2nd Quarter Reading List

Collins, Suzanne. Mockingjay. New York: Scholastic, 2010. Print.

After being rescued from her second time in the arena, Katniss Everdeen faces the biggest challenge of her life: being the face of a rebellion against the capitol. She feels so many pressures from Coin, the leader of District 13, and Heavensbee. She tries to be a good leader, but can't seem to get the acting right. So she is forced to get her propaganda footage in actual fight scenes. Peeta, her beloved friend, is still captured, and being tortured she is sure, by the capitol. Trying to do her best to be a leader, Katniss finds herself missing Peeta. She must do this for him. President Snow is Katniss's number one enemy. He is the one who put her through the pain of the hunger games and is now threatening and actually hurting the ones she loves. Katniss is determined to kill the evil Snow but can the rebellion be that successful? Katniss's character is one of immense bravery and strength. While on the outside she appears to be a little seventeen year old girl, she possesses the power to lead a country to fight it's leader. Loving and passionate towards her family, this is where she finds weakness; when those she loves are in harm.
(390 pages)

Griffin, Kathy. Official Book Club Selection: a Memoir According to Kathy Griffin. New York: Ballantine, 2009. Print.

I re-read one of my favorite books ever! Official Book Club Selection by Kathy Griffin. She has been one of my favorite comedians for a long time and i really appreciate her humor. In the book, she tells it like it is and doesn't spare any of the details. Even the rougher parts of her life like her plastic surgery battle and family issues are brought into daylight. While reading the book I just felt like Griffin was telling me a story herself. She used the same language I've become used to from watching her comedy performances and hit show My Life on the D-List. Kathy loves talking about her family. She is from Chicago and makes fun of her mom's accent throughout the whole book, quoting things like, "CHR-EYE-SSAKE!” Her struggle to fame is a great story and major part of the book. With her start at The Groundlings, an improve club, she worked long and HARD to be where she is today. She is talented to tell her story in a fun and humorous way. I love this book but would only suggest it to a more mature audience.
(331 pages)

Kinsella, Sophie. Shopaholic Ties the Knot. New York, NY: Dell Book, 2004. Print.

What girl doesn't dream of her wedding day? This is exactly what Becky Bloomwood has done for her entire life. She enjoys all girlie things like SHOPPING, being pampered, and having a wonderful handsome boyfriend, Luke. While living in New York and working as a fashion consultant at Barneys (the perfect job!!) Becky can't help but to be jealous of her best friend Suze who is getting married at home in Britain. Becky and Luke travel home for the fabulous event. Even though Becky is thrilled for her friend's lavish wedding, she can't help but to feel a pang of jealousy. These girls have gone through everything together, and Becky can't help but feel that she is being left behind. Romantically, Luke ends up proposing to Becky at Suze's wedding while all her family and friends are there. OMG! Becky can't believe this actually happened! She gets started right away looking at dresses, trying cake, every little detail that brides love to ponder over. Becky's mom immediately says she will throw Becky and Luke a wedding in their quaint little country home in Britain. Even though this is always what Becky had realistically imagined for herself on her wedding day, she can't help but to dream for a little more. After all, her fiance IS a millionaire! But she could never hurt her mother's feelings and reject the wedding she has waited her whole life to plan! Back in New York, Becky gets constant updates from her mother on the wedding plans. Just as she begins to become sure she made the right decision, Luke's mother steps into the picture. Luke's mother was mostly absent from Luke's childhood but Luke still seems to adore her just the same. Becky can clearly see, however, that he just desperately needs to have her approval. Not liking the woman too much herself, Becky is blown away by her offer; a fabulous wedding at the Plaza hotel!!!! It is just what Becky has always dreamed of! So glamorous and classy! Designers to transform the already beautiful ballroom into a magical ceremony site! Without hesitation, Becky accepts the offer for the wedding. After coming down from cloud nine, Becky soon realizes there is a major problem; she now has TWO weddings planned, for the same day! Realizing she really wants the New York wedding she calls her mother to deliver the news. So anxiously she listens to her mother go over every special little detail and hard work that she has already put in and Becky decides there is no way she could crush her mother's feelings like that! Ready to call off the Plaza wedding, Becky is swept off her feet by the designers willing to jump at her every wish to give her exactly what she wants. She simply cannot decide! So in typical shopaholic fashion she does the unthinkable: doesn't decide. She simply lets both wedding plans continue on for months without one set of planners knowing about the others. As the days tick down, Becky has no idea what she is going to do. How will she manage to get out of this one?
(407 pages)