Gregor the Overlander Series: The Code of Claw by Suzanne Collins

Make no mistake. Suzanne Collins' The Underland Chronicles are about war. The atrocities of war. The soul-crushing horrors of war. Which can be a little much for middle graders, except for the fact that this last installment wraps up the message so well.

Throughout the first four books, young Gregor has fallen into a world beneath New York city populated by humans, mice, rats and bats, then he found his lost father, nearly lost his baby sister and mother, and discovered that he himself is The Warrior featured in a prophecy surrounding the war between his new friends and the rats. A prophecy which states that The Warrior must die for the war to end.

Not too much to put on the shoulders of a 11 year old boy, but Gregor is a warrior. A rager, to be exact, which means he has an intensity of fighting that, once controlled, makes him the ultimate weapon. And in this final book, that weapon is put to the test.

Now, dealing with his feelings about the war, Luxa, Ripred, and the loss of many friends, Gregor continues his struggle to save Regalia from the Bane, even though he knows to do so means he will not come out alive (at least, according to the Prophecy of Time).

I am a huge Suzanne Collins fan and in The Code of Claw (May, 2007) she does a wonderful job of concluding the series in a touching, inspiring and optimistic way -- despite the violent last lap this installment takes.

Parents should note that these books are quite violent and action-packed, making them very appealing to young boys. This last one was the darkest of all five. But as the end is near, it becomes apparent that, for Gregor, it is darkest before the dawn.

I recommend this series with 4 bookmarks, but IMO it's more appropriate for the top end of the middle-grade set (closer to 12 than to 9).

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

I have a thing for post-apocalyptic thrillers. Always have. So I knew I was going to like The Hunger Games (Scholastic Press, 2008) by Suzanne Collins (author of the Gregor the Overlander series) just from the concept alone. But I didn't like it. I LOVED IT.

It's most definitely for teens, due to the subject. In this futuristic world, the Capitol keeps control of the Districts by requiring two of their children compete in the annual competition called The Hunger Games. It's basically a sadistic reality show, broadcast across the country. It's a fight to the death, and the last teen left standing wins. And gets to live.

Katriss is from the poorest part of District 12 called The Seam. When her beloved little sister Prim is chosen to participate in The Hunger Games during the reaping (shades of The Lottery by Shirley Jackson) Katriss volunteers to go in her place because she knows, the odds of winning The Hunger Games are slim. Such begins Katriss' life as a tribute, where she knows that her only way to survive is to kill all the other tributes from all the other Districts. Including the other tribute from her own.

I devoured this book, what a page turner! I can't even tell you anymore about the plot because it would ruin it. Collins paints such a vivid picture of what it would be like to be thrown into a survivalist situation, out in the middle of the woods, knowing you are being hunted... 

The second book in the series, Catching Fire, comes out in September.

A rarely given 5 bookmarks for this one. Sails right to the top of my all-time-favorites list.