The Hunger Games (The Hunger Games Series #1) by Suzanne Collins

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is an incredible book! I had heard about it from some friends that teach middle school and they told me that I had to read it. So, I decided to give it a whirl and a day later I had finished it and was jumping into the second book.

The whole concept of children entering into an arena with the purpose of kill or be killed, and to be the winner of the Hunger Games was riveting. I read this as the Winter Olympics were taking place and immediately found a connection to the ceremony of the Hunger Games to the Opening Ceremonies of the Olympics. The difference between the two being death.

This book is fast-paced and uncomfortable. It makes the reader question humanity and a world where the Capitol rules and demands tributes from each of twelve districts. It takes place in the future and the US has divided into twelve regions (districts). Each specializes in something needed by the Capitol- the ruling party of Panem. The President of Panem, President Snow is an evil man, and for the Capitol to maintain its power and control over the people, they require two tributes, one male and one female child (age 12-18) to enter the reaping. Each district holds their reaping day and pull names of the two tributes.

These two young people are then taken to the Capitol where they are cleaned up and presented to all of Panem via television. All residents of Panem are required to watch the games as they serve as a reminder to the people that the Capitol rules.

This all happened because District 13 decided to rebel against the Capitol and the Capitol destroyed district 13. As a threat to the people of Panem, the Hunger Games exist.

The majority of the book is gripping and I couldn't read it fast enough. The ending is superb and made me HAVE to read the second book "Catching Fire" immediately. If you haven't read this yet, you must get a copy before the movie is released (yes... they are making it into a movie). I'd love to see Natalie Portman play Katniss. :)

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