In the book "Life as we knew it", Miranda and her family go through the devistating events when the moon is knocked closer to Earth by a meteor. This effects the gravitational pull of the earth and causes massive weather changes. Miranda and her family live in a small town in Pennsylvania. All of a sudden, Miranda realizes that this whole moon thing is kind of a big deal. All her teachers are assigning papers related to the moon. On the day that the collision is supposed to happen, it seems that every one is on the streets looking up at the moon. After the collision happens, tidal waves wipe out the coastlines and many people loose electricity. Miranda has two brothers, John and Matt. Matt is out of town, leaving John to help with what Miranda calls "crazy shopping day". Miranda's mom found a grocery store that is charging $100 for one cart full of food and supplies. It doesn't matter what's in the cart. You just have to pay $100. Miranda's mom hands her an envelope with ten 50 dollar bills. She explains the plan to them, tells them what to get and to be quick. Everyone goes back and fourth dumping canned goods and other supplies in the car. Then on the way back to their home, Mrs. Nesbitt, a friend of the family, sees a strip mall. She suggest that they check it out. Miranda finds a antique store and decides that she is going to go investigate. The shop is open and she discovers 2 oil lamps. She buys those along with oil for them. Then, the family and Mrs. Nesbitt head show more back to the house to divide up the food. After everything is put away, they try to see if they can find any news. Without luck they all settle themselves on the couch. Later that summer, Miranda decides to go the pond to go swimming. There, she finds a boy from her swim team. They hang out and race and play around for a while. This continues for a week of so and before she knows it, she's falling in love with Dan. But he is leaving to head down south where things are SAID to be better. Later on she discovers that her best friend who is a very holy person passed away from starving herself. As the days grow hotter, water and rain is scarce. The prevent the event of freezing to death in the winter, her brothers go and chop fire wood in the woods. Miranda goes to see Mrs. Nesbitt, who tells her what to do when she dies and what she expects. Miranda promises to full-fill her wishes. When she passes, she takes everything she possible can use out of the house. Later on, her whole family ends up moving into the sun room where the wood stove is. This provides heat for them so they don't end up freezing. They end up getting half way through the winter, until Matt and Miranda's mom end up getting the flu. When they all regain strength, Miranda is almost 17. She looks back at her diary she has written and thinks about the person she used to be and the person she is now.

I really loved this book! I couldn't stop reading this book. The whole plot structure and the suspense kept me reading. I would definitely recommend this book to a person who likes to read. I cant wait to finish the series because I really want more of the story. It was very clever of the author, Susan. She planned every thing out perfectly! show less

The Hunger games tells the story of Katniss Everdeen who has volenteered to take her sisters place the in the annual Hunger Games. It all started when Katniss's sister, Primrose Everdeen, is selected to be the tribute in the games. Knowing tha Prim is only 12 and cannot fend for herself, Katniss takes her place. Katniss can hunt. She is very good with a bow and arrow. She hunts in the woods with her friend Gale. Althogh they are not supposed to go passed the electric fence, they go to bring back game to trade. When Katniss and her fellow tribute Peeta are sent to a room to wait, her sister Prim and her mother come to say their goodbyes. Prim tells katniss to win. Then she says good bye to her mother and they are forced to leave. Then, Gale comes in and gives her some advice to stay alive in the games. Then, the two tributes are sent on a train to the capitol. After two days when the train reaches the capitol, Petta and Katniss must participate in the tributes parade. Their stylist have prepared the best costumes to wear.. Black leotard type things that have fake flame for capes. The other tributes are jelouse. Peeta and Katniss must then go through training to prepare them for the games. They stay away from archery and wieght lifting so no one knows their strenths. Then after they have been trained, they must go throw evealuations. When it is Katniss's turn, she notices that the gamemakers don;t pay any attention to her. In anger, she shoots an arrow towards them and hits show more and apple that was in a pigs mouth, piercing it to the wall. Then she says "Thank you for your consideration" and walk out. To her surpise, she recived an 11 out of 12 for her evaluation "grade". Now the time hhas come for her to enter the arena. Her stylist Cinna carfully places the mockingjay pin on her jacket. On the aircraft, some woman gives her a shot, putting a tracker in her arm. When she is in the arena, the bell rings, and the games have begun. She spota a backpack ang runs into the woods. Inside there are basic tools needed for survival. She finds a tree and camps out there making it harder for people to spot her and kill her. The next morning she awakes to fire, and runs for her life. She get struck but a fire ball on her thigh. Then she runs to the safest place in hope that the people behind her in plans to kill her will get lost. Once the new rule os announced, she quickely finds Peeta and nurses him back to health in a hidden cave. Once he is strong enough to leave, they both make their way back to the cornacopia and kill the last tribute. To their surpise, the rules changed once again and there could only be one winner. Both agree to eat the poison berrys but the gamemakers change the rules again. This makes the capitol angry. At the end, Katniss and Peeta win the Hunger Games and return home.

I thought this book was amazing. I couldnt stop reading this book. I love the idea of the story and characters are are cool. I hope to re-read the book and the seris! I would really recomend this book for anyone wanting a good book to read. I really like thisook. I think everyone who reads it will. show less