Catching Fire

Collins, Susan. Catching Fire. Book 2  of the Hunger Games series. 2009. 391p. ISBN 9780439023498. Available at FIC COL on the library shelves. 

After her improbable victory in the Hunger Games, Katniss Everdeen finds herself miraculously alive alongside her fellow District 12 tribute, Peeta Mellark. Though she has returned to her family and her friend, Gale, nothing feels right. Gale is emotionally distant, and Peeta has completely turned his back on her. Meanwhile, whispers of a rebellion against the Capitol have begun to circulate, and Katniss and Peeta are at the center of the rumors, having unwittingly sparked the unrest.

To her shock, Katniss realizes she has ignited a rebellion that she's unsure she can, or even should, stop. As the time for the Capitol's cruel Victory Tour approaches, the stakes become terrifyingly high. She and Peeta must convince the Capitol, without a doubt, that their love for each other is genuine, as the horrifying consequences for failing to do so are unimaginable.

The story concludes in Mockingjay. 

Hunger Games

Collins, Suzanne. The Hunger Games. 2008. 374p. ISBN 9780439023528. Available at FIC COL on the library shelves.

In the dystopian future, the nation of Panem rises from the ruins of North America, governed by a harsh and cruel Capitol that controls twelve outlying districts. To maintain order and as a brutal annual reminder of its power, the Capitol forces each district to send one boy and one girl, aged twelve to eighteen, to participate in the Hunger Games. This televised event is a fight to the death, where only one tribute can emerge victorious.

For sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives with her mother and younger sister, volunteering to take her sister's place in the Games feels like a death sentence. However, having faced near-death experiences before, survival is second nature to her. Without consciously intending to, Katniss becomes a formidable contender, but her journey forces her to confront agonizing choices that weigh her own survival against her humanity, and the very essence of life against the complexities of love.

The story continues in 

Their Vicious Game

Wellington, Joelle. Their Vicious Game. 2023. 416p. ISBN 9781665922425.

Adina has always played her cards right. A Black scholarship student at the prestigious Edgewater Academy where the overwhelming majority of students are White, Adina has received early acceptance at Yale, her favorite school, and she sees her future traced before her. Going to Yale means escaping suburbia, where her parents, faculty members at Edgewater, built a comfortable but unassuming life. For Adina, Yale is her means of leaving her scholarship status, meaning being poor in the eyes of her classmates, behind. 

But her best friend Esme, who also applied to Yale, does not get in, and in a careless moment, Adina lets it slip that Esme's family is being investigated for insider trading and Esme is about to be poorer than Adina. Jealous at Adina's admission and furious that this family secret is out, Esme takes it out on Adina by having her parents pull strings, and Adina finds her admission to Yale rescinded. With her carefully constructed future crumbling, Adina turns to the Finish, a competition held by the Remingtons, the wealthy family that donated the school and its land. Every year, twelve girls of merit are invited to participate in games to determine which one will receive a full scholarship to any college of her choice, as the Remington's name can open doors anywhere.

The Finish, however, is different when a Remington boy graduates from high school. Pierce Remington, a classmate of Adina, is also graduating this year. Adina is admitted in the Finish, only to discover that the girls are competing to be Pierce's future wife. She's even more dismayed when she discovers that this competition is to the death, and the Remingtons have the power to make bodies disappear and stifle any questions parents may ask.

Now faced with the deadly possibility that she will not make it out, Adina must find a way to survive the Finish, especially since Esme is also participating, and she wants Adina dead. Plus, Adina does not love Pierce and she does not want to be his prize. With her roommate Saint's help, and with assistance from Graham, Pierce's older brother who is also enammored with Adina, she must succeed at three deadly events: the Ride, the Raid, and the Royale. In a deadly game, Adina soon discovers that sometimes one needs to change the rules to triumph...

An excellently written parody of dystopian books where teens compete in a deadly game for the one position available, Their Vicious Game is a quick read that is both entertaining and still manages to raise some important questions. How far would someone go to secure their future? Fans of might also enjoy the following: Arena One, Starters, Maze Runner, Ship Breaker, Reboot, Not a Drop to Drink, Birthmarked and Divergent.

