. Holme,
April Hayley,
Library,
Add a tag
Librarian Spotlight #1
By Bianca Schulze, The Children’s Book Review
Published: August 17, 2012
April Hayley, MLIS
To kick off TCBR’s new column “On the Shelf,” which shines a spotlight on brilliant children’s librarians, April Hayley, MLIS, graciously talked to us about becoming a librarian— among other great topics. Do you think you can guess which is the most checked out children’s book at San Anslemo Public Library in California? Read on!
Bianca Schulze: Why did you choose to become a librarian?
April Hayley: I was fortunate enough to discover the magic of reading at a young age, probably before I was out of the cradle. My mother, a librarian, read me stories and sang to me every night before bed and my father made up fairy tales for me. I didn’t discover my calling as a librarian until college one summer, working for the Chicago Public Library (my hometown). My job was to provide library services to children in some of the city’s most neglected and poverty-stricken neighborhoods. Instead of working inside the library, I brought books and literacy activities directly to the young people who needed it most. I visited three playgrounds a day, equipped only with a trunk full of picture books and a quilt to sit on. Once the kids figured out why I was coming around, they always ran over to join me, so eager to read stories, sing songs, and learn something new.Reading opened up new worlds for the kids I met. I could see it as they linked their eyes with mine, and for me that was a powerful, life-changing experience.
Most of the precious children I met that summer had never been exposed to the pleasures of reading, and none of them had ever visited a public library. When I witnessed the joy and curiosity that reading sparked in them, I understood the transformative effect of reading on young minds and I knew I wanted to be a Children’s Librarian. Once I entered graduate school to earn my Masters in Library Science, I had the opportunity to intern in the Children’s Room of the beautiful Mill Valley Library, and I knew I was on the right path; delivering traditional library services within the walls of a suburban public library could be just as fun and rewarding as literacy outreach in the inner city.
BS: Librarians are the ultimate evangelists for reading. How do you encourage students and children to read?
AH: Now that I work at the San Anselmo Library, I am lucky that many of the kids I meet already love to read. There is a culture of reading in San Anselmo that simply does not exist in places whose inhabitants must spend their time dealing with the dispiriting effects of poverty. Of course, I do a lot of work to promote reading for the children, babies, caregivers, and teenagers of our community. I lead several weekly storytimes for toddlers and preschoolers, which are designed to nourish a love of reading that will last a lifetime. It’s important to reach out to new parents and their babies as early as possible to show them how fun reading, sharing nursery rhymes, learning fingerplays, and singing can be. I also lead a book discussion group for elementary school students called the Bookworms, and a poetry club for yo
By: Maryann Yin,
on 8/8/2012
Blog:
Galley Cat (Mediabistro)
(
Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags:
Young Adult Books,
Celebrities,
Adaptation,
Suzanne Collins,
The Hunger Games,
Liam Hemsworth,
Philip Seymour Hoffman,
Jennifer Lawrence,
Josh Hutcherson,
Amanda Plummer,
Jena Malone,
Lynn Cohen,
Add a tag
Hunger Games actress Jennifer Lawrence will earn $10 million for starring in the sequel, Catching Fire. Lawrence only earned $500,000 (plus bonuses) for her performance in the first Hunger Games movie.
Here’s more from The Hollywood Reporter: “[Lawrence's] original deal with studio Lionsgate locked her into four planned films based on the best-selling Suzanne Collins trilogy, but producers — recognizing the success of the franchise — moved to renegotiate her contract as the film became an international sensation.”
Co-stars Liam Hemsworth and Josh Hutcherson are also rumored to be seeking pay bumps.
continued…
New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.
By:
Bianca Schulze,
on 8/1/2012
Blog:
The Children's Book Review
(
Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags:
Jon Klassen,
Rachel Renee Russell,
Ransom Riggs,
Lincoln Peirce,
Eric Litwin,
Ally Condie,
Herve Tullet,
Sherri Duskey Rinker,
Teens: Young Adults,
William Joyce,
Suzanne Collins,
Tom Lichtenheld,
Stephen Chbosky,
Tom Angleberger,
Veronica Roth,
Ages 0-3,
Ages 4-8,
Ages 9-12,
Book Lists,
John Green,
James Patterson,
Eoin Colfer,
featured,
Jay Asher,
Rick Riordan,
Markus Zusak,
Jeff Kinney,
Best Sellers,
Ian Falconer,
Jodi Picoult,
Michael Scott,
Add a tag
By Bianca Schulze, The Children’s Book Review
Published: August 1, 2012
Here’s the scoop on the most popular destinations on The Children’s Book Review site, the most coveted new releases and bestsellers.
