Fantasy+&+Sci+Fi 

Rowling, J. K. (2007). __Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows__. New York: Scholastic. I just finished reading this book for the second time, because the first time I read it at lightning speed as soon as it was released. Needless to say, after seeing the most recent Harry Potter movie, I reflected back and realized I had a very fuzzy memory of what happened in the final book. So, here goes: this is the final installment in the wonderful masterpiece that is the Harry Potter series. Harry, along with his pals Hermione and Ron, are mourning the loss of their beloved Hogwarts headmaster, Albus Dumbledore. Dumbledore's death at the hands of Snape triggers the rise of the Death Eaters, Dementors, and worst of all, Lord Voldemort. Chaos begins. Harry must go into hiding to escape death, all while trying to identify and destroy the remaining horcruxes. Horcruxes are objects that hold pieces of Voldemort's soul, thus keeping him indestructible. I really enjoyed this book, as I found myself thinking back to previous books, searching for hints at what the horcruxes might be. I felt like I was solving the mysteries alongside Harry and his friends. The book does have some lulls near the middle, where the excitement dies down and the plot plods along slowly. However, I found that these spots were necessary in developing the fascinating backstory of Harry's life and details surrounding his parents' deaths. As I read, I began to gain a sense of admiration toward J.K. Rowling because the story she has created around Harry is so richly detailed; she is a master writer who did not leave any stone unturned in the series. The story comes full circle and the last book had me reflecting on scenes in the first few books that were connected. I highly recommend this book to those who loved the previous books in the series. *Ms. Bowman*

Noel, A. (2009). __Evermore__. New York: St. Martin's Press. Book 1 of //The Immortals// series. Ever, age 16, just lost her family in a devastating car accident, and is left feeling alone and unsure of who she is. She moves to live with a relative and begins attending a new school. What's weird is that since the accident, Ever's dead younger sister has been "visiting" her! As Ever tries to cope with being the new kid in school, she also meets a cute guy, Damen. He is mysterious, charming, and interested in getting to know Ever. A relationship blooms, but along the way some really strange things happen; Damen's weird behavior, the ghostly sister, and the feeling that someone is out to get Ever. Little does she know, all these things end up being connected in an interesting way. I would highly recommend this book to a person who enjoys books with a good mix of mystery, relationships, and the supernatural. __Blue Moon__ is the second book in the series and is even better than the first! The third book in the series in due out November 17, 2009 and is called __Shadowland__. *Ms. Bowman*

Collins, S. (2008). __The Hunger Games__. New York: Scholastic Press. Book 1 of a trilogy. Where North America once existed lies Panem, a hierarchical system of twelve districts that is controlled by the Capitol. Katniss is a sixteen-year old girl who lives with her mother and little sister in the most remote of districts, District 12. Katniss is a strong, cunning character who fiercely defends her family and provides for them by sneaking past boundary lines to hunt for food, which is against the law. The Capitol is similar to what we would consider a modern-day city, complete with citizens who live in the lap of luxury while other districts fight to feed their families. For the amusement of the Capitol there is the annual Hunger Games, a challenge created to "punish" the districts for attempting an uprising against the Capitol many years ago. The Hunger Games' premise is simple yet brutal: One boy and one girl from each of the twelve districts is chosen to enter an arena full of challenges to accomplish one goal: to be the last person alive! To make things even more complex, the game is watched live on television by people in the Capitol for sport! Katniss bravely takes her sister's place in this year's games, and with Katniss and Peeta (the boy chosen from District 12) in the game, everything changes. This is officially one of my favorite new books. It has strong characters, a heart-racing plotline, and smart survival tactics. __The Hunger Games__ gives the reader a very insightful look at how society can become its own worst enemy. This book had me thinking about the not-so-wonderful intricases of social hierarchies, corrupt governments, and the negative role media often plays to keep an audience. I would recommend this to book to anyone who likes a heart-pounding adventure, but it is not for the faint of heart! There is violence and graphic scenes in parts of the story. The sequel is called __Catching Fire__. *Ms. Bowman*