The Hunger Games, Suzanne Collins

Publishers: Scholastic

Pages: 454

Main Characters:

Katniss Everdeen, Peeta Mallark

I was suggested this book a few months ago from a friend of my blog how gave me a brilliant overview of what this book, and what the Hunger Games series was about. After reading their overview I fought this was a book I could really get into and decided I would give it a read. However a few months have passed since then and I never managed to get round to reading it as the books piled on my bookshelf had grown substantially higher after Christmas. But now after a few solid weeks of reading and many books later I finally got on to The Hunger Games. And I’m really glad I did because this book was amazing!

Set in the future in the land that once was North America, The Hunger Games tells the tale of the nation of Panem. Spilt into twelve districts, each with its own specialist form of production (e.g. agriculture, coal mining) which all surround the Capitol, the centre of the nation of Panem and the oppressor of the twelve districts. The novel follows the life of Katniss Everdeen, a sixteen year old girl from District 12. However Katniss is not your everyday sixteen year old. She is an expert hunter, deadly with a bow and arrow, whilst been the protector of her younger sister Primrose (Prim).

Katniss’ life is hard. She is the sole provider of food for her family after her mother’s mental break down after the death of Katniss’ father. However Katniss’ life is even harder this day because today is the day of The Reaping e.g. the choosing of the two children to take part in the Hunger Games. The Hunger Games is an event held by the Capitol to remind the Districts that they are the power in Panem and to prevent them from rebelling (as they had a few decades earlier). Two children, one boy, one girl are chosen from each district to take part in The Hunger Games.  The Games take place over a number of weeks as the Tributes (the children chosen) live and fight to the death in the Arena against the other twenty-three Tributes to gain their own life, wealth and riches for their District.

The day of the Reaping comes and Katniss feels something is wrong. Katniss has over 40 ballots in the bowl and her chance of been chosen is high. However she feels safe in the knowledge that as it is her sister Prim’s first year at The Reaping, she only has one ballot and her chance of been chosen is very, very low. The choosing comes and the first name out of the ballot is ‘Primrose Everdeen’. From this point on Katniss’ life is turned into a nightmare. Volunteering to take her sister’s place Katniss and her fellow Tribute Peeta are thrown into the training of The Hunger Games and that battle of their lives.

This was a brilliant book and has probably been the best book I have read since The Game of Thrones (and I love that book!). It was so fast paced, keeping you on the edge of your seat all the way through the book making you just want to read on and on. Which is what I did, I read it in two days it was just that gripping! I think the idea behind the book is brilliant and it is something I have never read before. Collins’ really brings her world to life describing the details of the people, places and animals of Panem brilliantly. Her ending to the book is also brilliant and makes you want to pick up the next book Catching Fire straight away! I was quite surprised to find this book under Teenage Fiction in my book shop. I think this could put a few people off reading the book as they could see it as been childish and not worth their time to read a teenage fiction book (which are mostly filled with Vampire stories now anyway). For me this book was a thriller or a fantasy-thriller as it is set in the future. It was filled with romance, action, betrayal and a lot of gore!

This book was amazing! I would suggest it to anyone who wants a good book to read which is a little bit different. I cannot wait to read the next two books in the series and am looking forward to seeing the film when it comes out. If it is half as good as the book the film will be brilliant too!

For author’s official website click here