Must-Read for Teens:The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Hi all! Sorry for not updating for such a long time because we haven't really had time. Today, I'll be reviewing the most talked-about book of the year, The Hunger Games. It is the 1st book in The Hunger Games trilogy, the 2nd being Catching Fire & the last book Mockingjay. The movie based on the novel has become a big hit here in Singapore, especially with the teenagers who enjoy the book just as much. For those who still unsure of the plot, the book is set in a place called Panem (a post-apocalyptic North America) & is about a 16-year-old girl named Katniss Everdeen from District 12 who volunteers to take her 12-year-old sister Primrose's place in the 74th annual Hunger Games, a live televised TV show where teens fight to the death for victory, along with her fellow District 12 member, Peeta Mellark.

This book is definitely a great read & seeing from the huge response from teenagers who have read the book, it is a must-read for all those who enjoy an exciting read with unexpected events that get your heart pumping. When I first read the book, it was so captivating that I couldn't put it down! I personally dislike reading books with a lot of violence & fighting but this is an exception as there is a lot of suspense in the book. Though it is a dystopian fiction novel, there is a bit of romance between the 2 protagonists, giving an appropriate balance between the fighting & the budding romance, thus it is great for those who do not like too much violence, like myself. The movie also did not disappoint. Although the book's ending may be a bit abrupt, it  provides a cliffhanger that makes you want to read the 2nd book even more! Enjoy & "may the odds be ever in your favour"!
Lydia

The Joy of Reading

So happy to see Sarah reading a Chinese book by herself! She is 10 years old and usually, she will shy away from reading Chinese books. Hopefully, this series will capture her interest and motivate her to read more!

There were some words (many, in fact) that she didn't know the meaning of but at least she was not deterred and managed to finish the book by herself. I remember when i was young and reading Chinese comics, I recognised only about 70% of the words but that did not diminish my enjoyment of them! Oh, those mangas! I have yet to introduce comics to my girls, in case they get addicted like I was! Hahaha....

Jen

Must Grab & Read - Li Guang Fu 李光福

It is such a great feeling to discover a gem of a book! I would like to give a hearty recommendation to a series of Chinese books written by a Taiwanese writer, 李光福.

His books are written primarily for primary school kids, most suitably for upper primary children, i.e 10 years and above. It is easy to read with the Hanyu pinyin accompanying the words, a great boon to our Singaporean kids. The level of difficulty is pegged suitably for one to read easily as well as to learn some new vocabulary. Each book is also beautifully illustrated, by different illustrators. This is not only a pleasure to the senses but a great showcase of artistic talents and different art genres!

What i love most about these books is that the books teach excellent moral values to the children in real and pragmatic ways. For example, the book that Sarah read was to expound on the value of continuous learning and perseverance despite difficulties. I have read another one written about a child who suddenly fell ill and remained in a coma. The story revolved about how her friends dealt with her sickness and absence and how they tried to remain hopeful and positive for both her friend, her parents as well as for their own sakes. Another was about a child learning about how to appreciate her mother's contribution to the family and not treat her mother like a maid! The one above is about keeping our word and being upright and honest in our dealings with others.  These are all very relevant themes in our modern-day lives and I am so happy to be able to read them with my children, letting them gain more insight into such issues.

Thankfully, the writer is very prolific in his writing, there are at least 16 books in the series. I always go straight to the section in the library and pick up any new titles available. For those of you who are not in Singapore, if you can find them on ebay, it is a worthy investment to buy them for your children!

Definitely, one of my best finds this year, do go to your nearest library, grab and read one! Leave some for me!!!


Jen

"我家有个老学生" by 李光福 Li Guang Fu

 This is a Chinese book called '我家有个老学生，There is an old student in my home'.  It's about a granny who wants to go to a school for old folks and resume her studies.  The granny's granddaughter overhears the conversation between her grandmother and her parents. The granddaughter's parents don't    want the granny to go but she keeps on saying that she already signed up for it. Furthermore,  the parents are afraid that because of her old age, she might suddenly become tired and they  are concerned about her well being.

  But the parents reluctantly allow her to go and the the father drives her there. The granny is persevering and everyday, consistently revise her work and never gives up. Until one day, the granny did not come home! The father calls the girl ( the grand-daughter) to ask whether the granny has come  home yet and she says no but the father says that he has been waiting for her and she hasn't come out of the school  The father comes home but without the granny! Will the granny come home or not? You have to read to find out! But is that the end? Oh no, it isn't. The girl learns an important lesson from the granny in the end to never give up when things seem tough.

I really enjoy reading this book as it encourages me to never give up in my studies and reminds me that it is never too late to pick up a new hobby and learn something new!

