Hunger Games

Collins, S. (2008). The Hunger Games. New York: Scholastic Press.

In the Hunger Games, we meet Katniss Everdeen, a teen girl who lives in District 12 of Panem, a future version of the United States.  The districts rose up against the Capitol long ago, but lost, so the Hunger Games are their punishment.  Every year, children ages 12-18 put their name into a drawing, and each district sends one boy and one girl to the Games.  Life in District 12 is hard, and Katniss has been providing for her mother and little sister since her father died several years ago.  She sneaks out of the city with her friend Gale and hunts with a bow.  Her sister Prim is chosen for the Games, but Katniss replaces her and is sent with Peeta, the baker's son.  Life in the Capitol is very different; people are vain and shallow, but Katniss grows fond of her style team, particularly Cinna, who dresses her in fire.  The Games are a brutal fight to the death, and over the days in the arena, the tributes die one by one.  Her relationship with Peeta grows, as they work together.  In the end, they both survive, but that has angered President Snow.

I can't say enough about this book.  It is wonderful, and  really makes you think about our society and whether we might be headed towards a future like this.  My daughter wanted me to read this for a while, and I'm so glad that I finally did!  I can't wait to see if the movie does it justice.