A Waltz For Matilda by Jackie French

Title:               A Waltz For Matilda
Author:           Jackie French
ISBN:              9780732290214
Publisher:       Harper Collins
Published:      2010
Age Group:    Young Adult, Historical Fiction

Synopsis:

In 1894, twelve-year-old Matilda flees the city slums to find her unknown father and his farm. But drought grips the land, and the shearers are on strike. Her father has turned swaggie and he′s wanted by the troopers. In front of his terrified daughter, he makes a stand against them, defiant to the last. ′You′ll never catch me alive, said he...′

Set against a backdrop of bushfire, flood, war and jubilation, this is the story of one girl′s journey towards independence. It is also the story of others who had no vote and very little but their dreams.

Drawing on the well-known poem by A.B. Paterson and from events rooted in actual history, this is the untold story behind Australia′s early years as an emerging nation.

My Thoughts: 

Jackie French truly does have a way with words. She has delighted readers of all ages for many years and this book is simply superb as many have come to expect from this much loved Australian author.

One cannot help but be inspired by the strength and determination of Matilda as she leaves the only home she has ever known and ventures out into the outback in search of her father and a better life. The joy she finds is sadly cut short when her father dies in an attempt to escape the Troopers, leaving Matilda the owner of her fathers' small farm. Matilda refuses to give up on her fathers dreams for the farm and puts her heart and soul into the property. Along the way she experiences friendship, love and loss, as she fights for, not only her rights, but also the rights of her friends.


This book sends strong messages of the importance of equality and the importance of not giving up. With a descriptive writing style the reader feels as though they have been transported to the Australian outback and can feel the burning heat of the sun on their skin, smell the sweetness of the Australian bush, hear the gentle hum of the insects and see the beautiful golden, sunburnt country stretching out before their eyes.


A beautiful, historical tale that will be enjoyed by teens and adults alike.

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Title:               The Hunger Games
Author:           Suzanne Collins
ISBN:              978140109084
Publisher:       Scholastic
Published:      2009
Age Group:    Young Adult

Synopsis:

In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. The Capitol is harsh and cruel and keeps the districts in line by forcing them all to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV.

Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives alone with her mother and younger sister, regards it as a death sentence when she steps forward to take her sister's place in the Games. But Katniss has been close to dead before—and survival, for her, is second nature. Without really meaning to, she becomes a contender. But if she is to win, she will have to start making choices that will weigh survival against humanity and life against love.

My Thoughts:

This book is extremely hard to put down, it was a perfect choice for a read-a-thon book because it was so engaging and addictive. The action packed writing style kept the pages turning, with just enough description to really suck the reader in but not enough to make the violent scenes into a crazy, sadistic bloodbath.

Not only are the main characters likable and well written but also the secondary characters which is a welcome change. I have not read many books that have made me feel so connected to the feelings and reactions of the minor characters, it really made the story all the more intriguing.
The relationships of the characters were realistic and at times heartbreaking as friendships and alliances are forged only to inevitably be broken as the games progress. Trust, loyalty and friendship are major themes. 


Be warned though, this book is not for younger readers or the faint of heart, the whole concept of teenagers murdering each other (forced or not) is not going to be everyone cup of tea. It is a violent book, but it is not gory. 

 Suspenseful and intense, this book leaves you hungry for the next one in the series.

End of Event Meme

1. Which hour was most daunting for you? Hour 4 was the hardest for me, it was near on midnight and I had to have a sleep
2. Could you list a few high-interest books that you think could keep a Reader engaged for next year?
The Hunger Games really kept me going
3. Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Read-a-thon next year?
Nope.
4. What do you think worked really well in this year’s Read-a-thon?
Being my first read-a-thon I have nothing to compare to but the updates on the website were fantastic
5. How many books did you read?
Three and a half
6. What were the names of the books you read?
The Red Pony - John Steinbeck
Blackthorn - Elizabeth Pulford
The Hunger Games - Suzanne Collins
Catching Fire - Suzanne Collins (halfway through)
7. Which book did you enjoy most?
The Hunger Games, lots of action!
8. Which did you enjoy least?
Blackthorn
9. If you were a Cheerleader, do you have any advice for next year’s Cheerleaders?
N/A
10. How likely are you to participate in the Read-a-thon again? What role would you be likely to take next time?
Yes, as a reader again.

 I completed my goal of reading three books!
  Total number of pages read: 1040

Read-a-thon Update

It is now hour 18, I have just finished The Hunger Games and I am going to grab some lunch before diving into another book.

Books Completed: The Red Pony - John Steinbeck
                               The Hunger Games - Suzanne Collins
Total Pages Read:  574

Mid Event Survey

1. What are you reading right now? The Hunger Games - Suzanne Collins
2. How many books have you read so far? Completed one, working on the second
3. What book are you most looking forward to for the second half of the Read-a-thon? Catching Fire - Suzanne Collins
4. Did you have to make any special arrangements to free up your whole day? No
5. Have you had many interruptions? How did you deal with those? A few from daughter and hubby, just answered their questions.
6. What surprises you most about the Read-a-thon, so far? How fast the time goes
7. Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Read-a-thon next year? Not at this stage
8. What would you do differently, as a Reader or a Cheerleader, if you were to do this again next year? Get more sleep before the event
9. Are you getting tired yet? Not now, I already had a snooze!
10. Do you have any tips for other Readers or Cheerleaders, something you think is working well for you that others may not have discovered? No, but I am open to any suggestions from others!

Back To the Books

It is now hour 11, I must have slept longer than I thought, I am not surprised, I don't function to well without sleep. So my break lasted longer than I had actually intended it to but I am officially back and I am going to pick up where I left off.

Break Time

It is half way through hour 4. It is nearing midnight here and I am struggling to stay awake, so I am off for a break and to catch a few Z's, but I will be continuing when I wake up.

Books Completed: The Red Pony - John Steinbeck
Currently Reading: The Hunger Games - Suzanne Collins
Total Pages Read: 194