 Sarah

Humorous Read: The Anybodies by N.E. Bode

Just by looking at the cover of the book, you can expect a lot of weird & unexpected things coming your way. The book is about a girl called Fern, who finds out that she's been accidentally swapped at birth & that the Drudgers, the couple she lives with, aren't really her parents. When her real father, known as "the Bone", his "son" Howard & the flustered nurse that caused all this trouble, Mary Curtain, come to the Drudgers' house & explains the mix-up, the 2 families decide to "unswap" the kids for the summer. Fern then finds out that the Bone & his friend Marty (who was actually dressed up as Mary Curtain),  are actually Anybodies, people who can change into anyone or anything they want. Fern soon learns that her late mother had a coded book that only she could decode, The Art of Being Anybody, but it is lost & the Bone's old friend-turned-fiend The Miser is out to get it. With Fern's smart thinking, they stay at Fern's grandma's house as encyclopedia seller Mr Bibb & his daughter Ida, in hopes of finding the book there. But The Miser knows their plans & is lodging at the same place. Will Fern find the book & keep it out of the hands of the evil Miser? Does she find out her true abilities as an Anybody?

I like this book because the author is always "talking" to you, telling you things about his old writing teacher, that is totally irrelevent to the story but adds the "LOL factor" to it. He also adds background details about the story, making it more unique. But the story also tells about how Fern really wants to find out about the mother she never knew, with only a picture of her as a reminder. As you read about Fern's desperate search for the book while trying not to be found out by The Miser, you can feel the excitement level increasing & feel more drawn into the story. When you read about the strange things Fern finds at her grandma's house, it makes you snap out of the serious parts of the book & into the fantasy parts, making it not a bore at all to read. This book is a great book for those who like books with mixed genres & it is suitable for teens like me as the storyline is easy to understand & is not too childish.

Thank you all for your views but please drop us a comment or two so we can know how you feel about our choice of books.

Lydia

Seeking your contributions!

Hi everyone!

Thanks to all who took the time to browse through our book blog! As a newbie in blogging, we are really excited to see the number of views increasing each day, a little by little. The girls and I are motivated to come up with more book recommendations, to keep this blog updated.

But we realise that our reading appetite is limited by time! During the hols, we can probably finish a book in 2 to 3 days' time (already, our noses are buried in the books most of the day!) but when the new school term rolls in, we expect the volume to be reduced drastically!

Hence, we would like to invite our dear readers to be in turn, contributors as well. I am sure, as fellow book-lovers, you will have a bounty of treasure to share! There will be minimal editing, the main consideration would be that the choice of book should be based on whether the readers can gain positively from reading them. Reviews of books that contain too much unwholesome language or inappropriate contexts will be humbly returned. Of course, since we can't read all the books that are recommended, we would greatly appreciate any constructive comments and support from fellow readers!

Your comments are most earnestly sought, even now, as you read the book recommendations as they not only act as a great encouragement to us, they let us know whether our views are shared or contested! We relish the joy of sharing these books and look forward to hearing from you! Much thanks to all!
Our email address: bookpicks4all@gmail.com

Jen

Growing Up Blues - Hummingbird by Kimberly Greene Angle

This is a really touching book about a girl called March Anne Tanner, who lives on a watermelon farm with her father, her brother Kevin and her grandma Grenna. Her mother passed away when she was young & considered Grenna as a mother. Grenna loves telling the children stories about her life; like when she married the children's Grandpap. She also teaches them about valuable lessons in life, using things around her as examples.

March Anne enjoys spending her time with her friends, Meg & Laverne. They form a group they call Pseudonymphs, having secret meetings & change their names with the seasons. But tragedy strikes when Grenna suffers a heart attack. She survives but has to move around with the aid of a walker. After the incident, March Anne starts to miss the old Grenna as her grandma stays in bed more & grows weaker each day. To add on to her worries, her father struggles to sustain the family. March Anne confides in her friends, who are also experiencing family issues. When Grenna dies, March Anne is grief-stricken & resolves to fulfill her grandma's wish for her: to follow a buried rail that the girls had discovered in the fall & see where it leads to. There, she finds out about her late mother & her grandma's younger days. With a hummingbird named Zipp as a reminder of her grandma, March Anne learns to let go.

I like this book as it really moves you & you can relate to it well, especially those who have gone through a similar situation. As you read about how March Anne tries to move on despite her troubles, you can understand how she's feeling & you empathise for her. When March Anne finds her mother's & grandma's past treasures, you get a glimpse of how they lived. It is overall a very realistic story of a girl losing her loved ones. I lost my own maternal grandfather 2 years ago so I can understand the heartache she feels. It is an inspirational book with many life values to learn, for all.

I hope this book will touch your heart as it touched mine. Please share your comments & views so I may know what you think.
Lydia