An Inductive Leap Too Far

     In The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, the character Katniss Everdeen is a very strong main character and is a turning point in the plot multiple times throughout the book and series. For example, at the beginning of the book Katniss is put in the position of the care-taker of her family after her father's death in the coal mines. She has learned to hunt and has grown very useful skills throughout this time of despair illegally but it was called for. Just barely surviving as it was, The Hunger Games had come around again for yet another year of "entertainment". In the square where the tributes are being called (the reaping), Katniss' little sister is called as tribute. She is torn between the choice of taking her sister's place as a tribute and risking her own life or staying home and staying alive. (This is the inductive leap) After Katniss pondered this for a moment she had made her decision." "I volunteer!" I gasp. "I volunteer as tribute!" " (Collins, 22) She was then accepted to take her sister's place as tribute (a first in the history of the Hunger Games) to the Hunger Games and was joined by Peeta Mellark as the male tribute. Both scared for their safety and what will become of them, they are taken away. Closer to the end of the book there is another twist in the plot line that is caused by both Peeta and Katniss but is more strongly provoked and encouraged by Katniss. She had gathered some Nightlock berries, which are extremely poisonous berries to humans, along her way through the Hunger Games. When it's left between herself and Peeta and they have to make the choice of who is going to have to die neither of them can live w/ the fact that one will have to kill the other and go home alone. So Katniss remebers the pouch full of nightlock and creats a plan to trick the games keepers. (This is another inductive leap) " "Hold them out. I want everyone to see," he says. I spread out my fingers, and the dark berries glisten in the sun. I give Peeta's hand one last squeeze as a signal, as a good-bye, and we begin counting. "One." Maybe I'm wrong. "Two." Maybe they don't care if we both die. "Three!" It's too late to change my mind.I lift my hand to my mouth, taking one last look at the world. The berries have just passed my lips when the trumpets begin to blare." " Katniss' plan worked, Peeta and herself spit the berries out after they are announced as the first not one but two victors of District 12 to win the Hunger Games ever in the history of the Hunger Games! This is a huge turning point for the entire trilogy! This action has caused a revolt against the Capitol and has created alot of trouble to for Katniss, Peeta, the Districts and other characters who are introduced in the other books of the trilogy. 

Style

     In the first book of The Infernal Devices series; Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare it makes a good use of a symbol. In this case the symbol is the clockwork angel its self that was worn by Tessa's mother until she died. It has remained near and dear to Tessa since it was given to her, it's an odd piece of machinery. "Tessa could not remember a time when she had not loved the clockwork angel. It had belonged to her mother once, and her mother had been wearing it when she died. After that it had sat in her mother's jewlery box, until her brother, Nathaniel, took it out one day to see if it was still in working order." (Clare, 6)

     Its a unique piece of machinery that has been working for as long as Tessa's older brother can remember and still after the amount of time it had spent in the jewlery box. It's a tiny little thing, no bigger then Tessa's pinky finger and its made of brass in the form of an angel with a long flowing dress and a sword being held tightly at its chest with its eyes remaining  closed. It's wings are spanned outwards, and you can see the gears working in the wings. Nathaniel, gave it to Tessa after examining it thouroghly to see how it was still working, wether it was by winding it or long lasting batteries. It seems to have none of the things that could possibly keep it working.

     It's what keeps Tessa calm in her most dire moments, it brings her peace. When she goes to bed it puts her to sleep. Its a unique piece of machinery which i can only assume will play a much larger role as the story continues on.  

     

Social Issues

    
     The main social issue in "Strange Angels" by Lili St. Crow is the naivety of the innocent people in Dru's world. You see in this book their are two reality's. There is our reality; naive, violent, peaceful. The only thing we fear in our reality is lack of money or death. Dru's reality is pretty much a nightmare come true. "Hi. I'm Dru Anderson. My father went way out of wack after my mom died and now he travels around hunting things that go bump in the night, killing things you only find in fairy tales and ghost stories." (Crow, 19) Dru is special, she was born with 'the sight' as her Gran called it. Her father was also granted with this gift, they aren't the only one's with this gift. There is a group of people that have this that go on 'missions' to basically keep humanity safe. They act like guardians for humanity. They hunt the vampires, werwulfen, zombies, you name it! Few people are aware of the "Real World" as Dru calls it. The purpose of the naivety of the innocence in this story is basically the axis of Dru's life. She shakes her head at us who fear nothing but lack of money or death when what we really should be afraid of is those unexplainable sounds in the night or that eery feeling of being watched when you're alone. Without this in the book there wouldn't be much of a story, maybe a little action here or there but its there to make the book interesting. It guides you through Dru's life, through the eyes of someone abnormal.

