Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins

To preface my comments about this book, I have to explain that the Hunger Games trilogy is my favorite story of all time. I loved the books and I loved the movie adaptations of the books. I also thought the casting for the movies was superb. I have watched the movies over and over. I realize that the movies don't completely bring out the "darkness" of this story, but I still believe that they were really well done. Other than Katniss and Peeta, my favorite character is Haymitch. (Woody Harrelson is a perfect Haymitch!) So, I was eager to read about the year that Haymitch won the Hunger Games.

Haymitch is only 16 years old when he is reaped for the Hunger Games. It happens to be the second Quarter Quell (50 years since its inception). Since it's a Quarter Quell, President Snow and the Gamemakers decide to reap double the amount of kids, so two boys and two girls from each district. Haymitch is devastated to be leaving behind his true love, Lenore Dove. Lenore is part of the Covey and is being raised by two uncles. If you read The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, you know that the Covey is like a roving band of musicians. They are musicians, poets, artists and singers. The Covey has settled in District 12 and they are a part of the District 12 reaping.

Since the sole District 12 winner went missing long ago - reference The Ballad - there are no mentors. The two mentors for the four District 12 kids come from different Districts. You will know them both! Their escort to the games (Drusilla) and stylist (Magno) are shameful in their lack of interest in their jobs. No one cares about District 12. There are no beautiful and luxurious suites on the train to the Capitol in this story. The kids are more like prisoners and certainly treated as such. 

Haymitch doesn't have a particular talent. He is strong because he helps a bootlegger named Hattie make white liquor, so a lot of collecting firewood and hauling grain. Haymitch is Hattie's mule. Since he doesn't have a specific talent to promote in the games to get sponsors, he takes on the persona of a "rascal" - meaning he portrays that he is in the games for himself; in it to win it, with not a lot of regard for the others. In fact, once they reach the arena, he separates himself from everyone else, including District 12's allies. He heads north, not even bothering with the cornucopia (although he manages to snag a backpack of supplies and some weapons regardless). 

There is a method to Haymitch's madness, so to speak. He is a boy on a mission. Unknown to everyone else, he is the first "rebel" (that we know of at this point) to try to stop the games. He is helped by a young boy from District 3 (Beetee's son!) and good old Plutarch. Who knew? We are introduced to a number of character's earlier selves from the Hunger Games trilogy, which is awesome. I love seeing how they all started.

Haymitch is punished severely once his role in these games is realized by President Snow, as are the people that helped him along the way. (I don't want to give any more names away here!) This story explains why Haymitch is the District drunk. It explains a lot of things - and also presents more questions, especially about Katniss's father - who we really don't know much about. The book is similar to The Ballad in that there are poems and songs interspersed throughout the book. One poem in particular is Edgar Allan Poe's "The Raven". Since I am not a fan of poetry, I had to really focus on reading the multiple stanzas to determine its meaning in relation to the book. (It's the one thing in this book, and the last book, that I could do without!) The Covey are still a big part of District 12 at this point though, 50 years into the games. I really don't know what happened to them by the time we meet Katniss. I am wondering if there is another book coming that focuses on Katniss' father and the Covey??

Wendy's Rating: *****

Gym Candy by Carl Deuker

This is a powerful book - on a few different levels. It's young adult sports fiction about high school football players. Mick Johnson lives and breathes football. His father made it to the NFL, drafted in the 3rd round, but never got to play. Mick believes it's due to an ankle injury. Now his dad puts a lot of pressure on Mick to excel at this sport. Mick's mom is supportive, but she stops going to Mick's football games because she doesn't want to witness him being injured. High School football is extremely competitive. Mick's intent is to be the #1 running back for the Varsity team. This means that he needs to be fast and he needs to be strong. In Middle School, he became friends with Drew, who played quarterback. Drew has the same aspiration as Mick when it comes to playing on the Varsity team - and being the #1 quarterback. So, they are "in it together".

As often happens in life, one decision can send you down a different path. Mick's dad got a different job and encourages Mick to take advantage of a "perk" he has with the new job. He can be a member of a fitness center for free and his dad offers to pay for a 1:1 trainer to work with Mick. Mick declines at first because he wants to work out with his buddies and fellow teammates at the high school workout center. When he doesn't feel like his workouts there are very successful, since he's not putting on enough muscle weight and not getting as strong as he would like, he decides to give the fitness center (Popeye's) and trainer (Peter) a chance. Peter suggests that Mick take "gym candy" aka steroids to help him reach his goals. Mick is definitely reluctant at first, but as he feels more and more pressure to succeed, he eventually caves. This is the beginning of the end for Mick.

This book focuses on how someone can get swept away with something even though it is illegal and has significant negative physical and mental consequences. Mick starts feeling insecure in his abilities; he feels pressure from his dad to succeed; he feels threatened by the upperclassmen on the team (because he wants the #1 running back position) and the young talent coming up behind him. He starts isolating from his friends and becomes addicted to what the steroids can do for him, despite the really awful side effects (severe full body acne, development of breasts, uncontrollable anger). It's really hard to follow Mick on this downward spiral! The end is not only surprising, it's shocking.