THE HOT SPOTS: THE TRENDS
5 Family Favorites with Elizabeth Bard
Giveaway: Howard B. Wigglebottom Learns to Listen
Splash into Summer with 3 New Picture Books
How Picture Books Play a Role in a Child’s Development
Where to Find Free eBooks for Children Online
THE NEW RELEASES
The most coveted books that release this month:
Olivia and the Fairy Princesses
by Ian Falconer
(Ages 3-7)
Nevermore: The Final Maximum Ride Novel
by James Patterson
(Ages 13-17)
The Heroes of Olympus: The Demigod Diaries
by Rick Riordan
(Ages 10-14)
The Secret of the Fortune Wookiee: An Origami Yoga Book
by Tom Angleberger
(Ages 8-12)
Big Nate Makes the Grade
by Lincoln Peirce
(Ages 8-12)
THE BEST SELLERS
The best selling children’s books this month:
PICTURE BOOKS
Scholastic has over 50 million digital and print copies of the books in The Hunger Games trilogy in print.
The publisher broke down those figures for the individual books in Suzanne Collins‘ series as well: 23 million copies of The Hunger Games; 14 million copies of Catching Fire and 13 million copies of Mockingjay. These big sales drove significant increases in revenue last year.
Here’s more from the publisher’s earnings report: “In the fourth quarter of fiscal 2012, revenue rose 24% to $678.5 million, from $545.3 million in the same quarter of fiscal 2011 … Strong sales in Children’s Books and International, especially of The Hunger Games trilogy, again drove substantially higher results. Consolidated earnings per diluted share were $1.76 in the fourth quarter, compared to $0.78 a year ago. In fiscal 2012, revenue was $2,148.8 million, up 14% from $1,887.9 million a year ago.”
New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.
By:
Bianca Schulze,
on 7/1/2012
Blog:
The Children's Book Review
(
Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags:
Rick Riordan,
Markus Zusak,
Kate DiCamillo,
Suzanne Collins,
Michael Scott,
Tom Lichtenheld,
Jon Klassen,
Ransom Riggs,
Lincoln Peirce,
Veronica Roth,
Ruta Sepetys,
Sherri Duskey Rinker,
Ages 4-8,
Ages 9-12,
Book Lists,
John Green,
Eoin Colfer,
featured,
Jay Asher,
Jeff Kinney,
Best Sellers,
Jane O'Connor,
Cressida Cowell,
Eric Litwin,
Ally Condie,
Herve Tullet,
Deborah Harkness,
Teens: Young Adults,
Add a tag
By Bianca Schulze, The Children’s Book Review
Published: July 1, 2012
Here’s the scoop on the most popular destinations on The Children’s Book Review site, the most coveted new releases and bestsellers.
THE HOT SPOTS: THE TRENDS
Best Young Adult Books with Galley Smith
Summer Reading List: Summer Sports, Baseball, & the Outside World
3 Kids Picture Books that Teach Good Manners
How Picture Books Play a Role in a Child’s Development
Where to Find Free eBooks for Children Online
THE NEW RELEASES
The most coveted books that release this month:
Shadow of Night
by Deborah Harkness
(Ages 18 and up)
Artemis Fowl: The Last Guardian
by Eoin Colfer
(Ages 9-12)
Big Nate Fun Blaster
by Lincoln Peirce
(Ages 8-12)
How to Train Your Dragon: Book 9
by Cressida Cowell
(Ages 8-12)
THE BEST SELLERS
The best selling children’s books this month:
PICTURE BOOKS
Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons
by Eric Litwin
(Ages 4-7)
So I finally read The Hunger Games. It only took several (several) months of friends telling me, “You have to read this book!” for me to decide I didn’t want to read the damn book. Plus, there was the movie tie-in. I wasn’t interested in seeing the movie. Why would I be interested in reading the book?