Two Significant Elements From Catching Fire

    
     One significant element in the book "Catching Fire" by Suzanne Collins is Katniss Everdeen. She is a huge significant element to the book because you follow her through her journey, before, during and after the Hunger Games. All the emotions she goes through, all of her emotional battles, conflicts complications etc. She has a big part in the plot line to. For the most part she is the key to the plotline, she is the one who provokes all the conflicts, drama and complications. Being as she is the main character, some books are like this. In other books its often secondary characters or the villains that provoke the conflicts.  I am unable to find a quotation from the book that will present how she is so significant in the story line. Read the books and you'll understand what I mean.

     Another significant element in the book is the mocking jay. In the first book the mocking jay pin was given to Katniss as a gift from Madge just before Katniss was sent into the Hunger Games. Katniss survives the Hunger Games along with her partner Peeta. The mocking jay becomes a very big symbol in "Catching Fire". Not only in bird form but as a sign of trust. The mocking jay leads to clues and hope. It reveals to Katniss who to trust, who her supporters are. It gives her hope that the Capitol may be able to be brought down, possibly easier then how things are beginning to look. The more she looks around, the more mocking jays she sees as a fashion statement but if she looks closer she finds those special mocking jays that only she can see.
      "It means we're on your side," says a tremulous voice behind me. (Collins, 139)

Collins, Suzanne. The Hunger Games. U.S.A: Scholastic, 2009. Print.

Katniss; 1. Brave: someone ready to face danger. Synonyms: Courageous and valiant. Antonyms: Fearful and timid.
              2. Strong: someone who is powerful both physically and/or mentally. Synonyms: Powerful and tough. Antonyms: Weak and fragile.
              3. Fighter: someone who does not easily admit to defeat. Synonyms: Winner and warrior. Antonyms: Loser and peacemaker.

     Katniss is both brave and strong because when she is waiting in the town square to hear the names of those unfortunate souls who have been chosen by random to participate in the Hunger Games the odds were not working in her favor. Her little sister Prim's name is called out, a 1 in a thousand or more chance and it had to be her sister. Katniss volunteers to take Prim's place in the hunger games because Prim is all Katniss has left. As others are being called upon, Katniss stand on the stage staring out at the crowd showing no emotion despite how much she wants to break down and cry at that moment.

       ""Prim!" I don't need to shove through the crowd. The other kids make way immediately allowing me a straight path to the stage. I reach her just as she is about to mount the steps. With one sweep of my arm I push her behind me. "I volunteer!" I gasp. "I volunteer as tribute!"" (Collins, 22)

       "He's disgusting, but I'm grateful. With every camera trained on him, I have just enough time to release the small, choked sound in my throat and compose myself. I put my hands behind my back and stare into the distance" (Collins, 25)

Identifying and Sorting

Characters, suspense, a simple plot, conflict and a swift conclusion. The characters in my story are lacking in explanation I think. I know they are Jedi but I never know how they became Jedi, what their backstory is or how they found the force. Despite this I am always engaged because I want to find out more about the character and their journey as a Jedi Knight. "Jori Daragon watches from the crowd, her thoughts more on the gaurdian Jedi then the Emperess herself" (Kevin J. Anderson, unknown)

Identify

Three qualities that I would expect from a good book would be; suspense, a good plot/story line and adventure. Personally I would want a book to take me somewhere I have never been before. Currently "Uglies" by Scott Westerfield contains all three of these qualities. Tally is has finally discovered The Smoke and is about to betray her friend Shay. She hesitates, will she really betray a friend to become a Pretty? Is Tally really that kind of person? I am so far enjoying this book and i'm looking forward to reading farther to see what Tally does next.