The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

The Hunger Games: Book 1 by Suzanne Collins

I know I'm a little behind the game on this series, just getting it into my reading now, but it was worth the wait.


Katniss lives in the 12th district, the poorest district there is, with her mother and her sister, Prim. She sneaks out under the fences during the day to poach in the forest for food to eat and trade with her friend, Gale. They support their families and keep from starving, but the consequenses of being caught could be deadly.

The day of the Reaping is here. The Reaping is the day two children, a boy and a girl ages 12-18, from each of the 12 districts are chosen to participate in the Hunger Games. The Hunger Games are a deadly showdown forcing the children to fight for their lives. There can be only one winner....the last one left alive. Katniss is shocked when her sister is selected from the list to participate and quickly volunteers to take her place.

In the Capitol she is prepared for the games with her fellow selection from district 12, a boy named Peeta. They strike up an unusual friendship that Katniss is scared will only interfere with her winning the game so she can return to her family. Once the game starts she strikes out on her own, hoping to outlast the other contestants. But the gamemakers seem to be forcing her to make a decision. A decision between her life or the life of Peeta. After all, there is only one winner.

This book may sound gory and bloody and rather harsh. Parts of it are, but not so much that it took away from the tale of Katniss discovering who she is and who she can be. She learns the meaning of friendship and trust, compassion and revenge, and above all, what sacrifice really means.

The other contestants in the game are written in a way that they stand out as individuals, but not so much that they take away from the characters of Katniss and Peeta. I'm looking forward to continuing to story to see what the gamemakers have in store.

4/5