The Hunger Games (The Hunger Games #1)

Reader reviewed by Jonathon Arntson

Writing: 5/5 
Originality: 5/5 
Cover: 5/5 
Characters: 5/5 
Reading experience: 5/5 

Suzanne Collins' 'The Hunger Games' has a well thought out plot, that constantly keeps you guessing. Once you think you have it figured out, Collins takes you on a whole new set of ups and downs. Katniss Everdeen (the most kick-ass character I have ever met) goes through a lot for a 16/17 year old and as a reader, you will feel pain, excitement, despair, love, dizziness, and so many more emotions, which will have a physical affect on you for sure. This book perfectly captures the enthusiasm, that so many of today's young adult novels have, and combines it with an odd future world. Collins does not wrap the plot in a pretty pink bow, though. You are left craving the sequel, with more thirst than many readers were between each Harry Potter installments. I would recommend this book to anyone and everyone over the age of ten. You will be impressed.

Reader reviewed by Carmen

Katniss is only 16 years old and about to march to her death. The Hunger Games is a televised event throughout the twisted Capitol and the oppressed twelve districts. Living with her troubled mother and little sister Prim, Katniss does her best to hunt for food outside the boundaries of her district. Katniss is a brave, strong, refreshing heroine. She volunteers to go in her sister's place when, at the reaping, little Prim is selected to battle in the brutal games. With only Peeta, a boy she barely knows, and their drunk mentor, Haymith, Katniss discovers the true nature of the Capitol and basic human nature. Will she make it out alive? Or will she land herself in even deeper danger? 

Reader reviewed by Katniss

Hi evrey one!!! The Hunger Games is a book about 24 tributes that are put in a huge arena to all kill each other. When Katniss Everdeen volenteers for her younger sister evrey thing go's wrong!!! I think the best part of this book is the main cherecter has the same name as me!!!!!! Over all I think this book was FABULAS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So evrey one who reads this YOU MUST READ THE HUNGER GAMES!!!!!!!!!!

Reader reviewed by a.tieu

When life's conspiring against you, and there's only ever one option: Death.
What do you do when there's no hope? How will life ever become better. Unless you born into riches there's only one option in keeping a steady meal on your plate everyday. And that's to win The Hunger Games. 22 people place in one arena only one comes out alive. Peeta and Katniss find themselves in that situation. Will Peeta risk it all for his love-Katniss? Or will Katniss slay Peeta, so she could go home to Gale and Prim?
This book keeps you reading, until you find yourself on the last page, gripping for more. A definite read!

Reader reviewed by Highlen

The Hunger Games by Suzzanne Collins. Now I still haven't forgiven Suzzanne Collins for Gregor and the Code of Claw. That was a horrible ending that ruined the series for me, I'm not exaggerating. Anyways this is about after the fall of North America. Then how a new goverment that sprung up after a war. Their are twelve districts and one capitol and pretty much all of the districts have a bad life. So we find out that the districts rebeled at one point and the capitol to make sure this didn't happen again create the Hunger Games where children from each district are picked and get set in an arena try and kill each other. I still don't get how the hunger games stop rebelion. Rebel and we'll have the hunger games and don't rebel and we'll still have the hunger games huh? She sets it up really well and you get excited for the hunger games and then what. The Hunger games besides the first day is boring. There was no fighting somebody was always at the other person mercy. It started to seem like the main charcter caught phase was "please let it be quick". I admit some of the deaths were really cool and I give them credit for that. Still you have an arena of people trying to kill each other and there was no fighting what so ever just a bunch of dumb quick deaths. I don't get it .Now the best part of the book was the relationships she formed. You liked the relationships so much you might even me sad when some of these charcters die. That's some of the problem Suzzanne Collins trys to work so hard on her charcters that sometimes she forgets to make a good book. She just hopes it comes together and if not well then who cares she made great chracters. As much as I'm insulting this book it was very addicting I couldn't put it down . It was mildy entertaining and still some deaths were cool. I hope that she'll do a better job for the second book.

So I'll give it a high middle of the line.- Average

Reader reviewed by Sarima89

Reader reviewed by Dede

First, I didn't think I would like this book, but I am so glad I read it because it just blew me away.  It's a story about the future of the United States after a war (that's not really explained but hinted at) where the capital owns the people of the world and once a year makes 2 people (1 boy and one girl) from each district (there are 12 disticts) perform in the Hunger Games.  The capital sets up an area, which could be anything from frozen wasteland to jungle habitat, and all of the people chosen for the Hunger Games have to fight eachother to the death.  The game is only over when only one person is left alive.  This person then goes on to live in luxury for the rest of their life.  Katniss is 16 and her younger sister Prim is 12.  Their father died in a mine explosion years ago and since then Katniss has had to provide for herself, her sister and her mother by illegally hunting with her best friend Gale in the woods outside their district.  There is never enough food and life is hard for almost everyone in the districts.  Since your name starts getting put in for the draw when you turn 12 and accumulates every year thereafter, Katniss is worried.  However, her anxiousness turns to fear when it's her little sisters name that is drawn.  Katniss volunteers to go in her sisters place.  The boy from her district Peeta, she knows, but only slightly.  Her life is thrown into disarray as she is shuffled to the capital to prepare for the Hunger Games.  The Games are televised and the capital makes it a requirement for everyone to watch to show off how much control they have over the people. 
This book was creepy in a way that really had me thinking - could this really happen?  Every character was well thought out, well described and provided for a wealth of emotions for the reader.  Katniss was the tough girl with a soft spot for those she loves, and when she loves - she loves fiercely.  Peeta is a bit of a wild card for me, I just can't quite get into him but I do understand his character.  Gale has been Katniss's friend forever and his bond with Katniss goes well beyond words.  Prim is the perfect model of a loving child who takes pleasure in the small things - which is great because there is not a whole lot to take pleasure in in her life.  Even the smaller players of the games, especially little Rue, had me interested and intrigued. 
As Katniss enters the game and fights for her life, she also tries to deal with the connection she forms with some of the players.  Who should she trust and how can you trust anyone when there can only be one winner?  She does not agree with the Hunger Games, but must do what she has to to survive.  There are a lot of twists and turns in this book and no matter what I say, I won't be able to do the book justice.  READ THIS!

Reader reviewed by Grace

The hunger games is a great book with adventure, horror and friendship and is a book which makes you so anxious that you just want to sit there and keep reading that book until you get to the very end. It has a very unique plot and a book which i would love to see on the "most read or most popular" categories.

Reader reviewed by Vicki

WOW! The Hunger Games is an extraordinary book about survival, friendship and love. I think Katniss has to be one of my favorite female heroines ever. This is one book that will stay with you for a long time after you read it. The premise may creep some people out, because it does focus on an idea, which many may see as violent and barbaric. However, I read it for what it was, a work of fiction. I highly recommend this book to people who enjoy young adult literature and everyone else! Like many other Hunger Games fans out there I eagerly await Book 2 Catching Fire which comes out in September. I also hear that movie ideas are in the works. I might not run to see it, so that it does not distort what I have already imagined about the characters and setting.

Reader reviewed by moonymaster

I am surprisingly ecstatic at the fact that I have found another great book. And when I say great, I don't mean quick-read great that I am gonna forget about in a few days, I mean great in the sense that everything in The Hunger Games completely and totally exceeded my expectations. I haven't read a book that I have really fell in love with in a long time. I found myself completely attached to the characters and their emotions, the heart-wrenching conflicts they had to deal with, and the dystopian society that clouded over everything else. 

If you wanna skip the process of having to read bad, boring, or okay books in search of a great and satisfying one, I suggest you pick up The Hunger Games and give it a read.