The Hunger Games

In this young adult trilogy by Suzanne Collins, Katniss Everdeen is a teenage girl in a future dystopian society located in what used to be the United States. In this country, Panem, the government enforces a cruel yearly ritual called the Hunger Games-- a televised fight to the death in which 24 young people from the 12 districts of Panem, between the ages of 12-17, are forced to face the elements and homicidal opponents. The last one living is crowned "victor."

Katniss is a young woman devoted to her family, especially her 12-year-old sister Prim. Thus, when Prim's name is called in the Reaping, the selection of tributes for the Hunger Games, Katniss volunteers to go in Prim's place. Another tribute is chosen from Katniss's poverty-striken home, District 12, by the name of Peeta Mellark. The Games present pageantry at its finest as the tributes are fitted with stylists and costumes, just to prepare themselves for death in the arena.

Katniss manages to woo the audience. With her combined with her strong abilities with her bow, some help from sponsors who deem her worthy, unlikely allies and a budding fake romance with Peeta, Katniss tries to survive the arena of the Hunger Games and escape with her life.

(I will not give a description of the next 2 books of the series, because I was dying to find out what happened and killed my own suspense by looking up spoilers).



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This "The Lottery" meets Brave New World series made my love of dystopic novels grow, even though I thought that that was impossible. Every detail about this society is thought out and Collins leaves no questions asked, which is a magnificent feat for a writer creating a whole new world.

The names given to the characters are creative, but not so far out there that the reader doesn't question what he or she is saying. It is helpful that the names sound like vernacular words, such as "Peeta" sounds like "Peter" or "Haymitch" is two strewn together syllables that are easy to pronounce.

Though there is a love triangle, which thanks to Twilight is leaving all the tween and teen girls picking battle sides, it is not intensified to the point of Team Edward or Team Jacob. Peeta is presented as a boy who has admired Katniss for years and Gale is Katniss's best friend that, when faced with death, Katniss realizes she has feelings for. The young gentlemen in the love triangle aren't constantly ripping off their shirts, trying to prove which one is more masculine and thus more willing of love. Peeta and Gale are civilized and even form a camaraderie.

The female protagonist, Katniss, is extremely likable. She has a strong personality that seems standoffish to other characters in the books, but she becomes a female role model and epic heroine-- someone young girls can look up to when striving for strength. Katniss supports her mother and sister and cherishes her family relationships. She hunts, she fights, she is one of the guys but can alter her personality away from the masculine and into a stubborn young woman. Katniss's non-ability to fake emotion makes the triumphant efforts of bravery, honor and sincerity she puts forth genuine, an extremely noble characteristic.

As with most dystopic novels, Katniss becomes the general maverick narrator, thus allowing her to know that the conditions she lives in are wrong and she doesn't idolize the way of life the government has presented. The nonconformist point of view is usually best with dystopic novels, because it allows the reader to see the society as different from the norm of modern day society. Narrators like Mr. Savage in Brave New World, Violet in Feed or The Giver in The Giver display modern standards and values, allowing the author to demonstrate the wackiness of the situation.

I did not appreciate the amount of deaths in all three novels, but I do know what Collins is touching on. Her series advocates the effects of war and oppression and young people should understand that war means that friends die. It was very easy to get attached to the characters and feel the devastation when a character passes away.

Overall, I give the book 5 stars for DON'T PUT THIS BOOK DOWN! Not that you will feel like you need to. I read this in 3 days because I couldn't put it down.