Julia Balder 808                                Hunger Games Response                   November 19, 2014

            The first book in the trilogy, The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins is the banned book I read.  This book is about two 16 year olds who were chosen at District 12’s reaping of the 74^th  Annual Hunger Games.  The Hunger Games, which is a fight to the death that contains 24 kids from ages 12-18 years old.  It was created after the uprising in District 13.  District 13 and everything and everyone in it were killed because of their act of treason by rebelling against the capital.  The capital made these “games” to remind everyone not to rebel and the killing symbolizes what would happen if they did.  The contestants kill each other till one person is left; this person gets wealth and fame.  To get selected for the Hunger Games your name is put into a glass ball, based on your gender, at the reaping the two contestants from each District are selected, one girl and one boy.  Your name is put into the mix with the other kids of your gender starting at age twelve and each year until you reach your final reaping before adulthood (when you are 18 that is the last time you can be put into the mix) your name is added and additional time each year.  The two contestants selected, from District 12, Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark, go through a series of trials fighting for their lives.  Katniss has such an important role in her family and why she is in the 74^th Hunger Games.
            Katniss has an important reason to accept her fate, her family.  If you are selected for the Hunger Games than you have one more chance to be saved if you are selected by having your name be pulled out of the glass ball, another person of that gender is able to volunteer as tribute.  In Katnisss’ situation that isn’t possible.  Originally Katnisss’ younger sister, 12 year old Primrose Everdeen was selected at the reaping as the girl tribute.  Katniss being the older sister she is says, “I volunteer!’ I gasp. ‘I volunteer as tribute!”  This shocks everyone and now Katniss is forced to go because no one can be a volunteer for a volunteer.  Katniss puts herself in this role to protect her little sister from dying in the games.  In District 12 no one has volunteered for some one else in the past 73 years that the “Game” has been around.  This shows the love that Katniss has for her sister and how she would die for her.  Katniss is a loving family member and really does care.
             Katniss is also important in her family for the role she plays in it.  For a time after Katnisss’ father had died in a mine explosion her mom was grieving for a long time and wasn’t staying focused and getting what her children needed.  Katniss had taken up hunting, which requires crossing the “fence”; a fence that is supposed to be electrified 24/7.  The book says, “Trespassing in the woods is illegal and poaching carries out the severest of penalties.” Katniss still crosses the fence and kills animals for her family to eat.  She is the one to provide food for her family since her dad has died and it is very hard to get money to buy food.  This quote shows how much she cares for her family, risking her life just for Prim and her mom to eat every night.  Katniss also signed up for tesserae; when you get extra grain and oil every month, as a result of signing up you put your name in the reaping ball extra times every Hunger Game because you are getting supported by the government. She would rather die knowing that her family had enough to eat every day. Again Katniss is risking her life just so her family can eat and function every day. This shows her personality and character, a carrying young girl who wants what is right for her family. 
            Overall, Katniss is the older sister always trying to help her family out and lend a hand.  Suzanne Collins creates the main character, Katniss, as a carrying girl who wants to do right by her mother and sister.  Katniss, the girl who risks her life every day just so her family can eat and try to live a normal life.  Collins did a wonderful job on creating this character and this book.  This book really teaches people that you can’t just rely on your parents and that once in a while do something by yourself without the help of an adult, guardian, or parent.

Julia Balder 808                                                                                       October 27, 2014

                                       Young Adult Book Reading Response

            "Susannah was like a second mom to me." In the book, The Summer I Turned Pretty, by Jenny Han, Susannah is the parent you wished you had.  The character Susannah, otherwise known as Beck, has the role as the main characters mothers’ best friend.  She owns the beach house where her kids and the main characters family live during the summer.  The main character has always gone to the beach house for every summer of her life, Susannah has always been there waiting for them to arrive.  Susannah is an important character in people’s lives.          

            Susannah is always kind and caring towards her family, friends, etc. In the book it says, "When did you go and grow up? When did you turn into this phenomenal women?" Susannah shows love and compassion to every one and compliments people. It says something about your personality when you compliment everyone, with Susannah her personality is so nice and fun.  The book describes her as a friendly person always doing right by her children. The book takes place over the summer and the main character doesn't know winter Susannah and she always imagines Susannah like the summer but with down coats and hot chocolate rather than shovels and buckets. The story also says, "I'm offering up moral support to my best friend in the world," after being caught by her children smoking. This shows how Susannah is kind to her friends and loves them. This also shows how Susannah would do anything for her best friend and offers any type of moral support (in this case smoke pot).  This shows Susannah is a loving person and will do what is good for her and her family and friends around her.  Overall Susannah is caring to her family, friends, etc.

            Susannah is a warm loving and selfless person, she is a great person to be around.  The text says, "Summer doesn't start until our friends get here, Susannah said, reaching across the table touching my hand."  This shows how inviting and warm it would to be around Susannah.  The main characters family has always looked up to her, to Susannah Isabel once told her I wish you were my mother.  This shows how caring Susannah is and how she loves her friends.  The story says, "Susannah even tried to get one for the summer house, so I could practice (practice piano)."  Susannah was willing to get Isabel a piano just so over the summer she wouldn't fall behind.  Susannah really cares about the well being of other people before herself. This shows how she puts people before her and try’s to make everyone feel okay and at home at the summerhouse in Cousins.  Susannah would do anything for anyone if it meant their personal happiness.  This shows everyone that Susannah is a great person always putting others before her.

            Overall Susannah is a warm important character because she can bring out the best in people.  Susannah always wanted for people to be happy even if she didn't know them. I believe that Susannah would be a great teacher, always caring about the students, wanting them to be happy and have a fun way of learning.  The story always describes her so well and the author did that to make the character Susannah the mom you never had.  Susannah is the warm, friendly, kind character that you always knew would be something great.