Powell's Books In Portland, Oregon, Wins Scholastic Bookstore Contest Prize of Store Visit by Suzanne Collins, Bestselling Author of The Hunger Games Trilogy

NEW YORK, Oct. 21 /PRNewswire/ -- Scholastic, the global children's publishing, education, and media company, announced today that Powell's Books in Portland, Oregon, has won a store visit from Suzanne Collins, the bestselling author of The Hunger Games trilogy. Powell's was selected as the winner of a Scholastic in-store display contest in conjunction with the publication of Mockingjay, the final book of The Hunger Games trilogy. Participating bookstores were asked to create a display that reflects the look and spirit of Mockingjay. Powell's Books was chosen as the winner based on the overall creativity and style of their submission, and Collins will visit Powell's "City of Books" West Burnside location in Portland, Oregon, on Sunday, November 7, 2010.

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"We received a wide variety of creative and visually stunning entries to the Mockingjay display contest," said Rachel Coun, Executive Director of Hardcover Marketing, Scholastic Trade. "But Powell's entry, which included the centerpiece of a 17-foot cornucopia, really stood out!"

"A visit from The Hunger Games series author, Suzanne Collins, is better than birthdays and snow days!" said Suzy Wilson from Powell's Books children's team. "We are ecstatic for the legions of 'Mockingjay' fans in our area—many of whom waited for hours for the midnight release—to have won the Scholastic contest.  It is an amazing opportunity for all those passionate readers to meet their favorite author.  The celebration continues, and costumes are not required...but welcomed."

Mockingjay, the final book in The Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins, was published on August 24, 2010, and sold more than 450,000 copies (hardcover and eBook) in its first week on sale in the U.S., debuting at #1 on all national bestseller lists. Scholastic has since gone back to press for an additional 800,000 copies, bringing the total number of copies in print for Mockingjay in the U.S. to 2 million since publication.

In August Suzanne Collins, who was named among the 2010 TIME 100 Most Influential People, began a twelve-market North American tour to promote the release of Mockingjay. In her first bookstore tour since September 2008, Collins has already visited bookstores in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Massachusetts, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Washington, DC, Chicago, and Minneapolis/St. Paul. The tour will conclude in November 2010 with visits to bookstores in Northern California, Seattle, Vancouver—and now Portland, Oregon.

First published in September 2008, The Hunger Games was an instant bestseller, appealing to both teen readers and adults. It has appeared on the New York Times bestseller list for more than 100 consecutive weeks since publication, and there are more than 6.9 million copies of all three books in the trilogy in print in the U.S. to date (more than 2.9 million copies of The Hunger Games, more than 2 million copies of Catching Fire, and more than 2 million copies of Mockingjay).

The Hunger Games (September 2008), the first book in this futuristic trilogy for ages 12 to adult, was called "addictive" by Stephen King in a review in Entertainment Weekly and "amazing" by Stephenie Meyer on her website, capturing the imagination of critics and readers alike. The Hunger Games was named a New York Times Notable Book of 2008, a New York Times Book Review Editors' Choice, a Publishers Weekly Best Book of 2008, a School Library Journal Best Book of 2008, a 2008 Booklist Editors' Choice, a Kirkus Best Book of 2008, and a 2008 Horn Book Fanfare Book.

Catching Fire, the second book in The Hunger Games trilogy, was published September 1, 2009. It debuted at #1 on the USA Today bestseller list its first week on sale and simultaneously appeared at #1 on the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and Publishers Weekly bestseller lists. Catching Fire has been named a Time Magazine Top 10 Fiction Book of 2009, a People Magazine Best Book of 2009, a Publishers Weekly Best Book of 2009, a Booklist Editors' Choice, and a Kirkus Best Young Adult Book of 2009.

Mockingjay, the final book in The Hunger Games trilogy, was published August 24, 2010. In a starred review, Publishers Weekly raves, "This concluding volume in Collins's Hunger Games trilogy accomplishes a rare feat, the last installment being the best yet, a beautifully orchestrated and intelligent novel that succeeds on every level." The Los Angeles Times writes, "[Mockingjay] is nearly as shocking, and certainly every bit as original and thought provoking, as The Hunger Games. Wow." And The New York Times Book Review adds, "At its best the trilogy channels the political passion of 1984, the memorable violence of A Clockwork Orange, the imaginative ambience of The Chronicles of Narnia and the detailed inventiveness of Harry Potter."

Foreign publishing rights for The Hunger Games trilogy have been sold into 41 territories to date. Film rights for The Hunger Games have been optioned by Lionsgate, with Nina Jacobson's Color Force production company producing the film. The screenplay was written by Suzanne Collins and revised by screenwriter Billy Ray (24, Flightplan, Shattered Glass). Lionsgate and Color Force are currently meeting with directors, and production is targeted for early 2011.

More About The Hunger Games

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 other districts in line by forcing them to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight-to-the death on live TV. One boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and sixteen are selected by lottery to play. The winner brings riches and favor to his or her district. But that is nothing compared to what the Capitol wins: one more year of fearful compliance with its rules. Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives alone with her mother and younger sister, regards it as a death sentence when she is forced to represent her impoverished district in the Games. But Katniss has been close to death 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 weigh survival against humanity and life against love. Acclaimed writer Suzanne Collins delivers equal parts suspense and philosophy, adventure and romance, in this stunning novel set in a future with unsettling parallels to our present. For more information about The Hunger Games trilogy and to download digital images, visit http://mediaroom.scholastic.com/hungergames.

About Suzanne Collins

Suzanne Collins has had a successful and prolific career writing for children's television. She has worked on the staffs of several Nickelodeon shows, including the Emmy-nominated hit Clarissa Explains It All and The Mystery Files of Shelby Woo. Collins made her mark in children's literature with the New York Times bestselling five-book series for middle-grade readers The Underland Chronicles, which has received numerous accolades in both the United States and abroad. In the award-winning The Hunger Games trilogy, Collins continues to explore the effects of war and violence on those coming of age. Collins lives with her family in Connecticut.

About Scholastic

Scholastic Corporation (Nasdaq: SCHL) is the world's largest publisher and distributor of children's books and a leader in educational technology and related services and children's media. Scholastic creates quality books, print and technology-based learning materials and programs, magazines, multi-media and other products that help children learn both at school and at home. The Company distributes its products and services worldwide through a variety of channels, including school-based book clubs and book fairs, retail stores, schools, libraries, on-air, and online at www.scholastic.com.

SOURCE Scholastic Corporation

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