Attack on Titan, Vol. 5

Isayama, Hajime. Attack on Titan, Vol. 5. 2013. 192p. ISBN 9781612622545. Available in the graphic novels section of the library.

With the hole in the wall closed, humans are able to retake Trost and defeat the Titans who had entered the town. in Attack on Titan, Vol 4. Eren's future is to be determined by the decision of a tribunal. Erwin Smith, the captain who leads the Survey Corps, convinces the tribunal to entrust Eren to him, so that he can help the boy discover how to control his power to transform into a Titan. 

Eren is taken to the Survey Corps' headquarters, a castle in disrepair in the countryside. As the Corps restore the facility, Smith begins to plan the first expedition outside the second wall since the first wall fell to the Titans. Both he and Eren believe that Eren's father, a renowned scientist, has research that could explain what Eren's powers are, but this research is in the basement of the house that is currently behind enemy lines.

Armin, Mikasa, and their friends all join the Survey Corps, hoping that they can finally begin to expand humanity's reach. Before this can happen, however, the Corps' expedition must succeed ...

The story continues in Attack on Titan, Vol. 6.

Attack on Titan, Vol. 4

Isayama, Hajime. Attack on Titan, Vol. 4. 2012. 192p. ISBN 9781612622538. Available in the graphic novels section of the library.

In Attack on Titan, Vol. 3, Eren was given the mission to transform into a Titan and move a giant rock to block the entrance to the city so that Titans could no longer come in and feast on humans. Embedded inside the Titan, however, Eren lost contact with his humanity. With Titans converging on Eren's prone form, Armin jumped on his back and tried to reconnect with Eren's humanity, reminding him of his desire to explore the world and rid it of Titans.

His desperate gambit works, and Eren regains control of his faculty. Hauling the large boulder towards the gate, his friends form a shield to protect him from attacks by other Titans. His mission accomplished, Eren, Misaka and Armin are rescued and evacuated, and soon the remaining Titans within the city walls are killed. This is the first human victory against Titans!

But Eren is arrested and interrogated, his allegiance still in question. As he sits in prison, he remembers how he joined the military and his days as a Survey Corp trainee. The bonds and the friendships he formed during this period loom large in his mind as he awaits a decision by the Captain of the Survey Corp on whether he will be accepted ...

The story continues in Attack on Titan, Vol. 5.

Attack on Titan, Vol. 3

Isayama, Hajime. Attack on Titan, Vol. 3. 2012. 189p. ISBN 9781612620251. Available in the graphic novels section of the library.

Having emerged from the body of a Titan at the end of Attack on Titan, Vol. 2, Eren doesn't remember how he got here or how he healed. Misaka and Armin, his adopted sister and their childhood friend, stand guard over him as angry soldiers vow to exact revenge on Eren. He looks human, but they reason that he might be in league with the Titans. Thinking fast, Armin convinces Commander Pixis, the eccentric general in charge of defending Wall Maria, that Eren represents their best hope at blocking the broken gate that Titans are using to breach the wall and enter the city. If Eren can transform into a Titan and move a large boulder that lays in a nearby park, this should effectively close access to the town.

But Eren is not sure he can control the monster inside him. Plagued by doubts from his father, Eren believes that information about his condition and his newfound powers can be located in his childhood home, now under Titan control. His only hope at discovering who, or what, he is lays on finding out what happened to him when he was a child. But first, he needs to block the path.

As soldiers deploy on the wall, hoping to drag the Titans away from the opening, Eren, Misaka and Armin drop on the ground, hoping that this desperate gambit will work...

The story continues in Attack on Titan, Vol. 4.

Attack on Titan., Vol. 2

Isayama, Hajime. Attack on Titan, Vol. 2. 2012. 189p. ISBN 9781612620251. Available in the graphic novels section of the library.