I admit it was my pride. I don’t like reading books that are all the rage. My friend, Sam (who, by the way, is certifiably insane for The Hunger Games trilogy) refuses to read Fifty Shades of Gray for this very reason. Well, I read Fifty Shades of Gray, long before I realized it was “hip” to do so. Now that it’s so insanely popular, I’m kind of embarrassed to say I read it on our honeymoon. Regardless of my admitted affiliation with Christian Gray, I still didn’t want to read The stinkin’ Hunger Games.
Here’s how it happened: I was in the library the other day, because I love being in libraries. I was browsing through the young adult section, because Jake’s brother, Zach, got me on this gay vampire series and I wanted to see if I could find the third book. Instead of my gay vampire book, I found three copies of The Hunger Games. My fingers twitched when I saw the dog-eared paperback cover. I glanced to my right and left. I felt guilty—guilty to even consider going back on all I’d said about not wanting to read this Suzanne Collins trilogy. No one was looking, so I grabbed the stupid book and ran out the door (after checking out, obviously).
What happened next? I read the book in three days. Now, I know this is nothing to some of you who read the book in eight hours (Sam). But hey, let’s agree this isn’t Harry Potter. I could read a Harry Potter book in eight hours. I am certifiably obsessed with HP, which is why I’ve dedicated countless hours of my life to reading and rereading Rowling’s magnum opus in its entirety. I do not carry the same affinity for Collins and her games, but I did already pick up the second book, and I am avidly following Katniss and Peeta back through the woods.
I’ve had nightmares the past couple days—bloody ones, where people get killed in horrible ways. I had one where I had to say goodbye to Jake because I was one of the chosen tributes, and I knew I was going to die in the forest. I haven’t slept well at all; I blame The Hunger Games. It is an all-encompassing story. It has guts, gore, love, and revolution. I enjoy all these things.
Even more enjoyable, the writing is better than expected for the young adult genre, but as I’ve noticed, YA is no longer written for teens. I believe many YA authors are now targeting adults, and for that, I love them, because young adult literature is so honest—so black and white. There are good guys; there are bad guys; pick your side. If only life were so simple. In YA books, life is that simple. Hoozah!
Will I complete this trilogy I once dreaded? Of course. Like I said, I’m already almost finished with book two, Catching Fire. I blame my friend Sam. She’s the one who talked this book up, and she’s the one who went absolutely bonkers when she heard I was reading The Hunger Games. We had a deep, at-length discussion over dinner this past Saturday night about Collins and her characters. It had been a long time since I really delved into a work of literature with a good f
By:
Bianca Schulze,
on 6/2/2012
Blog:
The Children's Book Review
(
Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags:
Ages 0-3,
Ages 4-8,
Ages 9-12,
Book Lists,
Brian Selznick,
William Joyce,
John Green,
Sherman Alexie,
featured,
Rick Riordan,
Markus Zusak,
Jeff Kinney,
Best Sellers,
Kate DiCamillo,
Suzanne Collins,
Jane O'Connor,
Michael Scott,
Tom Lichtenheld,
Jon Klassen,
Rachel Renee Russell,
Ransom Riggs,
Lincoln Peirce,
Eric Litwin,
Veronica Roth,
Ruta Sepetys,
Ally Condie,
Herve Tullet,
Sherri Duskey Rinker,
Teens: Young Adults,
Adam Rubin,
Add a tag
By Bianca Schulze, The Children’s Book Review
Published: June 2, 2012
Here’s the scoop on the most popular destinations on The Children’s Book Review site, the most coveted new releases and bestsellers.
THE HOT SPOTS: THE TRENDS
Best Young Adult Books with Forever Young Adult
Books for Boys: 5 Funny Kids Books
How Picture Books Play a Role in a Child’s Development
Author Interview: Gary Paulsen
Where to Find Free eBooks for Children Online
THE NEW RELEASES
The most coveted books that release this month:
The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore
by William Joyce
(Ages 4-8)
Bink and Gollie, Two for One
by Kate DiCamillo
(Ages 6-8)
Dork Diaries 4: Tales from a Not-So-Graceful Ice Princess
by Rachel Renee Russell
(Ages 9-12)
Dragons Love Tacos
by Adam Rubin
(Ages 3-5)
THE BEST SELLERS
The best selling children’s books this month:
PICTURE BOOKS
Hunger Games fans have already started to speculate who will play the new characters that will be introduced in Catching Fire. Rumors flew that Twilight star Robert Pattinson was up for the role of Finnick Odair in The Hunger Games sequel.
