The Hunger Games (The Hunger Games #1)

Reader reviewed by VFang

The Hunger Games is an amazing book. I could not stop reading it and have in fact have read it more times than I can count. The story is set around a girl who to save her little sister and a chance to end her family's poverty enters the Hunger Games. The Hunger Games is a deadly battle of wit, skill, and luck. Their can only be one winner and that is the person left alive. The book is filled with struggles and accomplishment. About a girl finding herself and revolting against an unjust system. Amazing book!!!

Reader reviewed by MssJos

I can't be sure what inspired Collins to write this, but I am very thankful that she did. Set in the future, in the ruins of a place once called North America, Katniss Everdeen embarks on an adventure like no other. Katniss's community unwillinging participates in something mandated by the government called the Hunger Games. Similar to Shirley Jackson's The Lottery, the Hunger Games begin with a drawing that places 24 adolescents, ages 12-18, against each other in a televised fight to the death.

While I was initially unsure of how I would feel about this futuristic far-fetched plot, I ended up reading the entire novel from start to finish in one sitting.I simply could not put it down. Katniss is a believable and admirable character that draws readers in, and keeps them cheering for her in the deadly competition all through the novel. What Katniss finds in the wilderness-style death arena, is surprising. Love, compassion, and revenge help Katniss remain a contestant in the competiton far longer than even she expected.

Reader reviewed by Stephanie

THE HUNGER GAMES is without doubt one of the best books I have ever read. 16-year-old Katniss Everdeen lives with her family and friends in what used to be North America. Now, its divided up into 12 impoverished fenced-in Districts and ruled by the faraway Capitol of Panem. The Capitol keeps all the Districts in line by hosting the annual Hunger Games. One boy and one girlcalled tributesare randomly selected to fight all the other tributes to the death on live TV.

Katniss frantically volunteers in place of her beloved and delicate young sister, Prim, when Prim is chosen. While Prim would not have stood a chance, Katniss is strong and resourceful. Often she has hunted illegally in the woods outside of their district to provide food for her family.

She is joined in the Hunger Games by Peeta Mellark, the bakers son. Katniss is a coal miners daughters and thus their socioeconomically different lives have never crossed, except once when Peeta basically saved her life. But now she knows that they must kill each other if they want to get out of the Hunger Games alive&even if they may or may not have feelings for each other.

THE HUNGER GAMES is suspenseful, action-packed, and well-written, with an endearing love story. Suzanne Collins spins a terrifying dystopian world for readers. I was only sad when the book ended too soon and left some important issueswill anything be done about the totalitarian government?unanswered. However, the ending seems to promise a sequel, which I will anxiously await.

Reader reviewed by Chey

I absolutely could not put this book down. I ended up reading it in one sitting because it was that good! Its unique, heartwrenching and interestingly morbid. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time fearing for Katniss' life. I smiled and even cried reading this one. The Hunger Games is one of the most unique books I've ever read and I recommend it to anyone who doesn't mind a bit of gore and murder!

Reader reviewed by Hillary

Katniss Everdeen is a hunter. With her bow and arrow, she can do nearly anything. This has been helpful, living in District Twelve of Panem, a new country where the United States of America once stood. Though it's illegal, Katniss hunts animals, collects plants, and sells it at the Hub to get money and food to support her family. But when she volunteers to participate in the Hunger Games in the place of someone she loves, she's off to fight 23 other tribunes to the death. The only one who can help her is the constantly drunk Haymitch who was the last person to win the games from District 12. Can she survive the Hunger Games?

The very first thing I thought when reading this book was, "Oh! It's like The Lottery and The Most Dangerous Game in one!" You know, the whole you get your name drawn and something bad happens to you plus man hunting man. (9th grade English...yeah, I payed attention.) Also, I saw a few similarities to Julius Ceaser, which I'm currently reading in school, like the fact that Flavius was a name in both and they both use the word tribune....okay, not really but look, I made a connection! And I also thought it was very Uglies by Scott Westerfeld with the whole futuristic world and evil government we have to conquer thing.

Truthfully, the majority of the reason I decided to read this book was based on the suggestion by Stephenie Meyer. I trust her opinion completely. And I was not disappointed. I even skipped practicing my Clarinet to finish reading it because I knew that if I didn't I wouldn't be able to thing of anything else.

Writing? Excellent. Characters? Amazing. Speaking of characters, the names are awesomely futuristic and unique. Glimmer? Cato? Yeah, I'm jealous. Especially Peeta. Oh, how I love his name. It's like Peter but with an abnormally enlarged coolness gland. Ah-may-zing. Plot? Freaking godly. I am forcing people to read this book.

I can not wait for the second book, which is called Chasing Fire. It comes out in September 2009. It will most likely be a trilogy.

I would recommend this book to anyone who has a pulse...and vampires...because it's the most amazing book I've ever read (well, along Twilight...).

Reader reviewed by Krista

This is one of the best novels I have read this year. The basic idea is very similar to Battle Royale. Put some kids in an arena of sorts for a fight to the death. In The Hunger Games, the kids are put in the arena as a way to make sure the twelve districts of Panem do not rebel against the Capitol. The story takes place in Panem, the ruins of North America, and the Capitol is their harsh form of government. The twelve districts each send two tributesa boy and a girl, and the games are televised each year for the citizens to see. Ah, dystopia!

Suzanne Collins made the novel a joy to read. It was thrilling, and I could not wait to find out what happened next. Pretty much every chapter ended on a cliffhanger. Even the final one. It almost felt that the novel should have ended earlier and that part of the end should have been saved for the second novel. For now, Ill just believe the author knows what shes doing. I also love how she developed friendships between the tributes. It seems unlikely given that only one tribute can survive, but Collins does it quite realistically with her protagonist, Katniss Everdeen. Shes everything I could have asked for in a protagonist. Incredibly likeable and extremely realistic. I dont ask for much, do I? ;) The minor characters are also very interesting. I cant really say lovely or nice with the viciousness of a few of them.

Reader reviewed by Reader Rabbit 1

The Hunger Games is the story of Katniss, a young girl fighting to survive in the Capitol. It's a human eat human world out there-and the government is all too willing to show it. Every year, one guy and one girl are drawn out of the twelve districts. Then, the Hunger Games begin. The rules of the game are simple. Whoever comes out alive, wins. And, Katniss is a competitor.


Utterly captivating. From the moment you meet Katniss and Gale, you can tell they've lived a pretty rough life. Katniss isn't that likeable at first, but as soon as she mentions the Hunger Games you'll be interested enough to keep reading until she wins you over. Of course, the other characters help along with that. Some of my favourites included Peeta and the costume designer (whose name has slipped my mind-it started with a C?). The rules of the game are barbarous and the stakes are high-made even higher when you meet Peeta, the other competitor from Katniss's district. Unfortunately for Katniss, Peeta is a likeable guy. It complicates things for Katniss and for the reader-after all, we really don't want him to die.
Throughout the novel, the characters experience extremes of emotion and you're there experiencing it with them.



The book has a definite appeal. The suspense, the romance, the frightening plotline) and sympathetic characters will probably bring in a large-and well deserved audience. It's easily, easily one of the better books of the year.