Jennifer Lawrence : Star of The Hunger Games by Katherine Krohn

From a young age Jennifer Lawrence knew she wanted to act.  With determination, supportive parents and talent she is now on the brim of becoming world famous as Katniss in the soon to be released movie THE HUNGER GAMES based on the book by Suzanne Collins. 

In this biography Katherine Krohn gives us a glimpse into Jennifer's life.  What stood out to me was the way Jennifer prepared for auditions.  For instance instead of dressing up and being made up she showed up to the Katniss audition a wreck from a long flight and no sleep!  The book is infused with photgraphs that readers will pour over.  The writing is accessible to reluctant readers and fans of THE HUNGER GAMES will clamour for it.  Every library should have this book as it is going to be a bestseller (I don't predict that often).  It's on my wish list for my library!

Read as an ebook arc courtesy of Lerner Publishing Group via Netgalley.

Cinder by Marissa Meyer

It is 145 years after the fourth World War in New Beiijing. Cinder is a cyborg and a mechanic well known for fixing androids, netscreens, hovercars and more.  Her stepmom and one of her stepsisters are relentlessly mean to her while the other stepsister is her friend.  By chance she meets the prince when he needs his android repaired.  Sadly, the emperor is dying as are thousands of other people as a plague unyet curable sweeps across the nation. 

Science fiction is not usually a genre that I am drawn to.  However, once I started Cinder I could not put it down.  It was hard not to visualize Iko and the other androids looking like R2D2 from Star Wars.   The feelings developing between Kai and Cinder did not feel rushed.  I love the fact that Cinder couldn't blush.

Cinder will take her place along side other strong and intelligent female characters such as Katniss, Katna and Kat. While part of me would have liked the story tied up and over with I will patiently wait for book two in The Lunar Chronicles and most likely books three and four.  Marissa Meyer style of writing is appealing and quick paced.  Loved it!

Cinder is a YA book I would recommend it for even the younger end.  Science fiction fans would enjoy it as well as those that enjoy (very fractured) fairy tales.  There is enough romance to appeal to girls that enjoy romance but are willing to try something different.

Read as an ebook arc courtesy of Macmillan Children's Publishing Group via Netgalley. Cinder is now available from your favorite bookseller.

Rot & Ruin by Jonathan Maberry

Honestly I would never have read this book if a friend in the children's book industry hadn't not only recommended it to me but she sent me the book.  While I do enjoy YA literature and occasionaly science fiction a book about zombies is not a book I would normally pick up.  With a pile of books from the floor to ceiling, not to mention all the advanced readers copies on my kindle last week I finally started ROT & RUIN by Jonathan Maberry and finished it late last night.  Ok, I'll admit it.  I liked it.

Living in a future world where people turn into zombies upon dying, Benny grows up thinking his brother Tom is a coward.  Benny's earliest memory is Tom, much older than him, taking Benny from their mother's arms and running away.  At fifteen Benny learns that Tom is anything but.  The book is scary and graphic but as the cover states it is also full of heart.  That is where it shines. 

Sprinkled with pop culture mentions that made me smile, readers who enjoy the genre will gravitate to ROT & RUIN.  Someone looking for something different will find it here.