With the Second Wall now breached in Attack on Titan, Vol, 1, the 104th Training Corps is thrown into the battle, despite having just graduated. Unaware that Eren has fallen and has been swallowed by a Titan, Mikasa, the best fighter to ever come out of training, leads a platoon of troops, looking for her brother and protecting civilians. Mikasa's traumatic childhood is explored, including Eren rescuing her from slavers who murdered her family and who were bent on selling the last Asian to the underground flesh market. 

At the second gate, a merchant and his cargo are blocking the evacuation route for remaining civilians, and Mikasa intervenes, letting the merchant know in no uncertain terms that if his death is the cost of letting people through, she will gladly pay it. The merchant agrees to let the civilians flee.

Meanwhile, Titans are attacking the Second Wall's headquarters, where the gas necessary for the 104th Training Corps to scale the wall to relative safety of the Third Wall is stored. With no gas, Mikasa leads her troops to battle to rescue those under siege with a daring plan. But then a strange thing happens. A Titan ignores the humans, and instead begins to attack other Titans, causing enough of a distraction to allow the humans to rescue their friends and refill their gas canisters. It is almost as if the aggressive Titan wanted to protect Mikasa ...

The story continues in Attack on Titan, Vol. 3.

Attack on Titan., Vol. 1

Isayama, Hajime. Attack on Titan., Vol. 1. 2012. 193p. ISBN 9781612620244. Available in the graphic novels section of the library.

When Titans first appeared, humans were decimated. Titans can only be killed by hitting a specific spot on the back of their necks. Otherwise they regenerate. Not much is known about Titans. They are tall, and they like to eat humans. But they seem not to build anything, or harm any other animals. How they reproduce is unknown, and whether they are intelligent beings is questionable.

Humanity has taken refuge behind the massive walls of the last human city. Three walls of 50 meters protect the city from attacks, and in the last one hundred years the walls have never been breached. Eren and Misaka are children of the city. Eren wants to join the Survey Corps, the group of soldiers who venture beyond the walls, looking for resources and for ways to defeat the Titans. Misaka, Eren's sister, only wants to protect her brother from harm.

The sudden appearance of a gigantic Titan, taller even than the wall, throws the city in disarray. The wall is breached, Titans invade, and the first wall falls. Humans retreat to the second wall, leaving behind destruction and carnage. In the assault, Eren and Misaka's mother is killed, and their father goes missing. 

Five years later, Eren and Misaka complete their military training with top grades, and both of them elect to join the Survey Corps. Unfortunately, on their first deployment to the wall, the giant Titan returns, and once again catastrophe looms over the humans ...

The story continues in Attack on Titan, Vol. 2.

The Maze Cutter

Dashner, James. The Maze Cutter. Book 1 of the Maze Cutter series. 2022. 328p. ISBN 9798985955200. Available as an audiobook from Overdrive.

At the end of The Death Cure, Thomas and the remaining survivors of WICKED's Maze escaped to an island, away from the Flare apocalypse that had devastated the rest of the world. Seventy-three years have gone by, and the memories of the Flare and of the Cranks is nothing but urban legends in the eyes of the island's residents, especially its teenagers like Sadina and Isaac. Not many old folks remain who were there during the Maze, but Old Man Frypan regales the youths of his village with tales of the Gladers and the evils of WICKED. The Book of Newt also serves as a repository of stories from this time.

When a ship shows up on the shores of the island, the inhabitants realize that their safety has finally been wrecked. The only surviving person on board the ship admits she killed the rest of the crew so that she could complete her mission, which is to take some of the Islanders back to America, for they are the only ones who can prevent a tragedy of immense proportions.  

Meanwhile, up in Alaska, the Godhead has put in place a plan to fore the next evolution of humanity. In the east, the Remnant Nation has armed orphans on its borders, with orders to shoot anyone who crosses the line. An orphan, who has named himself Minho in a small act of rebellion, escapes the Remnant Nation and heads west, towards Alaska.

Sadina, Isaac, and even Old Man Frypan agree to return to the mainland and help out. They soon find themselves chased by the Godhead and the Remnant Nation, as they realize that Cranks and the Flare are still very much plaguing the world. Will the islanders have enough time to figure out why everyone wants to capture them before it's too late?

