The Hunger Games

The Hunger Games

By Suzanne Collins

(The Hunger Games #1)

Release Date: September, 14, 2008

Pages: 374

Genre: Fantasy / Adventure

My Rating: 5 Stars

Source: Library

  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 districts in line by forcing them all to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV. 

  Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives alone with her mother and younger sister, regards it as a death sentence when she steps forward to take her sister's place in the Games. But Katniss has been close to dead 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 will weigh survival against humanity and life against love.

COMMENTS

  The Hunger Games is a really good book. Last year for English, I heard a lot of people were doing it for independent reading. So I decided to check it out.

  Strangely, after reading the summery of this book, it reminded me of another book I read quite a while ago. It was "The Quillian Games" (I think that is how you spell it), which is one of the books from the Pendragon series. This book, like The Hunger Games also describes a place where people were chosen to fight with each other to the death, while the citizens watch for entertainment.

  There are 3 books in The Hunger Games series, and I thought the first one was the best. I really enjoyed getting to know the main character Katniss Everdeen, because she had such a strong personality. However I thought the story strayed more and more from "The Hunger Games" itself. In fact, I don't recall there being any actually hunger games in the last volume at all. But regardless, it was a great story and takes you along for an exciting adventure.

  I admire the author for thinking of a really good plot for the hunger games (as in the game in the book). As the main character battles for her life, it really expresses how different kinds of people will react and deal with the burden of surviving in a dangerous environment. While I was reading the book, I would often think about how I would be, or what I would do if I was in Katniss's shoes. Every time I would come to the conclusion that I would be dead in about a day if I were in the hunger games. If I didn't get killed by some dagger flying out of nowhere, I would starve to death. If I didn't starve to death, I would probably eat some poisonous mushroom or get get stung by a swarm of bees. If I still didn't die (which I am pretty sure I would have by then), I'd probably get burned in a forest fire caused by the Game Masters, or get eaten by some mutant wolves.

  This is a wonderful book, and a great experience. I realize nowadays people (as in teens) are more and more interested in survival books. Other examples are like the Gone Series, which is also about how teens have to survive by themselves.

  These books are so much better then supernatural books, vampires and werewolves are getting really old.

  I have a cold today, sucks cause I have 3 tests tomorrow.

  I hope I feel better tomorrow!