The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Gabbie's rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Katniss has become the mother in her home after her Father died in a mining accident. Her mother became severely depressed, and Katniss realized she had to take care of her family. Which included volunteering to participate in the annual Hunger Games to save her sister. But could a boy jeopardize her return home and win the Hunger Games? I found this book intriguing and compelling. I enjoy the way it has been written and its theme of how far someone will go to save the ones they love. I only wish the characters were more further developed.

Just Another Hero by Sharon M. Draper
Gabbie's rating: 4 out of 5 stars

High school is different for every teenager. Some love school, while others feel trapped and insecure. This book is written in the perspective of two high schoolers who lead very different lives. The third-person point of view helps to enrich this story and helps readers understand teenage problems. Arielle, the initial character of this book, struggles from a constant disconnect from her stepfather. Kofi, a friend of Arielle, is struggling to be able to have the future he so desires. Read into the lives of these two teenagers and witness how relationships are created and strength is tested when these characters have "to be a hero."

  

 Prisoner B-3087 by Alan Gratz

 Gabbie's rating: 5 out of 5 stars

The Holocaust was a horrific time for the entire world. But it was most horrific to those who were subject to Hitler and his followers. This novel is based off of the true story of Jack Gruen and how he learned to survive. He was shuttled from concentration camps, embarked on death marches, nearly starved to death, and lost connection with his entire family. A must read.

Hunger by Michael Grant
Matt's rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Michael Grant, one of my favorite YA authors, does not disappoint in the sequel to Gone.  The second book in the six book series follows up on the plot of the previous book, where the young Sam struggles to lead the dystopic town of the FAYZ (Fallout Alley Youth Zone) against his malevolent brother Caine.  This battle begins to grow in scale as the town faces a new, terrifying threat: the darkness.  This novel captures the essence of what sets Michael Grant apart from other writers, boasting easy to relate to struggles and life-like characters to hook anyone from the casual reader to the most avid Michael Grant fans.

After: Nineteen stories of apocalypse and dystopia edited by Ellen Datlow
Matt's rating:  3 out of 5 stars

As with all short story compilations, this book had its advantages.  Being a fan of dystopia, this book caught my eye immediately.  A set of short stories telling of dark new futures, some strikingly possible.  Not all 19 tales were good, resulting in a 3 out of 5 stars, but that is the beauty of these books.  If one story is bad, you just go to the next one!  A good, appropriate set of stories that will appeal to the darker minds and dystopian nuts.

BZRK by Michael Grant
Matt's rating: 5 out of 5 stars

The best of Michael Grant. Period.  More than realistic characters and amazing plot concepts.  This novel describes a world in a world -- the nano.  A science development allows for biots -- nanscopic creatures that humans control telepathically -- to pioneer the newest war.  Noah Cotton and Sadie McLure are thrust into this battle as BSRK, a group of "twitchers" bent on preserving free will, take on the AFGC, a following of those who wish to accelerate human evolution and unify the human mind into one.  Worth every star I gave it.  You will not regret picking up this masterpiece!

A Seperate Peace by John Knowles
Iva's rating: 2 out of 5 stars

A story of two friends living in the midst of WWII, A Seperate Peace crafts a tale of the power jealousy has over all of us.  Characterizing this power, Knowles concocts Gene Forrester, a paranoid and annoying 16-year-old who is envious of his athletic and adventure-loving roommate, Finny.  Gene, acting in jealousy, commits a horrible act against his so-call best friend and then tries to make up for it by later being overly nice to Finny.  Yet, Finny is not lovable either.  His overly perfect charaacther lacks in the intelligence department and he only realizes his "best friend's" true nature on his death bed.  Nevertheless, the story is not so awful as to deserve one star -- if the sickening characters can be tolerated, then the theme of jealous as well as other minor themes such as war can be appreciated as being established in an interesting way.

*NOTE:  No matter what the back cover of The Perks of Being a Wallflower says, no feasible connection can be seen between these two books.  So, if as a fan of Perk's you wanted to read this book, don't waste your time.