Supernova

Meyer, Marissa. Supernova. Book 3 of the Renegades series. 2019. 549p. ISBN 9781250078384. Available as an audiobook from Overdrive.

Having infiltrated the Renegades, Nova discovered in Archenemies where Ace Anarchy's helmet was being kept. Working with the Anarchists, she came up with a plan to rescue the helmet and deliver it to her uncle Ace, so he could regain his power. The helmet amplifies any prodigy power. This way, Nova hopes, the Renegades will be brought down once and for all. Unfortunately, the plan that she get close to Adrian, son of two of the Renegades Council Members, has worked too well, and Nova is feeling like she is falling for Adrian. Conflicted, she's not sure what is right and what is wrong anymore. The Renegades did not save her family, but most of the ones she met are good people who want to see the best for their city. As Nightmare, she wants to destroy them, but as Insomnia, she's made fast friends with many of them.

For Adrian, his prodigy power as Sketch are eclipsed by those he tattooed on himself, allowing him to become the Sentinel, a rogue prodigy that is wanted by the Council and hated by Nightmare. He too is falling in love with Nova, but doesn't know how to deal with this complicating situation. 

With the development of Agent N, which neutralizes prodigy powers, the world has become a much more dangerous place. Nightmare and the Sentinel are on a collision course as both sides get ready for the most epic battle yet, while Nova and Adrian are getting closer to each other. Can both of these realities exist at the same time?

A satisfying conclusion to the Renegade trilogy, Supernova will still leave fans craving for more!

Archenemies

Meyer, Marissa. Archenemies. Book 2 of the Renegades series. 2018. 471p. ISBN 9781250078308. Available at FIC MEY on the library shelves.

As an Anarchist named Nightmare, Nova was feared for her ability to put people to sleep just by touching them. In Renegades, Nova wanted to wreck revenge on those she holds responsible for her parents and her sister's deaths. With her fellow Anarchists, she developed a plan that involved entering into Renegade service. After successfully completing trials, Nova took the name Insomnia and she joined the ranks of the law-enforcing Renegades, a group of prodigies who possess super powers. Her plan was simple. She would discover where they keep the helmet of Ace Anarchy, the super villain that almost destroyed Gatlon City, who happens to be her uncle. 

As Insomnia, Nova was assigned to Adrian's squad. Adopted by Captain Chromium and the Dread Warden, Adrian is known as Sketch, as his drawings come to life, and he is both respected and loved. Nova was tasked with making Adrian fall in love with her, so that she could gain access to secrets and inside information. 

But both Nova and Adrian have secrets. As Nightmare, she wants to destroy the Renegades. Adrian, for his part, is the Sentinel, a prodigy who's wanted by the very Renegades that he leads. When they both learn that the Renegades have developed Agent N, a neutralizer that removes a prodigy's powers, they both realize that the dangerous game they have been playing has just turned deadly. With the line between good and evil never clearer, both Adrian and Nova must make choices that will change their lives and their feelings for each other forever ...

The story concludes in Supernova.

The Last Command

Zahn, Timothy. The Last Command. Book 3 of the Star Wars: The Thrawn Trilogy. 1993. 467p. ISBN 9780553091861.

In Dark Force Rising, Grand Admiral Thrawn displayed masterly tactical skills, employing his dark Jedi to facilitate the destruction of the New Republic. Having gathered to him what was left of the Imperial forces. and having recovered the technology to once again clone soldiers, Thrawn is making a bid to restore the Empire. With Princess Leia pregnant with twins and barely holding the Alliance together, Hans and Luke are tasked to once again reverse a hopeless situation.

While Hans gathers smugglers and criminals, with the plan of making one last stand against Thrawn, Luke leads a small team inside the cloning facility with the aim of destroying it and cutting the flow of Imperial soldiers. But with the Emperor's assassin still on the loose, and a dark Jedi to contend with, Skywalker might finally have met his match!

