The Hunger Games

Pay no attention to the fact that this book is found in the young adult section of your library. This is an amazing story that will keep you wondering what will happen next. As soon as I finished the book I had to get a copy of the second book in the trilogy, and then the third. When I was done with the third I was so sad that it was over. I felt empty for a few days, that's how good it was. I can not wait for the movie!

I looked up a summary of The Hunger Games before I read it. I wish I hadn't. I suggest if you haven't already, do not read too much about it. Just pick it up and fall into the story. I won't give anything important away here. I don't want to ruin it for anyone!

The first book is recommended for ages 12 but I let my 10 year old daughter read it. The only part of the book that I was worried might scare her didn't at all. She didn't understand why I made a big deal of it. Ha. I do recommend reading it first before deciding what age is acceptable for your family.

We meet 16 year old Katniss, her little sister Prim (and her cat Buttercup), their mother Mrs. Everdeen, Gale, Peeta, Haymitch, various other residents of Panem's District 12, and Effie Trinket who comes from the Capitol.

We get a small sense of their life and where they call home, and then we're whisked in with them all to the Reaping. This is the day when a boy and a girl, ages 12-18, from each of Panem's districts are chosen by lottery to take their place as tributes (representatives) in The Hunger Games. The Hunger games is an annual televised event (the worst kind of reality TV) forced on the citizens by the Capitol as a means to keep them in their place. Winning means fame and fortune, losing means you don't come out of the games alive. The lottery system is weighted to favor those families who are well off financially.

Once the tributes are selected, they are taken away by train to get ready for The Games. There they are introduced to their prep team, and get made over.

Once in the Capitol there are televised interviews of all of the tributes and they are trained for the competition. Finally, they are taken to the Arena.

Some kids work alone, and others form alliances, though they all know the rules. There can only be one winner of The Hunger Games. They do what they can to survive in the forest they've been plunked into, dealing with the elements (controlled by the Gamemakers), hunger, thirst, and each other. All of Panem watches. If they're lucky, they can get some help from sponsors in the form of food, weapons, or other necessities that get dropped in from above with little silver parachutes.

This is the part I really can't say too much about. I'll just add that whoever wins gets taken back to the Capitol, cleaned up, wounds healed, and they return to their District by train. They are given a nice house for their family in a special section of their district and never have to worry about money again.

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...

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...

The Underland Chronicles

Gregor the Overlander (2003)

Gregor and the Prophecy of Bane (2004)

Gregor and the Curse of the Warmbloods (2005)

Gregor and the Marks of Secret (2006)

Gregor and the Code of Claw (2007)

The Hunger Games Trilogy

The Hunger Games (2008)

Catching Fire (2009)

Mockingjay (2010)

She's also written:

Fire Proof: Shelby Woo #11 (1999)

When Charlie McButton Lost Power (2005)

When Charlie McButton Gained Power (2009)

Visit her official site at SuzanneCollinsBooks.com.

"She has no idea. The effect she can have."