The Hunger Games

The Hunger Games
Suzanne Collins

'The Hunger Games' is a young adult novel set in a dystopian world. Katniss Everdeen is our heroine, and she's just been propelled into the deadliest reality TV show to ever exist. The narritive is fast-paced and tense, portraying the inhumanities of a totalitarian society in graphic detail.

Katniss lives in District 12 where the inhabitants work in the coal mines and spend their free time preoccupied with the sordid business of staying alive. Life is tough, and it is made even tougher by the annual event of the Hunger Games. The Hunger Games is a sport devised by the Capitol where two children are chosen at random from each of the 12 Districts which comprise Panem. Only one tribute from the chosen 24 will leave the Hunger Games alive. The 23 who don't escape will have their deaths, and the last of their lives, televised for the amusement of the Capitol. Katniss is one of the chosen 24....

'The Hunger Games' is an absorbing thriller which is great for getting teens reading. (It's great for adults too!) The characters are well drawn, the writing is solid and the plot is brilliant. You will be left wanting more.

Buy it here from www.waterstones.com or from your local bookshop.

PS. It's the first of a trilogy!
PPS. The sequels have already been published and are 'Catching Fire' and 'Mockingjay'. It's probably worth buying them all at once, rather than suffer from the suspense of waiting for the next installment.

The Wasp Factory

The Wasp Factory
Iain Banks

Mr Iain Banks' debut novel exploded onto the scene when it was first published. Critics condemned it as "vile" "repellent" "unpleasant" "sadistic" and as "a silly gloatingly sadistic and grisly yarn". (Interested yet?) 'The Wasp Factory' is also brilliantly written and utterly absorbing. And it's just had it's twenty-five year anniversary- it's certainly stood the test of time.

'The Wasp Factory' tells the tale of murderous teenager Frank, who is deeply superstitious with a bizarre and overactive imagination. Frank is almost a serial killer, with three murders under his belt at just sixteen. This is a deeply addictive story which shows the inner workings of his macabre mind. 'Ware the twists and turns of the novel, it will shock and surprise you.

Give it a go.... You'll (probably) enjoy it!

Buy it here from www.waterstones.com or from your local bookshop.

(Plus, I've met Iain Banks (when he was being Iain M Banks) and he was very sweet! And patient with my gushing about how awesome his books are.)