My Inspiration:Suzanne Collins

Suzanne Collins is an American television writer and novelist, best know as the author of The Underland Chronicles and The Hunger Games series. Collins was born on August 10, 1962 in Hartford, Connecticut. She attended high school at the Alabama School of Fine Arts. She graduated from Indiana University and majored in Drama and Telecommunications. She worked as a writer for many children's shows until she was inspired to write The Underland Chronicles. Later, she was inspired to write The Hunger Games series.

Suzanne Collins is one of my favorite authors of all time. I read all of her books and they are all amazing. She is my inspiration because she shows me that with inspiration and imagination anything is possible. She wrote some of the best books out of wild imagination and to me that is amazing.

Reading Response 7: I Heart You, You Haunt Me

For the last blog of this semester, I decided to read one of Lisa Schroeder book, I Heart You, You Haunt Me. This book is about a girl named Ava who is devastated by the recent death of her boyfriend, Jackson, who was killed when he jumped off a ledge into the lake, and hit his head on a rock below. All Ava wants is for him to be able to come back to her, for he had said he would never leave her. However, now she is not so sure. Ava is miserable and torn away from her so-called life. She no longer visits her friends; she goes to parties all the time, and sometimes do not do anything at all, but sit at home all day. Ava and Jackson were close before, but now far away…so she thought. One day, however, when Ava is looking in the mirror she sees a quick, faint flash of a familiar face--Jackson’s--. Is this really him? Could she be imagining it? You have to read the book and find out.

Here is an excerpt from I Heart You, You Haunt Me:

I'm putting on makeup. 

I'll be like a clown 

and no one will see 

the real face 

behind the mask.

I don't want Cali to see 

the sad me, 

the depressed me, 

the shamed me.

As I stand in the bathroom, 

carefully lining my eyelids 

bronze, 

I feel a splash 

of cool air.

I shiver.

I feel something. 

Something behind me. 

Something familiar. 

Hauntingly familiar.

I glance behind me, 

but I don't see 

anything. 

Or anyone.

And then, 

when I look in the mirror 

again, 

I see, 

for a split second, 

not just me, 

but someone else.

Jackson.

This excerpt is important because it sets the whole plot of the story. The rising action of this excerpt catches the reader’s attention. This book is very similar to one of the other books by Lisa Schroeder: Chasing Brooklyn. They are both very similar in plot, setting, and characters. Both books are about a death of a loved one and how the main character is struggling to regain his or her life back. The characters are both emotional, and mentally unstable because the death of his or her loved one has a dramatic affect 

Reading Response 6: Catching Fire

For this week’s blog, I have decided to do Catching Fire since I have already finished The Hunger Games. Catching Fire is the sequel to The Hunger Games. I must warn in advance to readers who have not read Hunger Games because this blog will reveal the ending to Hunger Games because that is where the book started. Catching Fire begins with the celebration of Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark’s win on the 74th Hunger Games at their home district: District 12. After several days of the celebration, Katniss and Peeta set out to start on their “Victory Tour” of all the districts and the Capitol. At the same time, announcements are made that 24 of the previous victors from the past will compete in the 75th Hunger Games. This is in honor of the “Quarter Quell”: an event that occurs every 25th year of the Games and allows the Capitol to introduce a twist. Once again, Katniss, Peeta, and all of their fellow competitors will have to fight for the game of their life.

Here is a passage from Catching Fire:

“Not only are we in the districts forced to remember the iron grip of the Capitol's power each year, we are forced to celebrate it. And this year, I am one of the stars of the show. I will have to travel from district to district, to stand before the cheering crowds who secretly loathe me, to look down into the faces of the families whose children I have killed”

This passage shows that the Capitol values the appearance of admiration rather than admiration itself. The admiration the people of the districts show to the “stars of the show” is all false. They don’t really admire the “stars of the show”, but rather secretly loathing them.

I really like Suzanne Collins’s writing style because throughout the novel, her descriptions of characters, plot, and setting are described very vividly to the point that readers can visually see the image. Her descriptions of imagery are amazing because whenever she describe foods, I can visually see, smell, and taste the image being described. She does an excellent job on characters as well because each character is unique and has its own realistic personality that readers can relate to.