In an interview with USA Today, Pattinson quashed those rumors: “I woke up this morning and saw all these things about me being cast in The Hunger Games. I was kind of curious for a second. So I called my agent… [my agent] was like no one’s going to offer you that part.”
To be fair, Catching Fire director Francis Lawrence had worked with Pattinson on the film adaptation of Sara Gruen‘s Water for Elephants.
continued…
New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.
By:
Bianca Schulze,
on 5/7/2012
Blog:
The Children's Book Review
(
Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags:
Ages 4-8,
Ages 9-12,
Book Lists,
Brian Selznick,
John Green,
featured,
Rick Riordan,
Markus Zusak,
John Grisham,
Jeff Kinney,
Best Sellers,
Jane O'Connor,
Patricia Polacco,
Michael Scott,
Jon Klassen,
Ransom Riggs,
Lincoln Peirce,
Eric Litwin,
Ruta Sepetys,
Ally Condie,
Herve Tullet,
Amanda Hocking,
Sherri Duskey Rinker,
Teens: Young Adults,
Daniel Lipkowitz,
Suzanne Collins,
Tom Lichtenheld,
Veronica Roth,
Add a tag
The New York Times reports that filmmaker Francis Lawrence has come on board as the director for the next installment of The Hunger Games movie series, Catching Fire. Lawrence started off his Hollywood career directing music videos. He has since progressed on to movies including literary adaptations such as Constantine (2005) and Water for Elephants (2011).
Here’s more from the article: “Mr. Lawrence said in a statement that he ‘fell in love with the characters’ of Ms. Collins’s novels, as well as ‘the themes and the world she created,’ adding that ‘this chapter opens all of these elements up in such a thrilling, emotional and surprising way.’” MTV reports that star actors Liam Hemsworth and Josh Hutcherson feel sad that Gary Ross did not sign up to direct the sequel film. However, they both look forward to working with Lawrence.
Lawrence is not the only new addition to The Hunger Games movie crew. Simon Beaufoy, the Oscar-winning screenwriter who adapted Slumdog Millionaire (2008), penned the first draft of the script for Catching Fire. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Lionsgate is negotiating with Michael Arndt, the Oscar-winning screenwriter behind Little Miss Sunshine (2006), to polish Beaufoy’s draft.
continued…
New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.
The New York Times reports that filmmaker Francis Lawrence has come on board as the director for the next installment of The Hunger Games movie series, Catching Fire. Lawrence started off his Hollywood career directing music videos. He has since progressed on to movies including literary adaptations such as Constantine (2005) and Water for Elephants (2011).
Here’s more from the article: “Mr. Lawrence said in a statement that he ‘fell in love with the characters’ of Ms. Collins’s novels, as well as ‘the themes and the world she created,’ adding that ‘this chapter opens all of these elements up in such a thrilling, emotional and surprising way.’” MTV reports that star actors Liam Hemsworth and Josh Hutcherson feel sad that Gary Ross did not sign up to direct the sequel film. However, they both look forward to working with Lawrence.
Lawrence is not the only new addition to The Hunger Games movie crew. Simon Beaufoy, the Oscar-winning screenwriter who adapted Slumdog Millionaire (2008), penned the first draft of the script for Catching Fire. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Lionsgate is negotiating with Michael Arndt, the Oscar-winning screenwriter behind Little Miss Sunshine (2006), to polish Beaufoy’s draft.
continued…
New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.
A lot of people feel that The Hunger Games is too brutal. They say the book is nothing more than glorified violence, that real people would never let something that horrific happen.
I respectfully agree. And disagree. Here’s why.
