The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

• Paperback: 464 pages
• Publisher: Scholastic; (5 Jan 2009)
• Language English
• ISBN-10: 1407109081
• ISBN-13: 978-1407109084

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.


I'm sure I'm one of the last YA reviewers to read this book, and why didn't someone get hold of me and shake me while yelling 'READ THE HUNGER GAMES' at me?!?!?! WHY!


Cover:  The cover doesn't wow me, but I do like the small girl and boy (Katniss and Peeta) in the R and A of the title and the significane of the Mockingjay and arrow on the cover.


Plot: The games are inevitable.  The capitol makes sure no rebels again- the games keep all 12 districts in their place.  There used to be a 13, but no more.  Every year 'tributes' are chosen at random, one boy and one girl from each district must compete in The Hunger Games.  An arena designed by Capitol gamemakers-and the contestants need to not only surive the harsh conditions made by the gamemakers but also each other as there can be only one winner, so it's kill or be killed.
Katniss Everdeen knows the system is unfair, more so when her 12 year old younger sister is picked against massive odds.  Katniss does the only thing she can do and takes her sisters place.  Katniss has survived harshness imposed by the Capitol before and now she must do it again not only for herself but for her siser, her mother, her friend and all the other victims of the capitol, in The Hunger Games, broadcast around the districts.
In amongst this, is there a chance that romance with Peeta is real or is that an act to win the games?  And can she afford to care?
 Characters:

Katniss- Years of hunting to keep herself and family alive has provided her with strength, stealth and skill with a bow and arrow.  She promises her little sister Prim, that she will win the games but really doesn't rate her chances.

Peeta- The baker's son.  He is the boy tribute for Distraict 12, Katniss's district.  Straight away he think he's going to die.  When they were younger he once saved Katniss's life by giving her bread, without it she would have died.

Gale- Katniss's best friend and hunting partner.


Haymitch- District 12's last winner of The Hunger Games.  Known for being drunk almost constantly.  It falls to him to mentor Katniss and Peeta.

Prim (Primrose)- Katniss's younger sister.

Rue- A little girl competeing in the Games that reminds Katniss of her sister.


Rating: 5/5 stars.  Once I got into The Hunger Games I couldn't put it down, and it was a really fast paced dystopian that I read in a couple of days.  It's action packed and there is a little romance if you look for that in a story.  It's also very thought provoking- this unfair Capitol carelessly sending kids into an arena to kill each other for entertainment is really hard hitting and I'm not gonna lie, I cried at one particular scene that I just couldn't believe.  Overall is you like the dystopian genre this is one to definitely check out.