The Hunger Games (The Hunger Games #1)

Reader reviewed by TheBookworm

Looking for something interesting and maybe a little gut wrenching at moments?

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Publication Date: October 2008
4 out of 5 stars
PG-13 - Frequent Violence

The seventy-fourth Hunger Games have arrived and every child between the ages of 11 and 18 are dreading it. Each year two children, a boy and a girl, from each of the 12 districts are randomly picked to compete in the Hunger Games, a televised event where all 24 kids (tributes) are forced to fight to the death. The tributes have no choice, either kill the other competitors before they kill you or die. There can only be one winner. Katniss Everdeen is almost immediately condemned to death when she knowingly steps forward to take the place of her one and only younger sister in the Hunger Games. Katniss is not only fighting for her life at every twisted turn, she is also fighting to understand her fellow District 12 tribute Peetas odd behavior. She wont go down without a fight and she sure as heck isnt going to let the Hunger Games and its supporters win.

The Hunger Games was a unique book that I looked forward to reading ever since I saw its book trailer. I was not disappointed. There were action-packed fight scenes and intimate trusting scenes. There were sad depressing scenes and happy, hopeful scenes. It had a little taste of everything!

The whole idea of the Hunger Games is barbaric and demeaning. They start it out like a pageant. First they have to have an amazing costume that dazzles the crowd. Then they have a talent portion where they have to show their skills to the judges. And finally they have to take part in a televised interview. Now go kill the other teens! Its just plain horrid and because of it my sympathy and respect for Katniss grew. But then Katniss has to go and manipulate Peeta for her benefit. Its understandable her wariness of Peetas motives, but she didnt have lead Peeta so far into a fake relationship and inadvertently destroy his trust in her. Because of her leading Peeta on she lost some of my admiration and sympathy.

A few minor characters were just so over the top that you had to like them. They were strange and full of personality. When ever they were brought up, I couldnt help but smile. They were just so odd and outrageous that I was able to clearly imagine them.

I will definitely be keeping an eye out for the second book!

Date Reviewed: November 24th, 2008

Reader reviewed by mearley

This summer, I watched a reality show called "The Mole." Before each elimination, the host would announce that the contestant with the lowest score would be "executed." My husband, who typically does not watch reality shows with me, overheard this and said, "They don't really execute anyone, do they?" Of course, the answer was "no" but, sadly, in our society today it is all too easy to imagine a reality show where the losers are literally executed. Tha...more This summer, I watched a reality show called "The Mole." Before each elimination, the host would announce that the contestant with the lowest score would be "executed." My husband, who typically does not watch reality shows with me, overheard this and said, "They don't really execute anyone, do they?" Of course, the answer was "no" but, sadly, in our society today it is all too easy to imagine a reality show where the losers are literally executed. That is the premise of Suzanne Collins's book The Hunger Games.

Two teens from each district of the former USA are selected each year to participate in the Hunger Games. The contestants must literally eliminate each other until only one is left alive. This one will be rewarded with much-needed food for his or her family.

The narrator, Katniss, has a little bit of an advantage because of her skill with a bow and arrow. She is a strong but stubborn contestant. Her drive to win is complicated when she begins to develop feelings for Peeta, the other contestant from her district. This, for me, was what made the novel so compelling. Are Peeta's feelings for Katniss true, or are they a calculated move to win over the TV audience? Can Katniss bring herself to kill Peeta in order to win the Hunger Games? Does she want to live with herself if Peeta is dead? And what about Gale, Katniss's possible boyfriend watching the games from home? Once I started this, I could not put it down. I will be eagerly waiting for the next book in this series!

Reprinted here with author's permission.