The Vietnam War was the first televised war. Unlike the newsreels sent home from previous wars, the government didn’t get to edit the footage that was released to the American public. Technology had advanced too far and a growing mistrust of our elected leaders made news services all too eager to exercise their freedom of speech.
But here’s where we differ from the people of Panem. Those nightly images served up with a thawed out tray of mystery meat got to be more than Americans could tolerate. Rather than accept that this was our fate, that we had to send more of our children to die, people started protesting the war and demanding that our soldiers come home. It didn’t take twenty-four years for people to start a Rue Riot. Thank goodness.
I know the parallels aren’t exactly the same. But when people say the Hunger Games is too violent, I wonder if they’ve watched the nightly news. Because those smiling hosts are always happy to dish from the scene of the crime and replay the carnage until we’re numb. When people say that we would never let that happen, I say we already did.
And we still do.
Only these days, no one’s forcing us to watch. And I’m not sure if that’s a good thing, or not.
Who does the reading to your child at night? Mommy or Daddy? And what books do they choose to read? In our household, it’s mainly me who does the night time reading ritual with my daughter, but on occasion my husband has done the bedtime reading. Of course, he picks different books than me and for today’s post, I’m featuring a book he’s been working on steadily with my daughter titled To Kill a Queen: An Elizabethan Girl’s Diary 1583-1586 by Valerie Wilding (Scholastic Canada, 2005) This book is one in a series of Scholastic titles — the My Story collection — of girls living through historical events like the Great Plague, the Blitz, and the Irish Famine.
To Kill a Queen features an Elizabethan girl named Catherine Anne Lumsden, the 12 year old daughter of a former lady-in-waiting on Queen Elizabeth the I, Lady Matilda Lumsden and Sir Nicholas Lumsden, a secret agent in the service of the Queen. With such a family so close to the Queen, it’s not surprising that they become embroiled in the intrigues of the court of the day, including a plot to kill the Queen. So what happens to our dear diarist, Catherine? Well, I don’t know since I’m not the one reading the book to her! Since my husband is an English professor, specializing in the literature close to the period covering this book, I could see why he selected this title for his choice of a bedtime read. How does my daughter like the book? I assume she likes it well enough, but by now, she is quite used to her parents, particularly her mother, foisting interesting and unusual reads on her! This doesn’t prevent her from voicing her opinions on the matter. She came home one day wanting us to read the popular The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins to her and so when Daddy went shopping recently, he picked up a copy for her to read to her at night.
Who does the bedtime reading in your household? And what books do you or your spouse choose to read?
I took my son to the midnight showing of The Hunger Games the day it opened. So many people were wrapped around the building that they had to show it on two screens. In my small community, that’s pretty amazing. But I guess we’re just a reflection of what was going on in the big cities.
A group of smiling girls dragged my son into their part of the line. And while he still claims to hold to the belief that girls are strange, he didn’t fight them too hard.
I was ambivalent going into the movie. Most adaptations fail, in my opinion, to capture the essence of a book. And this book was so very good that the thought of seeing it ruined before my eyes, larger than life, left me with butterflies in my stomach.
When the lights finally went down, people cheered. The spectacle we’d waited so long to see was finally here. As the opening frames lit up the screen, their screams got louder, then died away. And the further we got into the story, the more I felt embarrassed by our exuberance. This wasn’t a rom-com, lighthearted flick. Children die on the screen. It’s not the sort of film you can walk away from without being moved.
Over spring break, Drew tore through the next two books. I warned him that I was depressed for a week after reading Mockingjay. But of course that didn’t stop him. Some things you just have to discover for yourself.
I don’t know if I’ll watch the sequels. I LOVE The Hunger Games. And I think they did an incredible job making it into a movie. I highly recommend it. I enjoyed Catching Fire, though I still have a major hang-up with them returning to the games. But Mockingjay? I don’t know if I could ever read it again, let alone watch it unfold in all its horror onscreen. Though maybe a watered-down theatrical version would leave me less disturbed.
My son and I have had some pretty in-depth conversations because of these stories, about right and wrong, choice and sacrifice. That, I think, is what sets this trilogy apart. All those layers to chew on.
