The Hunger Games Trilogy (including Catching Fire and Mockingjay) by Suzanne Collins
Reviewed by Lara Van Hulzen, Radiant Lit
Genre: Young Adult Fiction
Publisher: Scholastic
Publishing dates: The Hunger Games – 2008, Catching Fire – 2009, Mockingjay - 2010
Katniss Everdeen is a pawn in an evil and deadly game.
Living every day in District 12 of Panem and close to starvation, 17 year-old Katniss learns to hunt in the woods with her best friend, Gale, to feed their families. Having lost both their fathers to a mining accident, they are the best chance their families have for survival. In Panem, children are used once a year in a fight to the death known as The Hunger Games. When Katniss’ little sister, Prim, is chosen to fight, Katniss steps in to take her place.
Once inside the arena of The Hunger Games, Katniss realizes her hunting skills work in her favor, but she is not prepared to deal with having to take another life to save her own. She aligns herself with Peeta, a boy her age also from District 12, beginning a friendship and love that is challenged over and over again.
(It would be unfair to the reader to give any more of the story away.)
The media frenzy that is beginning to swirl around these books mirrors that of the Twilight saga because of the making of The Hunger Games movie. No offense to Stephenie Meyer, but The Hunger Games blows the doors off Twilight. Katniss has so much depth of character that you can’t help but root for her. A normal, every day teenager thrown into a hideous situation crafted by greedy, power hungry, ruthless adults. Unlike the Twilight saga, Katniss is not motivated by lust or obsession over a boy, but rather the desire to keep her family and her loved ones alive while fighting the evil that lords over Panem. There is romance, yes, as she must choose between the boy she grew up with, Gale, and Peeta, the one person who knows exactly what her nightmares hold and can help her keep them at bay.
The dystopian society that Suzanne Collins creates is both fascinating and frighteningly real. The Capitol which controls all the districts of Panem rules by fear, torture, and bloodshed. The use of televised speeches, productions, and battles are eerily similar to our media today-things are edited and scripted to lead us to believe what the puppeteer wants us to believe.
Suzanne Collins did a beautiful job. The Hunger Games, Catching Fire, and Mockingjay are now in my top five of best books.
Rated: PG 13 – I give this book a PG 13 rating with caution. It is not for the faint of heart and the character is 17 years old, which is much different than 13 years old. There is much bloodshed, war, and violence. Having said that, I would allow my 13 year-old to read it, but with me dialoguing with her throughout.
Books were purchased by the reviewer.
