Katniss lives in what used to be the United States, but her world is very different from the one we inhabit. In this world, the continent is a country (or more of an empire, really) called Panem, split into 12 districts (once 13, but District 13 rebelled and was destroyed), with the first district being the capitol. Things seem to get progressively worse as the numbers of the districts increase. Katniss is from one of the far-out districts, where people starve to death.
One of the ways that the capitol reminds others of its dominance is the Hunger Games. These annual games can take place in any setting. They are televised throughout Panem, and everyone has to watch. It’s a fight to the death in some sort of wilderness setting, between two tributes (a teenage boy and a teenage girl) from each district, chosen by lottery. If any teenager in the poorer districts needs more food for herself or her family, she can get that–but she must pay with extra entries in the annual lottery.
Katniss has quite a few entries, and so is nervous. Her younger sister has only one. But it is Prim, her sweet, fragile sister, whose name is called, so Katniss finds herself volunteering, most likely giving up her life.
She’s got more going for her than she at first realizes, though. However, she’s up against Careers, tributes who have been training their entire lives for this. She’s up against the wilderness. She’s up against inhuman cruelty. Is it too much to survive? And on top of that, there’s the entire system that set this up. Will Katniss come out on top of the games? Will she outwit the others playing the game, or even its creators?
I’d heard a lot of buzz about Suzanne Collins’ latest book. I had heard that The Hunger Games was one of the best books of the year. And you know what? Sometimes that amount of buzz can mean a disappointing experience when actually reading the book. That’s not the case here, though.
I loved the characters. Katniss is a fantastic heroine, and the other characters were all quite interesting, too. I loved the romance. I loved the nonstop action. I loved Suzanne Collins’ picture of the future, with its eerie and frightening parallels to the present. I loved the suspense. I simply could not get enough of this book. And, luckily, it’s supposed to be the first in a trilogy! How much luckier could we get? I absolutely can’t wait to read the next two books. In six words: Adventure, romance, futuristic, suspense, pure awesomeness.
October 18, 2008 at 12:46 pm
The cover really put me off, but now I’m reading so many good reviews, I’ll have to give it a shot. Thanks for the recommendation!
October 19, 2008 at 1:24 pm
Pure awesomeness is 100% correct!
October 23, 2008 at 5:35 pm
I’m a middle school librarian, and based on the reviews I’ve read elsewhere, this seems like it would be a little too much for middle school, but then my 5th grade neighbor girl was raving on about it to me…Pure awesomeness it may be, but what’s the target audience?
October 23, 2008 at 7:33 pm
Mrs. F-B: I’d put it in a middle school library. It might be too intense for some middle schoolers, but a) I’m a fan of letting them decide that for themselves, and b) I’m giving it to my twelve-year-old brother when he’s done with his current book, and I’m conservative with what I give him (because my mother would be unhappy if he reported something too mature for him in a book from me). Perhaps not the target audience, but I think it works.
February 10, 2009 at 5:04 pm
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December 15, 2011 at 1:28 pm
i need six words desciribing this book for my book talk HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!@#$%^^*)(*%#@!@#$%^
March 20, 2012 at 5:03 am
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April 1, 2012 at 8:29 am
I’m about to finish the third book in the series MockingJay. The author is a screen writer for TV and the books read very similar to a TV show. Fast paced, on the edge of your seat, always some type of cliff hanger at the end of each chapter, and hard to put down. I’ve finished the first two books in three days.
What concerns me about the series is not the large amount of violence but the physiological warfare and propaganda used with-in the books. I don’t know if I’d want my tween or early teen to read this series until 15 or later.
How the the main charter plays with two boys hearts continuously, guilt trips, usage of people against each other / manipulation are all constant themes in all of the books. The positive side teaches determination, motivation, and survival. Take time to read the books and choose how or when you want your child to also read this series.
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