Reading Response 5: The Hunger Games

For this week’s blog, I’ve decided to re-read one of my favorite books, The Hunger Games. The Hunger Games takes place in the post-apocalyptic nation of Panem, where the countries of North America once existed. Panem is separated into districts. The Capitol, a highly advanced city, controls the rest of the nation. The Hunger Games are an annual event in which one boy and one girl aged 12-18 from each of the twelve districts are selected by lottery to compete in a televised battle until one tribute wins. Katniss Everdeen, the main character, is a 16 years old from district 12 that has been supporting her family ever since her father died in a mine explosion. Katniss loves to hunt especially with her best friend, Gale. Before the reaping, Katniss went into the Meadow, a place where people of the district are forbidden to go. When the reaping begins, against all odds, Prim, Katniss little sister, is chosen to be the tribute. Katniss, then, volunteers to take her place. The boy tribute is Peeta Mellark. After that, the tributes say good-byes to their families and travel to the Capitol to compete in the Games of their lives.

Here is a passage from the Hunger Games:

“To the everlasting credit of the people of district 12, not one person claps. Not even the ones holding the betting slips, the ones who are usually beyond caring. Possibly because they knew me from the hob, or knew my father, or have encountered Prim, who no one can help loving. So instead of acknowledging applause, I stand there unmoving while they take part in the boldest form of dissent they can manage. Silence. Which says we do not agree. We do not condone. All of this is wrong. Then something unexpected happens. At least, I don't expect it because I don't think of district 12 as a place that cares about me. But a shift has occurred since I stepped up to take Prim's place, and now it seems I have become someone precious. At first one, then another, then almost every member of the crowd touches the three middle fingers of their left hand to their lips and holds it out to me. It is and old and rarely used gesture of our district, and occasionally seen at funerals. It means thanks, it means admiration, it means good-bye to someone you love.”

I think this passage where Katniss volunteers for her sister Prim is the most important within the novel because it’s very powerful how this moment is where it fully captures the reader’s attention and it sets the stage perfectly well for the novel. Katniss Everdeen is an incredibly unique character. She is strong, cunning, and very skillful. Katniss always puts her family before anything else, even herself. Throughout the novel, she remains a hunter and a survivor while being herself. 

Reading Response 4: This Lullaby

For this week’s blog, I’ve decided to read This Lullaby by Sara Dessen. It is about an eighteen years old girl named Remy who is about to leave for college. Her father who is a musician has died before she was born. Before he died, he wrote her a song called “This Lullaby.” Remy’s mother, on the other hand, is getting married for the fifth time to a car salesman. Consequently, love is something that Remy doesn’t believe exists, because in the past, the relationships she has been through have never lasted. One day, however, Remy randomly meets Dexter who claims to have felt a connection the moment he sees her. He is messy, and a musician, but very persistent. Soon, Remy finds herself slowly falling for him. But what makes him so different to all the guys she has dated? Will their relationship last or will it fall like the others? You’ll have to read and find out.

Here are the lyrics "This Lullaby":
This lullaby is only a few words

A simple run of chords

Quiet here in that spare room

But you can hear it, hear it

Wherever you may go

I will let you down

But this lullaby plays on...

"This Lullaby" is very important to this novel because not only does it contribute to the name of the novel, but it's building background of the novel. Without the song, "This Lullaby", the characters wouldn't act the way they do. Situations wouldn't make sense and there wouldn't even be a novel to begin with.

The main character, Remy, is a very detailed and realistic person. She’s very believable in how she acts like any average girls with her faults and weaknesses. The author is very honest from the beginning about telling the reader about her vivid description. Remy isn’t just described through the author, but through dialogues and the reader’s own interpretation of her as well.  Remy is very stubborn when it comes to rules, yet very headstrong and determined when it comes to her friends and goals. Remy is quite a unique character and Sara Dessen has done a wonderful job with her.

