Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Every year in the 12 districts tributes are selected to participate in the hunger games. In some districts kids have been training their whole life for the chance to be a tribute. In Katniss' district it is a guaranteed death sentence. The two tributes selected from each district are sent to an arena where they must kill each other in order to survive. The last person standing is declared the winner and given a comfortable life for the rest of his/her days. Katniss has no intention of participating but when her younger sister is called to serve as tribute she volunteers to go in her place. This is a great read!! The characters are well developed and the plot is fast paced. Highly recommend - Grades 8 - 12

Chasing Yesterday - Awakening

J.D. wakes in a hospital with no memory of how she got there. The doctors inform her that she has retrograde amnesia. She begins to have flashbacks of her former life. At times she is so overwhelmed by these visions that strange things happen. Glasses shatter and she seems to have incredible strength. Her mother arrives to take her home but it all seems unfamiliar. Can she learn to become the girl she used to be? Will she ever feel normal again? The adults in her life seem to fill her with unease and paranoia. Who is she and will she discover the answers she needs before it is too late?