The pressure to be bigger, stronger, faster is a significant in high school sports. Since my son plays HS hockey I live this myself. There are some really important lessons in this book and I would recommend this book to all student athletes and their parents.

Wendy's Rating: *****

Reunion in Death by JD Robb

Eve Dallas #14. Eve and Roarke have been married for one year at this point. Things are just as spicy between them as always - both in the bedroom and in their communication with each other. In this book we get to meet Peabody's parents. They are unique, to say the least. They both have special "senses". Peabody's mom, Phoebe, can influence people with her words. She talks to others in a calm, seductive manner which has them offering or doing things they wouldn't normally do. It's pretty funny when it works on Eve and Roarke. Very effective skill to have! Peabody's dad, Sam, can provide healing and pain relief through touch and his mind. He does accidentally overstep at one point with Eve, which causes conflict (Eve) and regret (Sam) and discomfort between them.

Since Eve is just coming back from an extended vacation with Roarke, which gave her time to heal and re-group from her last adventure, there is not a lot on the docket for her and Peabody to do. She decides to assign Peabody a cold case for Peabody to solve on her own. Peabody is very excited with this opportunity. Meanwhile, Eve catches a murder case, which Peabody helps her with as well. A well-liked, wealthy, older man celebrating his birthday at a well-attended party keels over dead. They figure out he was poisoned during his champagne toast. The person who poisoned him? She was the server that presented him with his champagne for the toast. This unexplained death leads to other deaths which appear to have no connection - except the victims are older, wealthy gentlemen. Eventually this leads Eve to Julianna Dunne, who was just released from prison after serving time for murder years previously. Eve had the privilege to send her to prison. Unfortunately, she was released early for "good behavior".

Eve continues to try to put her past behind her - by confronting it. Eve & Roarke go to the hotel in Dallas, TX where Eve had murdered her abusive, scum of the earth father. She actually visits the room it happened in. She remembered more of the details surrounding his death, which made it possible for her to go back to the exact location. Basically she is facing her fears, which is extremely good for her mental health.

Wendy's Rating: ****

City of Bones by Michael Connelly

Harry Bosch #8. I love this series. You never know what's going to happen, and not everyone lives to see another day if you are connected to Harry in any way! Harry also has an interesting taste in women. He never takes on a simple, comfortable relationship. Trauma meets trauma - always. Maybe he would simply be too bored with an uncomplicated relationship. 

A dog on a walk brings back a bone to his owner. The bone is human. Harry is called in to investigate. They figure out soon enough that the bone belongs to a child, who was buried in a shallow grave 20-25 years earlier. The burial site is treacherous to get to, so a lot of "manpower" is used to dig up as many bones as possible to see if it's a burial site for one child, or several people. It ends up being one 12-year old boy. This boy, based on studying his bones, had suffered 44 different fractures in his body during his short life. This knowledge impacts Harry (who grew up as an orphan) and Edgar (who has a teenage son around the same age). They both want to find out who murdered this poor kid.

Kiz was transferred to RHD (Robbery-Homicide Division), so it's back to just Harry & Edgar as a team of two. Harry meets a rookie cop, Julia Brasher, who he is attracted to. She is an older rookie (mid-30s), so late to the game in police terms. Harry continues to ruffle feathers at all levels, of course. It seems like he manages to tick off most everyone, including Edgar.

Harry & Co have a couple of false starts trying to determine who killed this boy. I trust Harry's instincts usually, whether other people do or not, but this time I thought he was overlooking the murderer. Ha! I kept waiting for him to figure it out. Come to find out that I was wrong. Go figure. :) I guess that's why Harry is a detective and I am not!

The ending surprised me. Not sure what to make of it. I guess I will find out in book #9.

Wendy's Rating: ****

To Catch a Storm by Mindy Mejia

Wow did I like this book! It was fast-paced with twists and turns and it was intelligent. When you put together a physicist who studies the weather, a private investigator who is a psychic, a police officer who used to be best friends with the psychic until he got shot when helping him, which resulted in a 6-week leave from the police department and an angry wife, and add a father-in-law who lives with his son and daughter-in-law since his stroke, then you have an entertaining story.

Eve (physicist) and Matthew (college professor) are married. Matthew's mother died and his father, Earl, had a stroke. Earl lives with Eve & Matthew so they can help take care of him. They are well-off financially. Eve's weather plane alone cost around $3 million. Recently Matthew was relieved of his job due to his alleged inappropriate conduct with a student. One day Matthew's Tesla was found burned to ashes and there is no sign of Matthew himself.

Meanwhile, the police officer Max has just returned to the job. His gun shot wound is still causing him pain, but he feels like he needs to prove to everyone that he can do the job. He is told to stay away from the psychic (Jonah), by his superiors at the police department and his wife. Of course Jonah shows up at the station on Max's first day back. Jonah is in rough shape, still trying to find Celina, who has been missing for four months and the reason that Max got shot.

Jonah has special psychic powers that causes him great emotional and psychological pain. He sees visions of missing people. Some of the people he finds are living, but some he doesn't find in time and they are dead. He feels the emotions of the people around him. His only friend in life is Max, and Max has told him to go away.