A vivid conclusion to what should have been the trilogy that followed Return of the Jedi, The Last Command delivers fantastic action, plenty of space battles, and a satisfying conclusion. Fans of Star Wars will love this book!

Dark Force Rising

Zahn, Timothy. Dark Force Rising. Book 2 of the Star Wars: The Thrawn Trilogy. 1992. 439p. ISBN 9780553085747.

With the destruction of the Empire and the rise of the New Republic, imperial forces have regrouped following the events of Heir to the Empire. Under the leadership of Grand Admiral Thrawn, imperial forces have concocted a plan to restore the Empire. Employing a former Jedi to coordinate attacks, Thrawn has taken no chances and has surrounded himself with loyal bodyguards who are immune to mind control, as well as plants that prevent the former Jedi from manipulating him. Using information fed from the New Republic senate, his forces are on the move, looking to strike at the New Republic and probe its defenses.

Han Solo and Lando Calrissian have been tasked by Princess Leia to find out where the vital information that is being fed to Thrawn is coming from. Someone, or a small group of people, have infiltrated the New Republic and are leaking its most important secrets. Looking for evidence, Han and Lando cross the galaxy, only to discover that a large fleet warships has been assembled, ready to deliver doom to the nascent New Republic.

Meanwhile, Thrawn's former Jedi serves the Grand Admiral for his own reasons, hoping to corrupt Luke Skywalker the way Darth Vader was unable to do. And at the same time, the Emperor's assassin, who survived the collapse of the Empire, seeks Skywalker herself, so that she can avenge the death of her Emperor and fulfill her last mission. 

As Thrawn moves his forces throughout the galaxy, the leaders of the New Republic are in a race for their own survival!

The story concludes in The Last Command.

Bloom

Oppel, Kenneth. Bloom. Book 1 of the Overthrow series. 2020. 313p. ISBN 9781524773007. Available as an audiobook from Overdrive.

What if an alien invasion of Earth was done by plants? Petra is allergic to water. She breaks out in hives and is in danger of dying anytime water hits her skin. Imagine being a teenager and not being able to swim, or even to take a shower. Anaya has wicked asthma, and can barely breathe. She's always been sick, or on the verge of being sick. Seth has gone through more foster families than he can remember. In his dreams, he has wings and can fly. It's a persistent dream that never goes away.

All of them live on an island on Canada's west coast when a black rain comes from the sky. That rain strikes everywhere around the globe at the same time. Petra is hit by some of the water as she rushes into the car, but notices that she is not hurt. In fact, the water feels pleasant. Petra bottles some of it, and uses it to take her first bath in forever. Anaya's asthma clears up, and she can now breathe. Life for both girls, who used to be friends, is now looking up.

Except that the next day, strange seeds start to sprout everywhere, rising up as black vine plants that twine around trees and houses. These are difficult to cut, grow insanely quickly, and smell of petroleum when burned, causing toxic fumes. Reports come from around the world that more and more plants are spreading around. The plants bloom, releasing a pollen that is deadly to some people. They also form pods that resemble Venus flytraps, except that they like to consume humans through dissolving them in acid. 

But Anaya, Petra, and Seth appear to be immune to the toxic plants. They can still get grabbed, they can still get hurt, but the pollen does not affect them, nor the plant's digestive acid. Why would three Canadian kids be immune to a plant no one has ever seen before? With time ticking as the plants spread and cause destruction, these three high schoolers must discover a solution to save Earth before it is too late ...

Fans of suspense and of end-of-the-world stories will appreciate this fast-moving tale of destruction and despair as Petra, Seth, and Anaya navigate treacherous high school waters as well as attempting to save the world!

Witch & Wizard, Vol. 1

Patterson, James, with Gabrielle Charbonnet, with art by Svetlana Chmakova, Witch & Wizard, Vol 1. 2011. 259p. ISBN 978-0-316-22989-4. Available in the graphic novels section of the library. 

