Review Detail

Reader reviewed by Iryna

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 other districts in line by forcing them
to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight-to-the-death on live
TV. One boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and sixteen are
selected by lottery to play. The winner brings riches and favor to his
or her district. But that is nothing compared to what the Capitol wins:
one more year of fearful compliance with its rule. Sixteen-year-old
Katniss Everdeen, who lives alone with her mother and younger sister,
regards it as a death sentence when she is forced to represent her
impoverished district 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 weigh survival against humanity and life
against love. Acclaimed writer Suzanne Collins, author of the New York
Times bestselling Underland Chronicles, delivers equal parts suspense
and philosophy, adventure and romance, in this stunning novel set in a
future with unsettling parallels to our present.

Last
week at Chapters I was faced with the difficult decision of whether to
buy "The Hunger Games" by Suzanne Collins (Option #1) or "The Truth
About Forever" by Sarah Dessen and "The Dust of 100 Dogs" by A.S. King
(Option #2). You see, I had a $20 dollar limit and I couldn't buy a
penny over since I was using a gift card. Thankfully, the store had 20%
off on all kids and teens books which reduced the price.

Anyways,
after walking up to an employee and asking her what she thought I
should buy, together we googled "The Hunger Games" to see if it was
coming out in paperback anytime soon (it wasn't) and instead found some
fantastic reviews. That was probably what convinced me to buy "The
Hunger Games" and let me tell you - you don't know how glad I am that I
did!

Katniss is a strong character and very intelligent without
ever being a know-it-all. I could easily relate to her, too. I also
really liked Rue. Actually, now that I think about, the only
character(s) I didn't like were the Gamemakers because they killed so
many people and the author didn't introduce them properly into the book.

If
you're trying to convince your parents to buy you this book tell them
it's an ESSENTIAL novel for everyone. I mean really, where else am I
going to find out how to heal a bite stung by a mutant bee or crack a
puzzle without being killed by a bomb?

Go to the bookstore/library now and be prepared to agree with me on this A+ book.