Atherton House of Power

Carmin Patrick's new series Atherton introduces readers to the satellite world of Atherton. The first book, House of Power, tells us about Edgar from the grove. Edgar is a climber and he's trying to climb up Atherton. This is only possible because Atherton isn't like earth. Instead of being round Atherton is more like a three layer cake, with each layer getting smaller. Edgar lives in the grove (the second layer) and his climb up the side of Atherton will change everything in his life. Edgar learns more than he expected about Atherton from his climb up and later from his climb down. Atherton is changing and the people living on it are going to have to change too. The series continues with Rivers of Fire and the soon to be out Dark Planet. House of Power is a 2009-2010 Truman Nominee

Twilight readers check out Hunger Games

Okay, first of all it's not about vampires. But give it a chance, after all Stephanie Meyer couldn't put it down when she read it. The Hunger Games is the story of a future where one group of people living in the capital controls everyone else living in the twelve districts. Each year the Hunger Games are held. One boy and one girl from each district participates in the games, fighting the other tributes to the death. The winning child wins riches and foods for themsleves and their district.

Katniss the main character volunteers to go in place of her younger sister to 74th Annual Hunger Games. Will she survive or die? How can she defy the capital? What will happen if she does? These are the questions that will keep you racing through the pages and begging for the sequel, Catching Fire, due out in September.

If you do read The Hunger Games and can't wait for September, check out Scholastic's page for more to do.

What if a major catastrophe occured and your whole life changed?

I recently woke up after a late night reading Susan Beth Pfeffer's book "Life As We Knew It" and had to remind myself that I had electricity.

Curious?

If you have ever asked yourself what if life as we know it ended, this is the book for you. I couldn't put the book down, and when I did I had to remind myself that I wasn't living in the world Susan Beth Pfeffer creates for her main character Miranda. You'll find yourself wondering what you would do to survive if electricity was gone, food was unavailable and you didn't know if help would come.

Once you read "Life As We Knew It" be sure to pick up Pfeffer's companion book "The Dead and the Gone". It occurs at the same time as the events in "Life As We Knew It" but in a different location in the United States.