Catching Fire

Katniss' story continues in Catching Fire, Book 2 of the Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins.

There is quite a bit of retelling what happened in book 1. If you are reading these back to back you might not appreciate that, but if there's been some time between reading them you will.

The Hunger Games was recommended for ages 12 plus. Catching Fire is recommended for ages 13 and up. I can understand why it increased a bit. In the first book the violence was limited to within the arena. In the second people are beaten and killed in their home districts. There are also some mature topics briefly mentioned... woman having to sell their bodies to survive for example.

It's up to you when you allow your child to read this book. I suggest reading it first so you can make the best decision.

Catching Fire, the movie, is on DVD now. :)

The story begins about six months after the 74th Annual Hunger Games. Katniss and Peeta are living in Victor's Village in District 12. They are getting ready for the Victory Tour around the districts and celebration in the Capitol. Before they leave President Snow pays a visit to Katniss, not for congratulations, but to threaten her. He doesn't like the stunt she pulled in the arena, there shouldn't have been two victors. We know there is trouble ahead.

We learn more about Katniss' friendship with Madge (I wish she wasn't left out of the first film), and we start to really understand Haymitch. We hear how Gale has been, and Katniss tries to figure out her feelings for him.

Effie, Cinna, Venia, Octavia, and Flavius arrive to prep Katniss for the trip.

They start in District 11, where Rue and Thresh were from, and continue through the districts until they reach the Capitol. While there Peeta and Katniss meet Plutarch Heavensbee, the new Head Gamemaker. (No more Seneca Crane.)

Back at home there are changes in District 12. A new Head Peacekeeper has been assigned and is much more stern than the last. Things go from bad to worse.

A special version of the Hunger Games known as the Quarter Quell takes place every 25 years. This being the year of the 75th Annual Hunger Games, it's their third in history. Each one gets it's own special rule that sets it apart from the regular games. For the first, the tributes, instead of being picked by random lottery, had to be voted on by district citizens. For the second, twice as many tributes were selected- four from each district instead of two. A few months before this third Quarter Quell they find out what the dreaded detail will be. I won't give it away here.

When it's time for the games we meet the tributes. They go through their training, and their interviews, and finally they are taken to the Arena.

There are a lot of new characters introduced to us. Some of note: Finnick Odair from District 4, Johanna Mason from District 7, and Wiress and Beetee from District 3.

It's awfully hard to summarize this section without giving anything away. I don't want to ruin it for you.

This arena might be worse than the last. Find out what it has in store for the tributes.

You won't see the end coming, and once you finish you'll want to get your hands on the last book, Mockingjay.

What did you think?

I realize there's a pretty wide gap between "I absolutely loved it!" and "I didn't like it at all." so let's narrow it down even further...

Fire Proof: Shelby Woo #11 (1999)

The Underland Chronicles: Gregor the Overlander (2003)

The Underland Chronicles: Gregor and the Prophecy of Bane (2004)

The Underland Chronicles: Gregor and the Curse of the Warmbloods (2005)

When Charlie McButton Lost Power (2005)

The Underland Chronicles: Gregor and the Marks of Secret (2006)

The Underland Chronicles: Gregor and the Code of Claw (2007)

The Hunger Games Trilogy: The Hunger Games (2008)

The Hunger Games Trilogy: Catching Fire (2009)

When Charlie McButton Gained Power (2009)

The Hunger Games Trilogy: Mockingjay (2010)

Visit her official site at SuzanneCollinsBooks.com.

Hunger Games Fashion

The first Hunger Games movie isn't even out yet and there's already buzz about the Capitol's fashion. A running theme of the capitol is to "look your best". There's even an official Capitol...

          "This is no place for a girl on fire."