I Am the Messenger by Markus Zusak

The Story:  Ed Kennedy's life isn't going anywhere.  He's 19, an underage taxi driver, and is hopelessly in love with his best friend Audrey.  One day though, his life turns around when he stops a bank robbery from happening.  From taxi driver, he turns into a town hero.  That's when the cards start arriving.  Aces, to be exact.  Someone is sending Ed Kennedy playing cards with addresses on them.  It's up to Ed to figure out the problem and how to solve it.  Some will involve happiness, others death.  It's up to Ed to help these people or else his own life will be threatened.

Chloe's Critique:  This is one of those books that you don't mind re-reading over and over again.  Highly imaginative and humorous, you won't be able to put it down!  Ed and his gang of friends, his smelly dog, the Doorman, and his potty-mouthed mother, star as the... interesting main characters.  No one else gets the messages besides Ed.  It transforms a regular nobody like Ed, into a hero.  The point is, if Ed can help make people's lives better, than anyone can do it to.  Like in the last sentence of the book, Ed says that he's not the messenger, "I'm the message.". 


Chloe's Rating: 5/5 stars

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

*This will be a spoiler-free review for Mockingjay, minor spoilers for Catching Fire*

The Story:   Katniss Everdeen has made it out of the arena twice.  It wasn't by accident that she was rescued out of the Quarter Quell instead of her fellow tribute, Peeta Mellark.  After those last hectic moments in the Quell, Katniss learns that Peeta has been taken by the Capitol, and the whole country is in rebellion.  She is the face of the rebellion, ever since she pulled out those berries in the arena.  But now, will she be able to become the Mockingjay and lead the whole country of Panem to revolution?  Can she bring unity to all the districts and overthrow the Capitol?

*Sorry, I take my word back :)  This part will have a lot of spoilers and angry rants... don't say you haven't been warned :)*
Chloe's Critique:  This has been one wild ride.  It's hard to believe that the series is over already!  Mockingjay is the darkest of the trilogy, yet it's full of hope.  Hope that the rebels will win.  Hope that Peeta's okay.  Hope that life will be better.    By the end of the book, I was an emotional wreck, crying uncontrollably.    But it still didn't live up to my expectations.  Really? Did she really need to kill Prim?  I mean really?????  That was totally unnecessary!  And Katniss wasn't Katniss at all in this book!  I mean, shes' an emotional wreck and just gives up.  And the biggest upset: Gale.  For all the fans out there, I'm team Gale.  Even though Gale didn't win Katniss' heart, I hated how Suzanne made it seem like they never talked again.  He was her best friend!  And technically, even though it was his bomb design that killed Prim, he didn't drop the bomb!  Katniss doesn't deserve Gale and I hope she's happy with Peeta Mellark- "Today, we let him feed himself pudding! Plutarch says".  Peeta = epic fail. Even though I didn't like it that much, Mockingjay will be sure to delight Hunger Game fans around the world.

Rating: 4.999999991/5 stars :)

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

Super pumped for Mockingjay tomorrow! *squeals in excitement*

The Story:  Katniss Everdeen has beat the odds and has won the 74th annual Hunger Games- a televised fight-to-the-death competition.  But, she won by defying the Capitol- challenging the rule of only letting one victor survive by having her and her fellow tribute, Peeta Mellark, commit suicide.  Now, the Capitol is mad.  This spark of rebellion may lead all the 12 districts in Panem to rebel against the Capitol.  Now, Katniss' victory tour throughout Panem is the only way to turn things around.  She has to prove without a shadow of a doubt, that she was driven crazy in love with Peeta, and couldn't live without him.  Any sign of rebellion was coincidental.  With not only that on her shoulders, soon, she has to be a mentor for the 75th Hunger Games, also a Quarter Quell.  But what happens when Katniss is sent back into the arena?  Will the districts ban together and start a revolution against the Capitol?

Chloe's Critique:  After the Hunger Games, I was desperate to find out the continuation of Katniss' story.  Luckily enough, I read the Hunger Games just when Catching Fire was due to come out.  Catching Fire, to me, was still a great book, but it couldn't capture the magic as in the first book.  It's set at a much slower pace, with the action happening in the second half of the book.  It provides a view of all the districts in Panem from the Victory Tour, and starts to hint at what is coming in the third book, Mockingjay.  Needless to say, another great book from Suzanne Collins that will leave fans desperate to know what will happen in the final book, Mockingjay.


Rating:  5/5 Stars

Booklists

Chloe's Favorite Books

• The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
• Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
• Mockingjay by Suzanne Colins
• The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
• I Am The Messenger by Markus Zusak
• The Help by Kathrynn Stockett
• Maximum Ride Series by James Patterson
• Daniel X Series by James Patterson
• Alex Rider Series by Anthony Horowitz
• Inkheart Trilogy by Cornelia Funke
• The Inheritance Cycle by Christopher Paolini
• A Tree Grows In Brooklyn by Betty Smith

       * I'll add more lists and links soon, as I review more books.  Thanks for your patience! *