Product Details
- Pub. Date: July 2010
- Publisher: Scholastic, Inc.
- Format: Paperback , 384pp
- Sales Rank: 44
- Age Range: Young Adult
- Series: Hunger Games Series , #1
- ISBN-13: 9780439023528
- ISBN: 0439023521
Synopsis
In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. The Capitol is harsh and cruel and keeps the districts in line by forcing them all to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV. Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives alone with her mother and younger sister, regards it as a death sentence when she is forced to represent her district in the Games. But Katniss has been close to dead before-and survival.
My Thoughts
So it has taken me a while to get to read this book, but I am so glad that I did. I loved this book and cannot wait to read the other two! Suzanne Collins build a dynamic world in the nation of Panem with clearly defined and interesting characters! The book is well written and there is never any drag in the story.
The story start on reaping day – Katniss and her best friend Gale spend the morning in the woods hunting before they both have to prepare for the reaping ceremony in their district, 12. Every young person between the age of 12 and 18 are required to participate in the Hunger Games (a fight to the death with only one winner) – one male and one female child are chosen from each of the 12 districts. For each year they age, an additional ticket with their name is added to the large glass bowls where the name is drawn from each year. In addition, each child can make the decision to take additional entries in order to get food for their families. Both Katniss and Gale have taken additional entries to feed their families after their father’s died in coal mining accidents. Katniss has needed to take over the care of her mother and her sister, Prim. So it come time for the names to be drawn and her younger sister’s name is drawn in her very first year, she is but 12 years old. Katniss responds immediately and takes her sisters place. The male drawn is Peetra, the boy that save her when her family was starving with bread from his family’s bakery. The two are able to say goodbye to their families and off they are taken to the Capital where they meet a whole group of people who will advise them and make them look good for the opening cerebration. What happens from here is wilder than anyone could ever imagine. Who will win? How do they fair against the other districts?
This story is written in amazing detail. It almost feels as though it is a movie playing in your head when you read the story. The plot is well thought out and works extremely well! All in all, this book made a lasting impression on me!
My Rating
For sure 5 of 5 stars! Well done Suzanne Collins!