And once we’re done discussing the “heavy” stuff, there’s always the endless debate: Team Gale or Team Peeta? I loved Gale from the opening pages, had my heart torn out by him in the final chapters. My son thinks Peeta is a much better character, (though that might have more to do with projecting himself into Peeta’s role since, y’ know, he winds up with the kick-ass heroine).
By: Jason Boog,
on 4/15/2012
Blog:
Schiel & Denver Book Publishers Blog
(
Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags:
suzanne collins,
Cecily von Ziegesar,
Dori Hillestad Butler,
Aldous Huxley,
Harper Lee,
Kim Dong Hwa,
libraries,
Censorship,
Phyllis Reynolds Naylor,
Sherman Alexie,
Lauren Myracle,
Sonya Sones,
Add a tag
The American Library Association (ALA) has released its annual list of the most frequently challenged library books of the year. We’ve linked to free samples of all the books on the list–follow the links below to read these controversial books yourself.
During the past year, the ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom received 326 reports of “attempts to remove or restrict materials from school curricula and library bookshelves.” The list was part of the ALA’s 2012 State of America’s Libraries Report.
Here’s more eBook news from the report: “The rapid growth of ebooks has stimulated increasing demand for them in libraries, but libraries only have limited access to ebooks because of restrictions placed on their use by publishers. Macmillan Publishing, Simon and Schuster and Hachette Book Group refused to sell ebooks to libraries. HarperCollins imposed an arbitrary 26 loans per ebook license, and Penguin refused to let libraries lend its new titles altogether. When Random House raised ebook prices, the ALA urged it to reconsider.”
continued…
New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.
By: Jason Boog,
on 4/8/2012
Blog:
Galley Cat (Mediabistro)
(
Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags:
Libraries,
Censorship,
Phyllis Reynolds Naylor,
Sherman Alexie,
Lauren Myracle,
Sonya Sones,
Suzanne Collins,
Cecily von Ziegesar,
Dori Hillestad Butler,
Aldous Huxley,
Harper Lee,
auren Myracle,
Kim Dong Hwa,
Add a tag
The American Library Association (ALA) has released its annual list of the most frequently challenged library books of the year. We’ve linked to free samples of all the books on the list–follow the links below to read these controversial books yourself.
During the past year, the ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom received 326 reports of “attempts to remove or restrict materials from school curricula and library bookshelves.” The list was part of the ALA’s 2012 State of America’s Libraries Report.
Here’s more eBook news from the report: “The rapid growth of ebooks has stimulated increasing demand for them in libraries, but libraries only have limited access to ebooks because of restrictions placed on their use by publishers. Macmillan Publishing, Simon and Schuster and Hachette Book Group refused to sell ebooks to libraries. HarperCollins imposed an arbitrary 26 loans per ebook license, and Penguin refused to let libraries lend its new titles altogether. When Random House raised ebook prices, the ALA urged it to reconsider.”
continued…
New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.
By: Jason Boog,
on 4/8/2012
Blog:
Schiel & Denver Book Publishers Blog
(
Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags:
libraries,
Censorship,
Phyllis Reynolds Naylor,
Sherman Alexie,
Lauren Myracle,
Sonya Sones,
suzanne collins,
Cecily von Ziegesar,
Dori Hillestad Butler,
Aldous Huxley,
Harper Lee,
auren Myracle,
Kim Dong Hwa,
Add a tag
The American Library Association (ALA) has released its annual list of the most frequently challenged library books of the year. We’ve linked to free samples of all the books on the list–follow the links below to read these controversial books yourself.
During the past year, the ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom received 326 reports of “attempts to remove or restrict materials from school curricula and library bookshelves.” The list was part of the ALA’s 2012 State of America’s Libraries Report.
Here’s more eBook news from the report: “The rapid growth of ebooks has stimulated increasing demand for them in libraries, but libraries only have limited access to ebooks because of restrictions placed on their use by publishers. Macmillan Publishing, Simon and Schuster and Hachette Book Group refused to sell ebooks to libraries. HarperCollins imposed an arbitrary 26 loans per ebook license, and Penguin refused to let libraries lend its new titles altogether. When Random House raised ebook prices, the ALA urged it to reconsider.”
continued…
New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.