Jonah believes that Matthew's disappearance is connected to Celina's disappearance. He has visions of Matthew being in the same barn as Celina was, bleeding, injured and scared. Jonah tries to approach Eve and Earl at their home to tell them what he believes about Matthew, but Eve, being a scientist, doesn't believe in psychics and also sends him away.

Another key element in this story is the weather. The story is set in Iowa. After a nice heavy rain, the temperature drops significantly and everything is coated in ice. Everything. So when things start happening (ie Eve & Jonah & Earl start working together), it happens on ice. This adds to the excitement, trust me.

I could have easily read this in one sitting if I had the time! All I can say is, there had better be a second book. This story is not done. I normally don't rate any mystery/thriller 5 stars because I save my 5 star reads for the historical fiction & literature that I love, but this one comes close.

Wendy's Rating: ****

The Berry Pickers by Amanda Peters

This is a story of a Mi'kmaq family from Nova Scotia who are migrant workers. There are five children (Ben, Mae, Charlie, Joe & Ruthie), and their parents are attentive and loving. One day, when the family is berry picking in Maine, Joe (6) and Ruthie (4) are eating their lunch on their own (too young to pick berries with the rest of their family). Joe wanders away from Ruthie briefly to feed his sandwich bread to the birds. When he walks back to where Ruthie was sitting, she is gone. This is the turning point in all of their lives. The deep loss, the feelings of guilt, the endless searching for Ruthie year after year. When I was more than halfway through, I put the book down for a week. Joe is the narrator for the family, so we learn first hand about all the horrible, destructive choices he makes. It's just one awful thing after another. It's like watching a train wreck in slow motion. I'm not a big fan of these type books. It's difficult to read about someone self-destructing.

The other narrator is Norma, who lives with her mom and dad in Boston. It's a lonely life. Her mother is super overprotective and her dad is fairly distant. Norma doesn't have any friends because her mother never lets her out of her sight except for school. She finally is allowed to leave for a weekend camp, which is where she meets her first friend. The person Norma is actually closest to is her mother's sister, Aunt June. Fortunately Aunt June visits a lot, along with her "friend" (aka her secret significant other) Alice. Alice is a therapist, and Norma grows close to her not only because of Aunt June, but because she starts see "Alice the therapist" to deal with her constant dreams that are confusing and upsetting. Alice tells Norma to journal her dreams, which comes in handy decades later. When Norma reaches adulthood, she also makes some hurtful decisions which I had a difficult time stomaching. Both Joe and Norma were significantly emotionally damaged.

When I finally picked the book up again to finish it, I read the rest in one sitting. There were tears involved too. The ending was so emotional. I found myself really loving it. Although not everyone in the family survives to meet "Norma" aka Ruthie, and the reunion is LONG overdue, since Ruthie is in her 50s by this point, the ending involved forgiveness (of self and others), redemption, and the resilience of family love.

Wendy's Rating: ****

The Choice by Nora Roberts

Book 3 in the Dragon Heart Legacy. I had mixed feelings while reading this last book of the trilogy. I actually chuckled out loud a few times, since there was more humor in this installment. The relationships are obviously more developed, and I think that made a difference. I was also more invested in those relationships, which is also good. What I didn't care for as much were the "goopy" moments, especially between Marco & Brian. I get that they are in love, but it was over-the-top for me. (I guess this is why I don't read very many books from the Romance genre!) There were other parts that were incredibly "mushy" as well. I'm all about positivity, but it was simply too much, in my opinion.

Another comment that I keep forgetting to make: I think it's odd that Eian's good friend, and member of his musical group, was also named Brian! That confused me in the first book. Also, it's odd that Breen and Brian both have the same last name (Kelly) and now there is a baby named Kelly! I know that Kelly is a common Irish name, but when you are writing a book with a ton of different characters, it would be nice to use different ones! (Except for the baby of course, because that was sweet.) I kept thinking there would be a link between them, but nope.

Another issue I had was the waiting. We know that Breen is going to fight the ultimate battle against Odran. We know it's a Good vs. Evil battle, and that Good (Breen) must win for the world to survive. It was a long time coming. I liked the battle plan. It was a huge undertaking, but it was a good plan. Breen & Marco got to visit Philadelphia and New York, which brought closure to those American relationships. This is a good example of true family not having to be blood related. Breen & Marco's mothers are certainly not worth the effort, which is sad. Fortunately, Sally & Derrick will continue to be an important part of Breen & Marco's lives. There is loss of life, which there always is in these types of stories. (And a couple of those losses are very sad.) But there is a lot of "filling" in-between important events. I like character and relationship development, but I don't need detail after detail of what it takes to set up a festival, for example.

I loved Breen's strength and the development of her skills. I also thought it was awesome that Keegan started pushing himself as well, because of Breen. I wasn't sure what would happen at the end, because Breen chose to give her life, if necessary, for the good of Talamh and it seemed like she had resigned herself to the outcome. A couple of things happened that I wasn't expecting, so that always makes things more interesting.

I enjoyed the series, despite the "extra filling". ;)

Wendy's Rating: ****