The Hunger Games

Collins, S. (2008). The hunger games. Scholastic Press. 384 pages. ISBN 9780439023481

Primary genre: science fiction

Other elements: family, friendship, adventure, survival, politics, loss

Intended reader age: 12 and up

Synopsis:

In a post-apocalyptic future Panem has risen from what was once the United States. To deter another rebellion the Capitol now requires that the 12 Districts sacrifice one boy and girl to the annual Hunger Games. These 24 tributes are required to fight to death until there is one survivor remaining while the entire nation watches. 16-year-old Katniss Everdeen loves her sister more than anything in her life. So when Prim’s name is called to be the girl tribute for the 74^th annual Hunger Games Katniss automatically volunteers to be tribute in her place. Katniss is not entirely ill-prepared to survive these games; she has spent years foraging and hunting in the forests surrounding her home to feed her family. It will take everything she knows to survive because she promised her sister that she would try to survive and come home.

Review:

The topic of this story is a very hard one for many to swallow; children being forced to kill each other while the rest of the nation watches. I encountered many an adult who was flabbergasted by the concept. But when it came time to execute those scenes, Collins did an amazing job of keeping easy for younger readers to read. There is not a great deal of graphic description of the actual killings going on. I think the most emotional and difficult scene was the one where Prim died, but most of that can be attributed to the connection we as readers make with the little girl. The blow was also lessened by the actions Katniss took after, singing her to ‘sleep’ and covering the body in flowers.

Katniss does make for an interesting character. She can be very cold and hard-hearted at times, but then at other times her defenses drop and she becomes very vulnerable. In this story she does at times turn into the player that the Capitol wants, she puts aside everything and focuses on surviving and playing the Games. I think my biggest gripe with the book was how wishy-washy she became when thinking about Peeta or Gale. I did like how the whole Peeta story line played out. Just as Katniss is never entirely sure of his motives neither are we, the readers. We see and hear exactly what she does, so we experience those moments of doubt just as she does.

I think this book did a great job of introducing the readers to the political unrest that plagues this nation. These issues are addressed later in the other books, Catching Fire and Mockingjoy, but to just being the series it was enough. We learn of the rebellion and how it was that which started the games, we hear about District 13, and the smoldering ruin it is now, and we hear about the little things that the Districts do to demonstrate their unhappiness with the situation. The focus of the story remains on the Game, these portions are worked in to hint at bigger issues and continued story lines.