The Hunger Games (The Hunger Games #1)

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.

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.