The Hunger Games
by Suzanne CollinsMy Recommended Age Group: Teen-Adult
Our Rating:
My thoughts:
Okay, I know! I'm probably the last person on the face of the planet to read this book, but what can I say? Life has been hectic! Between school peaking to a crazy pace (almost done) and a new pregnancy (Destroyer of Worlds #2), life has been turned upside down slightly.
For whatever reason, I started thinking about this book a few days ago. Not sure why - it just popped into my head. Really though, whether you've read a page, half the story (which I had), or the whole thing, this is the kind of book that sticks in your mind like gooey oatmeal. Sweet, satisfying, and leaving you craving more. I finally got tired of just thinking about the book rather than finishing it, so I pulled it off the shelf and sat down to read the second half.
An evening and a half later and I was done. Done, but not nearly ready to be done.
Imagine a world where everyone not living in The Capitol lives in a district, set aside for specific duties (coal mining, agriculture, etc.). Our heroine, Katniss, lives in such a district. Although coal is mined constantly, they don't have enough to warm their homes. To make life even more interesting, they are given barely enough food to survive on. If they want more, they can get it, but those extra rations will come at a price.
Every child has their name added to a pool of candidates for The Hunger Games - the Capitol's way of reminding the districts who is in charge. Every year it is added again. Every additional ration warrants another name addition. When it is time to draw for the games, two names - a boy and girl - are chosen from each district. These children will fight to the death in the highly publicized and televised Hunger Games.
I think you can see by now that this book is packed with tension, suspense, and action.
I won't tell you how Katniss ends up in The Hunger Games - but you already pretty much know that she does. This book is the story of her time before and during the games as she attempts to outlast the other children. For me, part of what made this book so superb was the personality of our little heroine. I absolutely loved Katniss and cannot wait to read more about her. I think she is an excellent character, with a lot of depth. She's the kind of character that you actually care about reading. Combine that with adrenaline pulsing and heart pounding action and The Hunger Games is a book you definitely don't want to miss.
On that note, I am off to go find Catching Fire
. I'll see you in a few days when I emerge from what looks to be an exciting sequel.
