Dead End in Norvelt

Fun!  Gantos has introduced me to the real/fictitious residents of Norvelt, PA during the summer of 1962 and I love them.  No, wait.  I don't love them, but I love how Gantos, as usual, removed all the facades and quickly revealed the quirky; bold;  misguided; sweet; hesitant; heroic; proud; self-depricating; impulsive; adventurous; noble; and vulnerable personalities that totally make this laugh-out-loud novel a winner.  I was reminded of Richard Peck's Long Way From Chicago (which did not win the Newbery, but its sequel did) because Peck, too, hooked his readers to his stories by way of his wonderful, quirky characters.  You will especially love Dead End in Norvelt if you listen to it on audio as Gantos is the narrator and his delivery is perfect.

Hunger Games

Just finished Hunger Games.  I am so glad to finally be free of that annoying Catnys.  (If I spelled the name wrong, forgive me.  I "read" the book as an audio, so didn't actually see the name in print.)  But, come on!  The character's vulnerabilities were just too prevalent throughout the story, I thought.  But....the series is interesting from a sci-fi perspective.  Even more, it's a great jumping off vehicle for discussions of the power and purpose of government, etc.  THAT is it's strength and would make it a powerful teen book club title.

Honolulu by Allan Brennert

OK.  This one has taken me by surprise.  I was expecting the all-too-common approach to historical fiction with too little development and too much dialogue or too much background, but instead encountered a really well-balanced story.  Set in pre-World War I, this is the story of Korean women and their plight at that time, and the brave choice of some of these  young women to find a better life as "picture brides" to Korean men living on Oahu.  The characters are alive.  Even if you are not usually an historical fiction fan, I think you'll like this one.  Somewhat reminiscent of Memoirs of a Geisha (Golden).