Although Suzanne Collins is still on top with The Hunger Games and Catching Fire, there are two newcomers to this week’s list: Hot X by Danica McKellar (a book about … algebra? Really?) and I am Number Four by Pittacus Lore. This book had gotten major buzz in the last few weeks — anyone read it yet?
| CHAPTER BOOKS | |||
| This Week | Weeks on List | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CATCHING FIRE, by Suzanne Collins. (Scholastic, $17.99.) The protagonist of “The Hunger Games” returns. (Ages 12 and up) | 49 | |
| 2 | THE HUNGER GAMES, by Suzanne Collins. (Scholastic, $17.99.) In a dystopian future, a girl fights for survival on live TV. (Ages 12 and up) | 100 | |
| 3 | THE RED PYRAMID, by Rick Riordan. (Disney-Hyperion, $17.99.) Ancient gods (this time from Egypt) and a mortal family meet. (Ages 10 and up) | 14 | |
| 4 | LINGER, by Maggie Stiefvater. (Scholastic Press/Scholastic, $17.99.) The teenage werewolves of “Shiver” face a new test of love and loyalty. (Ages 12 and up) | 4 | |
| 5 | HOT X, by Danica McKellar. (Hudson Street, $26.95.) A guide to conquering algebra. (Ages 14 and up) | 1 | |
| 6 | TALES FROM A NOT-SO-POPULAR PARTY GIRL, by Rachel Renée Russell. (Aladdin, $12.99.) The further reflections of Nikki Maxwell on the agonies of middle school; a “Dork Diaries” book. (Ages 9 to 13) | 9 | |
| 7 | I AM NUMBER FOUR, by Pittacus Lore. (HarperCollins, $17.99.) Unbeknowst to Earth dwellers, members of another civilization live among them. (Ages 14 and up) | 1 | |
| 8 | DORK DIARIES, written and illustrated by Rachel Renée Russell. (Aladdin, $12.99.) Reflections of a junior Samuel Pepys of the female variety. (Ages 9 to 13) | 18 | |
| 9 | THEODORE BOONE: KID LAWYER, by John Grisham. (Dutton, $16.99.) He may be 13, but he knows what to do when he encounters a murder case. (Ages 8 to 12) | 11 | |
| 10 | FALLEN, by Lauren Kate. (Delacorte, $17.99.) Thwarted love at boarding school. (Ages 12 and up) | 35 | |
| PAPERBACK BOOKS | ||
| This Week | Weeks on List | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | THE HUNGER GAMES, by Suzanne Collins. (Scholastic, $8.99.) In a dystopian future, a girl fights for survival on live TV. (Ages 12 and up) | 6 |
| 2 | BEEZUS AND RAMONA, by Beverly Cleary. Illustrated by Tracy Dockray. (HarperCollins, $5.99.) The movie tie-in edition of the midcentury classic. (Ages 9 to 12) | 9 |
| 3 | THE BOOK THIEF, by Markus Zusak. (Knopf, $11.99.) A girl saves books from Nazi burning. Excerpt (Ages 14 and up) | 152 |
| 4 | THREE CUPS OF TEA: YOUNG READERS EDITION, by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin. (Puffin/Penguin, $8.99.) A former climber builds schools in Pakistani and Afghan villages. (Ages 9 to 12) | 80 |
| 5 | THE ABSOLUTELY TRUE DIARY OF A PART-TIME INDIAN, by Sherman Alexie. Illustrated by Ellen Forney. (Little, Brown, $8.99.) A young boy leaves his reservation for an all-white school. (Ages 12 and up) | 68 |
| 6 | SHIVER, by Maggie Stiefvater. (Scholastic, $8.99.) Love among the lupine. (Ages 13 and up) | 10 |
| 7 | AERIE AND RECKONING (THE FALLEN, BOOK 2), by Thomas E. Sniegoski. (Simon Pulse, $9.99.) A boy comes to terms with his heritage. (Ages 16 and up) | 3 |
| 8 | THE FALLEN AND LEVIATHAN, by Thomas E. Sniegoski. (Simon Pulse, $9.99.) A half-angel, half-human hero girds for battle. (Ages 16 and up) | 3 |
| 9 | PINKALICIOUS AND THE PINK DRINK, written and illustrated by Victoria Kann. (Harper Festival/HarperCollins, $3.99.) Lemonade goes pink. (Ages 3 to 7) | 11 |
| 10 | THE FORBIDDEN GAME (THE HUNTER, THE CHASE, THE KILL), by L. J. Smith. (Simon Pulse, $10.99.) In this dark game, the humans prove to be the playthings. (Ages 12 and up) | 6 |
Novel Novice 
I bought I AM NUMBER FOUR … just haven’t read it yet. But it’s been getting so much buzz lately! Plus, Alex Pettyfer is in the upcoming movie version. (It’s still weird to me that they made the movie before the book even came out). And also, a story about aliens totally works for me. (I miss Mulder & Scully.)
I know! I had it in my hands two weeks ago (it wasn’t supposed to be on shelves yet, but there it was) but I put it back. If I had known Alex Pettyfer was in any way involved … 🙂 And yes, I wish there was an X-Files marathon on TV today!
I have all 9 seasons on DVD … but it’s been AGES since I watched it. You & I may have to indulge in a couple episodes post-Wordstock.