By:
Bianca Schulze,
on 4/2/2012
Blog:
The Children's Book Review
(
Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags:
Robin LaFevers,
Rick Riordan,
Markus Zusak,
Suzanne Collins,
Trenton Lee Stewart,
Patricia Polacco,
Tom Lichtenheld,
Michael Morpurgo,
Suzanne Williams,
Ransom Riggs,
Lincoln Peirce,
Sherri Duskey Rinker,
Add a tag
By Bianca Schulze, The Children’s Book Review
Published: April 2, 2012
Here’s the scoop on the most popular destinations on The Children’s Book Review site, the most coveted new releases and bestsellers.
THE HOT SPOTS: THE TRENDS
Giveaway: Win the New iPad
Award-Winning Illustrator Marla Frazee & the Best Interview Ever
Author Interview: Gary Paulsen
How Picture Books Play a Role in a Child’s Development
Where to Find Free eBooks for Children Online
THE NEW RELEASES
The most coveted books that release this month:
The Art of Miss Chew
by Patricia Polacco
(Ages 5-8)
The Extraordinary Education of Nicholas Benedict
by Trenton Lee Stewart
(Ages 10-13)
Goddess Girls #8: Medusa the Mean
by Joan Holub and Suzanne Willams
(Ages 8-12)
Grave Mercy: His Fair Assassin (His Fair Assassin Trilogy #1)
by Robin LaFevers
(Ages 14-17)
The False Prince (Ascendance Trilogy)
by Jennifer A. Nielsen
(Ages 10-14)
THE BEST SELLERS
T
Thanks to all who entered our The Hunger Games book trilogy sweepstakes and congratulations to our 12 winners, each of whom will receive a Kindle Fire and all three Hunger Games books in hardcover and Kindle book.
1. Erin K., Raynham, MA
2. Lori G., W. Nyack, NY
3. William G., Emmaus, PA
4. Miki B., San Francisco, CA
5. Donna A., Haverhill, MA
6. Becky H., Nashville, TN
7. Victoria K., Buzzards Bay, MA
8. Trina K., San Bernadino, CA
9. Matt B., Baltimore, MD
10. Lindsey K., Albuquerque, NM
11. Mike S., Andover, MN
12. Luke P., Amboy, IL
Also, just a reminder to check out our Hunger Games Store, which includes the books, apparel, and so much more!
…is the first line in the book for a certain character. Do you know the character?*
Teens (and adults) in my library are all abuzz about the imminent opening of Hunger Games. Students who say they haven’t checked out a book in years are reserving the first book in Suzanne Collins’ dystopian trilogy because they want to know what all the fuss is about, and others are rereading it before the big premiere.
One such student inspired me to create a running countdown behind my desk, which she has helped me update each morning. (Mondays in particular were exciting, since the number dropped significantly from the previous week.) The countdown, in turn, gave me the idea to put on Hunger Games Trivia–and you can too!
I modeled my format after Stump! Trivia, a pub trivia quiz used across the country (which is particularly popular here in the Boston area). Players use the team sheet to keep track of their wagers and write down the categories for each quarter, or copy their answers to check later. Teams submit an answer sheet for each question, including their team name and wager. (Some trivia MCs are particularly vigilant about answer sheets remaining unfolded so that they can quickly tally points, but with a small group I don’t think it’s as much of an issue.)
You’ll see that the stakes get higher as the game progresses; correct answers in the first two rounds are worth 1, 3, 5 or 7 points, while answers in the second half net 2, 4, 6 or 8. I tried to keep my questions balanced between easy ones that even the casual reader would know and much tougher ones for diehard fans. The match-up bonus round was easy, but I had to resort to using a movie poster for the picture round.
For prizes, I’m using gift cards from Barnes & Noble (the Hunger Games-themed cards, naturally), AMC (good for even new releases, unlike some discount passes), and Dunkin’ Donuts (because New England runs on Dunkin’). To give everyone time to answer each question, I’ll be playing songs from a playlist I created on Grooveshark. (I keep most of my music on an external hard drive, so I figured this would be less cumbersome than playing directly from my iTunes library. My mix is… odd, but you could certainly pull songs from the movie soundtrack or try to match songs to themes from the book.)
