Tania Roxborogh reviews The Hunger Games, Give Me Truth, Turtle and The Tomorrow's Code.
Suzanne Collins
Scholastic Press, hbk, $25
I spent a whole day doing nothing but reading The Hunger Games (apart from eating, fetching a child or two and cooking dinner) because it is riveting! I am glad Suzanne Collins plans a trilogy; I want more of Katniss and her world.
The Hunger Games is set in the future of America.
There are 13 districts - oh, no, make that 12 because the 13th rebelled against Capitol and was obliterated.
Each district is responsible for an aspect of providing the country with what they need: fruit, grain, coal, technology.
But, as punishment for the rebellion, which caused the end of the 13th district, is the Hunger Games, a televised reality show which pits two teenagers from each district against each other.
There can only be one winner. Think Gladiator for the 22nd century.
All this is pre-novel; the background. The story starts on the day of reaping, the choosing of the two teens from each district.
This book is exciting and unputdownable. Collins is remarkable in her craft and I am pleased I picked up her book.
You must get this and the next as a present for the teen - it's perfect and, though it's futuristic it is not too far from the world we could live in.
Recommended for good readers, probably 12 years and up.
Bill Condon
Woolshed Press, pbk, $21.99
Completely different and actually a very confusing and unconvincing read is Bill Condon's novel Give Me Truth.
Structurally, this novel does not work: it is the story of two young teens (boy and girl) whose parents are splitting up.
Technically, the narrative is evenly split between the two main characters.
The trouble with the novel is that the timeline (of both characters' stories) does not align and the teenage girl is unlike any kid I know.
The story is this: David's parents are splitting up because Dad is violent (frustrations around his wife's career skyrocketing and feeling less of a man) and whacks David in the face.
"No-one hits my kids," his mother says.
Caitlin's parents are thinking of splitting because Dad had an affair.
The author links the two kids by a play, which seems so contrived.
Also, there's another contrived link between the parents.
I'm annoyed I wasted my time reading this book. I'm including this review to save you money.
Gary Bryson
Allen and Unwin, pbk, $33
Another one I found a waste of time has a beautiful cover, but, as the saying goes, you can't judge a book by its cover.
Debut novel Turtle, by Gary Bryson, needed more editing and shaping.
It took me forever to read this story because it was annoyingly repetitious in places, negative, bleak.
I have no idea why it has been classed for young adults; I found little in it to appeal to teenagers.
The story is narrated by a middle-aged loser by the name of Donald Pinelli.
Recounting his childhood tells why he is who he is.
The only thing I liked about this book was the refreshing injection of rude humour by the turtle with a Scottish accent.
Brian Falkner
Walker Books, pbk, $20
Thankfully, we have writers like Brian Falkner who, though my age (i.e. older but a kid at heart), knows what makes kids tick.
The Tomorrow Code is a story about typical, recognisable but clever kids who receive messages from their future selves.
Apparently there is going to be mass destruction of life as we know it, but the future Tane and Rebecca have the way to save the city.
The problem is, the present Tane and Rebecca don't quite understand the messages they're getting.
I loved this book and it's good Falkner is a friend (and I'm not the jealous writer type) or I might sneak to his watering hole and poison it.
Buy this book for any kid in your (extended) family.
I enjoyed the references to places I know, and the book is exciting and funny.
No wonder it is getting rave reviews in America.
- Tania Roxborogh is a Dunedin teacher and writer.
