MOCKINGJAY (Suzanne Collins) - October 29/10

The final book in the Hunger Games trilogy ensures that the series ends with a whimper, as the book is just relentlessly uneven, overlong, and anticlimactic. The book fares especially poorly in its first 200 pages, as Katniss and company are forced to live underground in a bunker - with this section of the story awfully reminiscent of The Host. The book does improve slightly as Katniss, Gale, Peeta, and the rest embark on their mission to assassinate President Snow, yet the bizarre (yet admittedly unpredictable) final 40 pages or so feels a little anticlimactic. (The big choice between Gale and Peeta turns out not to be a choice at all, as Katniss is effectively forced to be with Peeta after Gale basically just disappears.) It's just disappointing, is all, given how spectacularly entertaining The Hunger Games was. **1/2 out of ****

LITTLE HOUSE IN THE BIG WOODS (Laura Ingalls Wilder) - October 13/10

This affable book is basically enjoyable enough, though the relentlessly uneventful atmosphere is occasionally a little oppressive (ie I felt my eyes glaze over some of Wilder's more overtly descriptive passages). The characters are all quite personable and Wilder does a nice job of vividly establishing their meager yet fulfilling lives, so I'm certainly curious to check out the remaining books in the series. **1/2 out of ****

AFTER THE BOMB (Gloria D. Miklowitz) - October 12/10

It's really quite remarkable just how terrible this book is, given the seemingly can't-miss nature of its premise. But Miklowitz is simply unable to elicit any feelings of excitement or sympathy in the reader, and her less-than-competent writing style ensures that the book feels much longer than its 156 pages. A true waste. * out of ****

BRIDGE TO TERABITHIA (Katherine Paterson) - October 4/10

Much like the movie, I found myself interested by not exactly rapt during the book's midsection - which revolves around the central characters' growing friendship and their imaginary exploits in Terabithia. But the book becomes surprisingly compelling and quite moving once Leslie dies, with the final few pages packing an unexpected emotional wallop. *** out of ****