Stolen Children By Peg Kehret

Book Type: Young Adult

Amy's Rating: A

Anderson's Rating (14): C "Not scary enough, too young"

Recommended for: Grades 2-6

Genre: Action

Themes: Babysitting, Kidnapping, Survival

Main Character: Teen Girl

Annotation: After Amy and the young toddler she is babysitting are kidnapped she knows it is up to her to keep them safe. Peg Kehret always manages to get your heart beating but this book is definitely on a juvenile level. The kidnappers aren't super mean. They threaten the girls but not very roughly and although I enjoyed it this book is better suited for younger readers who want action without the scary stuff. I recommend anything from Peg Kehret who is actually from Washington state and that is most ofter the setting of her books.

Hunger Games By Suzanne Collins

Book Type: Young Adult

Rating: A

Recommended For: Older Grades 5/6 +

Genre: Action, Adventure

Themes: Survival, Murder, Death, Friendship

Main Character: Female with Male Supporting Role

Annotation: A young woman's land must send one person a year to participate in the Hunger Games. The whole books focuses on the Games: drawing the names for the game, preparing for the games, competing in the games and life shortly after the games. A battle to the death, the games are exciting and not too gory but I wouldn't let my 3rd grader read this book. A lot of people are murdered. I personally love the survival element in this book as each contestant tries to out last all the rest. It is well written and captivating but I have to admit that the very ending was a disappointment. The book is a series and it does leave several questions unanswered...I can't stand that.