Feel free to use any of the materials linked in this post, or modify them to create trivia sessions for other books that are popular in your library. (If you’re wondering where I got that awesome Hunger Games font, it’s from dafont.com, my go-to site for fonts.) What are you doing to celebrate the Hunger Games?
*Effie Trinket!
Hunger Games trilogy author Suzanne Collins is the best-selling Kindle author of all time, according to Amazon.
Over at Salon, Laura Miller took an in-depth look at the series’ success: “With the right title, a kid’s publisher can deploy something the world of adult publishing can only dream about: a large, well-oiled and highly networked group of professional and semi-professional taste makers who can make that book a hit even before it’s published.”
In June 2011, Collins became the first children’s books author to sell more than one million Kindle books. For the last ten weeks, the Hunger Games trilogy has occupied the top three spots on the USA Today best-seller list. In addition, the trilogy currently holds the #1 spot on the New York Times bestseller list (children’s series category) after 81 weeks on the list.
continued…
New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.
Are you as excited as 1/2 the world about Hunger Games? I have my tickets for next weekend and my t-shirt is on the way.
So you can imagine how awesome it was to have my book Untraceable compared to Hunger Games - in any way! And I do see Grace as a modern day Katniss. Or at least that is what I wanted to create.
- A fan of Untraceable who loved my cover mentioned it's resemblence to Hunger Games. How spooky is that! I've never seen the Germany cover before this and look our much they compliment each other.
- Or when this reader said this: "Untraceable reminded me of a non-science fiction/non-fantasy version of The Hunger Games or The Calling by Kelley Armstrong. Lots of outdoorsy stuff, lots of mystery, lots of action. is :)"
So, here are some great things I found that are fun to help you get ready for next weekend:Movie Stuff
Katniss Archery Training trailerMovie Trailers/SongsWriter StuffInterview with Suzanne CollinsInterview with Suzanne on writingSuzanne at the Premiere
Interview with Stacy Egan - Hunger Games editor
Suzanne on Writing
Extras/Fun StuffFind out your Hunger Game NameFind great gifts for Hunger Game F
Wish you could tune out the world while reading your favorite book? The free “Go Away, I’m Reading” book covers will send a blunt message, customized for your book.
Erin Bowman, Sarah Enni and Traci Neithercott created the simple but inspiring dust jackets pictured above–what cover will you pick?
They have built “Climbing Mount Doom” for fans of J. R. R. Tolkien‘s Lord of the Rings trilogy, “In Narnia BRB” for readers of C. S. Lewis‘ The Chronicles of Narnia, “At Hogwarts” for aficionados of J.K. Rowling‘s Harry Potter series, “In Forks, Send Help” for fans of Stephenie Meyer‘s Twilight series and finally, “In the Arena, BRB” for readers of Suzanne Collins‘ Hunger Games series.
Here’s more about printing: “These covers will fit the traditionally-sized YA book. Take the PDFs to your local FedEx or Staples and get them printed on tabloid paper (11x17in). We suggest a matte cardstock (you could print on something glossy, but sometimes that causes light glares at certain angles and you want people to be able to read that Go Away message without incident). Choose a weight between 60-80lb for the paper. Anything lighter and the page will be too thin, anything heavier and folding it around your book will be difficult.”
continued…
New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.
View Next 25 Posts
.jpeg?picon=2450)
.jpeg?picon=2058)
I am in your boat, resisting the “popular.” I did the same thing with HP. So thanks for convincing me. Truly anything that will encourage reading is worth the effort. Reading is the key.
I did the same thing, until my younger brother convinced me that it wasn’t that bad. So I read it. I avoided reading Harry Potter until all the books came out, so that I could read them without stressing until the next one came out. I read the first two Hunger Games. I’m just being cheap and waiting until someone can loan me the third.
I’ve borrowed every copy, the first one from the library and the second and third from a dog park friend. I love dog park friends
I’ll let you know how number three turns out …
thanks. I was shocked that I actually finished the first one without vomiting, knowing that my friends who liked the book have the worst book taste.
I still haven’t read this series. I can’t bring myself to do it. The concept kills me as a mom. Maybe when my daughter is older. (Having said that, good for Suzanne Collins. She deserves the success she’s found.)