The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
374 Pages


From Goodreads: Could you survive on your own, in the wild, with everyone out to make sure you don't live to see the morning? 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.


Ok so once again I waited to read a book that everyone seems to love. And once again I have to agree with everyone. This book was AMAZING. The pacing was absolute perfection, the action was heart stopping and the characters were unforgettable. I can go on and on about how great this book was. Katniss was the toughest heroine I've read about in a long time, she has been keeping food on her family's table for years and is a great hunter. Her hunting partner is Gale, he is also a skilled hunter and seems to have some feelings for Katniss... Her country, Panem, is made up of 12 districts and the Capitol. There used to be 13 districts, until the rebellion occured, district 13 was wiped out. That's when the Hunger Games were created. Each district sends a boy and girl to the Games. Starting at age 12 every citizen is required to enter their name in the drawing. If they are not chosen, their name gets entered again at age 13 and so on until they reach age 19 where they are no longer required to enter their name into the drawing. Katniss is from Disctrict 12 where hunger is common and most work in the coal mines. When her sister's name is drawn Katniss volunteers to go in her place. The story moves on from there, she is taken to the Capitol and goes through the regular steps leading up to the Hunger Games, all of which is televised on live TV. I have to say I had faith in Katniss from the beginning. The way she carries herself is beyond that of any 16 year old I may know. She has had to grow up at a very young age. The entire section of the book dealing with the actual Hunger Games was nerve wracking, I was worried about our heroine getting hurt. My heart was pounding during particularly tense moments (and let me tell you there are a few). Her mentor throughout the Games is Haymitch, he was the last person to have won the Games from District 12. My first impression of him was less than favorable, he was always drunk. As the book progresses however, my opinion does a complete 180, he is a lot smarter than he lets on. You're probably wondering who got chosen as District 12's boy tribute, well his name is Peeta. Because I think his history with Katniss is particularly interesting I won't reveal it in this review. Just know that I LOVE his character, he might not be as tough as Katniss, but he has a lot of heart and I just couldn't bear the thought of him dying during the Games, but the rules say there can only be One Champion. The ending was perfection, just enough of a cliffhanger to keep me wanting more, but enough to end the first book in the trilogy in a satisfactory manner. Again I'll say this book has everything that makes a book perfect, action, romance, despair, and rebellious behavior against a tyrannical government. I read this book in one sitting and I highly recommend it!

I give this book 5 owls!

The Hunger Games