Whit and Wisty are normal teenagers, living at home with their parents. When the New Order takes control of the government, police immediately descend on their home and arrests them for being a witch and wizard. Neither of them understand what is happening to them, but Wisty ignites herself, hurting someone of the officers. Hauled in front of a judge, they are sentenced to death, which can only be done once they reach 18. 

While in jail, they are oppressed and experimented on, and suffer at the hands of merciless guards. Receiving help from Whit's girlfriend, who is caught in the Shadow lands, they manage to escape and they join a group of teens dedicated to freeing other victims of the New Order. Driven to save their parents, both Whit and Wisty must learn to manage their nascent powers while avoiding the traps laid out for them by a merciless regime looking to exterminate all of those who possess magic...

Crank Palace

Dashner, James. Crank Palace. 2020. 166p. ISBN 978-1626015678.

The Maze Runner series features a lot of memorable characters, but one of the most compelling was Newt, who eventually dies in The Death Cure. But the time Newt leaves the Berg to the time he is found by Thomas was left unexplained. Until now. In Crank Palace, Newt escapes the Berg, intent on not letting his friends see his descent into madness as the Flare begins to eat his brain. He soon meets Keisha and her young son Dante in the suburbs of Denver. They try to escape the Cranks, those who are far too gone with the Flare, and those who are infected and already showing signs of madness, but the three of them are captured by agents of the government and, despite killing one of the agents, are shipped to a place called Crank Palace, instead of being executed.

It soon becomes clear to Newt that his reputation as being one of the Maze Runners has already reached the Palace, and it seems that someone important is eager to keep him alive as long as possible. A riot at the Crank Palace forces the staff to evacuate, and the residents take the opportunity to flee. Keisha has an old cellphone that still works, and she's received word that her brother and her daughter are safe in a suburb of Denver. Newt agrees to go with them to make sure that they arrive safely. WICKED is not quite done with Newt however, and as the Flare progression gets worse, Newt will have to confront his worst enemy one more time ...

Told from Newt's perspective, Crank Palace opens a window into the mind of a Flare victim. Newt fights his demons as his mind sinks away from him, giving the reader a bittersweet opportunity to once again spend time with a beloved character. Fans of The Maze Runner must read this story to round up their view of Newt and his friends!

Infinitum

 Fielder, Tim. Infinitum. 2021. 288p. ISBN 9780062964083.

The political marriage between King AjA Oba and of Queen Lewa resulted in the most powerful state on the African continent. United together, Oba's military skills and his physical strength, coupled with Lewa's political savviness, led to an era of prosperity and relative peace, and their names were known throughout the ancient world, from the Olmec in Central America to the Babylonians in the east. Unfortunately, the two of them were not able to conceive, so with Lewa's permission, Oba turned to Obinrin, a powerful witch, and together they had a child. When the child aged, Oba came to collect him, but Obinrin refused to turn him over. Oba kidnapped his own son and had Obinrin killed, but she cursed him that he would survive past the death of his loved ones.

Oba and Lewa lived a long time, watching their son grow and become a powerful ruler. Whereas Lewa and everyone around him grew old, Oba remained ageless, and soon saw the death of both his wife and his son. Oba's heart was crushed and he grieved for ages as his empire slowly crumbled around him. When his kingdom finally fell, Oba realized the extent of Obinrin's curse. He would live forever, and he could not be killed. 

Oba became a pilgrim, traveling the world and lending his strength where it was needed. He assaulted Rome with Hannibal, fought imperial wars in Africa, was enslaved and went to the United States, freed slaves, fought in the civil war, went back to Europe during the First World War and the Second World War, fought in Vietnam, and in Desert Storm. Throughout all of it he met people he loved, only to watch them die. Numbed to violence, Oba turned to the stock market and became rich, playing the long game. When faster-than-light travel was discovered, Oba turned his prodigious financial resources to building a new society on a faraway planet. Unfortunately, conflicts with aliens caused more destruction, and Oba once again found himself fighting, this time for humanity's very survival.

Dune

Herbert, Frank. Dune. Book 1 of the Dune series. 1990. 535p. ISBN 978-0-329-05537-0. Available at FIC HER on the library shelves.