Reading Response 3: Chasing Brooklyn

For this week’s blog, I’ve read the book Chasing Brooklyn. It is about this girl name Brooklyn whose boyfriend, Lucca, has died in a car accident about a year ago. Her friend Gabe also has died from an overdose of drugs recently. Nico, Lucca’s brother, has been going through a tough time since his brother’s death and Brooklyn has been emotionally unstable because of their deaths. She can’t sleep or focus on anything. One night, however, Gabe’s ghost starts to haunt her wherever she goes and she doesn’t even know what he wants or why he’s haunting her. Nico, on the other hand, is been haunted by Lucca asking Nico to help Brooklyn. As Brooklyn and Nico’s lives merge, their friendship grows stronger; but will they be able to help one another? Can they trust one another enough to reveal that they’re been haunted? You will have to read the book and find out.

Chasing Brooklyn is written in verse and even though it‘s not written like a novel, it still captures all the important details that a reader needs in order to understand the plot. By writing in verse with lesser words, the message of each word is more powerful and meaningful than the one before it because it’s the foundation of the character’s description, the setting, as well as the impact of the character’s emotions. The author’s way of describing each character’s emotion is unique as well because the fact that it’s written verse, it’s always on the dot and you can understand and emphasizes with what the characters are going through.

Here is an excerpt from Chasing Brooklyn:
I reach the door and look behind me.
I see someone. 
Someone’s coming. 
Right behind me.

I turn the doorknob.
Locked tight.
My fist pounds on the window.
I pound and pound.
and open my mouth to scream.

Then, he’s there.
In front of me.

Gray skin with eyes
black as the darkest night,
and lips blood red.

He lunges for me
and I scream his name.

“Gabe!”

Reading Response 2: Matched

I’ve just started reading Matched and it’s about this girl named Cassia who lives in a futuristic government called the Society where everything you do it has already been decided for you. Every girl in the Society is Matched at the age of seventeen and on that day, they attend their Match Banquet, where they’ll feast and awaits for their Match. Cassia, the main character, has just been Matched with her best friend Xander. After the Banquet, Cassia has been given a silver box with a micro card that contains the background information of her Match. When Cassia plays the micro card, she discovers that the face of her Match is not Xander’s, so now she faces confusion between the two Matches

Here is a passage from the novel indicating Cassia’s insecurity:

“We always knew he would be Matched with another girl in another City, another Province. But he’s not. He’s Matched with me. I keep my finger locked in his as we walk toward the game center. Maybe, if I don’t’ let go, it will prove that we are meant to be Matched. That the other face on the screen means nothing; that it was simply a momentary malfunction of the micro card.”

I definitely think there’s a connection between this novel and The Hunger Games. Both novels are set in a futuristic type government where officials of the government control their citizens. The Society in Matched controls their citizens by deciding everything for them even not allowing them to make their own decision on who they should love. The Hunger Games, in contrast, also control their citizens by their annual Hunger Games to prevent any rebellion against the government of Panem.

Reading Response 1: A Dog's Purpose

A Dog's Purpose is told through the point of view of a dog. It is about a dog finding its purpose in life. The story begins with a puppy, its sisters, brothers and mother journeying through different parts of a city finding food and shelter. After a while, the family is separated and a boy named Ethan adopts the puppy. Ethan named the puppy Bailey and the story thickens as Bailey explores the new world around him as well as how to behave like a dog and being Ethan’s new best friend. Throughout the story, Bailey frequently asks himself of his whole purpose in life and as he grows up, he finds the answer to his question through all the people he loved. 

I love how this story is told through the point of view of a dog because I have never read a book that does this before. The author’s writing style is very unique because the texts contain descriptions mainly from the dog’s five senses: touch, smell, hear, taste, and sight. The author does a really nice job describing what goes on in the dog’s mind as well as the emotions. The imagery through the descriptions creates wonderful and vivid images for the reader. The texts rarely have any dialogues since it’s mostly descriptions and the most interesting aspect throughout this novel is that you can sense other people’s emotions and feelings through the dog. 

I strongly recommend reading this book because it’s really good and it’s so funny and sweet. The plot is planned out really well and it will keep you reading until the very end. It‘s also a bit sad as well, but other than that it’s a good book worth reading.

Here is a funny passage from the novel:

"When I discovered that the snow had drifted in a huge pile against the fence, I was delighted to climb right up to the top of mound and drop over the other side. It was a perfect night for an adventure. I went over to Chelsea’s house to see if Duchess was available, but there was no sign other than a fairly recent patch of urine-soaked snow. I thoughtfully lifted my leg on the area so she’d know I was thinking of her."