Duke Leto Atreides represents an ascending House in the Imperium, and his strong military is perceived as a menace by the Emperor. Hatching a plan to get rid of this troublesome House, Duke Atreides is given command of the planet Arrakis, once controlled by House Harkonnen. Arrakis is important because this is where spice is harvested. Spice enables space navigators to travel the stars, and he who controls the spice trade sits on a colossal fortune. Following the transition of power, Harkonnen troops, assisted by imperial elite units, will attack Arrakis, eliminate Atreides, and allow the Emperor to avoid the appearance of choosing sides.

Sensing a trap, Duke Leto nonetheless accepts the command, as he hopes to strike an alliance with the Fremen, the fanatical inhabitants of Arrakis. He moves to Arrakis with his concubine, Jessica, and their son, Paul. Accompanied with military experts, they take control of the planet and foil several Harkonnen assassination attempts. Undermined from within, Duke Leto succumbs during a surprise attack, and the Atreides are defeated at the hands of Baron Harkonnen. Paul and Jessica escape into the desert, and soon join forces with the Fremen. 

Acclaimed as the savior, Paul soon takes control of the Fremen, and leads them into an assault on the Harkonnens and the imperial troops. 

One of the best science fiction adventures, Dune is part political treatise, part philosophy, part religious allegory, and a whole lot of adventure. Fans of gritty space stories will appreciate Paul's drive to survive and defeat his enemies while understanding his struggle to accept his destiny as savior.

1984: The Graphic Novel

Orwell, George, adapted and illustrated by Fido Nesti. 1984: The Graphic Novel. 2020. 224p. 978-0-358-35992-0.

Winston has grown in Oceania, one of the three super states that succeeded the myriad of countries and that are now in perpetual war against each other. The Party, guided by Big Brother, dominates all thoughts, actions, and beliefs. The Thought Police is everywhere, listening in to all conversations, spying on everyone all the time. A worker in the Ministry of Truth, where he modifies historical records to ensure they match the current predictions of the Party. The Party must always be right. But Winston harbors doubts, and he knows that the Party is not correct. He's even seen evidence of this. So Winston has to live with doublethink, the ability to think one thing and its contrary simultaneously. 

When he meets Julia, Winston instantly dislikes her. She has too much Party fervor, she's too much of a zealot. Soon, however, Winston discovers that Julia is nothing of the kind. Like her, she's hiding her true feelings and her thoughts as best she can to passively resist the Party. When they are given the opportunity to rebel, both of them take it knowing full well that it can only end in death. However, the two lovers must do something to fight off the totalitarian power of Big Brother!

A great graphic novel adaptation of 1984, this book manages to convey the despair and darkness of the world in which Winston and Julia live, and eerily demonstrates how relatively easy it would be to slip into a totalitarian system without knowing it. Readers who are interested can read a review of the book here.

Champion

Lu, Marie. Champion. Book 3 of the Legend series. 2013. 369p. ISBN 9780399256776. Available at FIC LU on the library shelves.

Having thrown their support to the new Elector in Prodigy, June and Day are separated once again as the disease that is progressively killing Day is making any lasting relationship impossible in his mind, and he does not explain himself to June. When the Colonies attack the Republic with the help of the African Republic, the Republic finds itself isolated and vulnerable. The introduction of a mutating plague first engineered by the Republic to attack the Colonies, and instead deployed back to harm the Republic is ravaging the population. Facing these dual threats, the Elector is forced to ask Day to let his scientists examine his brother once again, something Day vehemently refused before.

As the Colonies' military power overwhelms first Denver, and then Los Angeles, the Republic finds itself in a race against time, for Antarctica, the world's prominent power, will come to the Republic's aid only of a cure to the virus is developed. During the attack on Denver, Captain Jamesons and Thomas both escape from their death sentences, and June and Day become the hunted.

With the Republic ready to collapse, can Day once again summon the people to aid the Republic in stopping its enemies before it is too late? Can Day and June secure a happy future together, or does their history doom any chance at love they might have had?