"The Hunger Games" Book Review

Finally! This is my first book review and I am SO excited. Are you? When I thought about what book I read recently which I would recommend, I didn't think long about it. Right in the middle of my bookshelf sits the wonderful novel "The Hunger Games" by Suzanne Collins. Typically, I wouldn't read a "dystopian" (a society characterized by oppression, human misery, squalor, etc) science-fiction novel. Admittedly, I thought about George Orwell's "1984" where Airstrip One is under government control and some readers can think "Okay, The Hunger Games is definitely up my alley" or "Zzzzzzz." Have no fear, "The Hunger Games" is a treat. It's a dynamic, kick-awesome thriller which will keep you on the edge of your seat. Read on. :)

So...Suzanne Collins, who is the author of "The Hunger Games" by the way, said that she arrived at the idea for the novel when watching a newscast about the Iraq War. Then, she oddly started to think of what would happen if the Iraq War combined with Gladiator fights. Gladiator fights and the Iraq War, really? That's an..interesting combination to say the least. But Wah-lah, that's how Ms. Suzanne arrived at "The Hunger Games" and it's paid off handsomely. ;-)

Then, what makes "The Hunger Games" tick? What makes readers around the world say that "this series is so-so-so-so-so-so-so-so" good? What makes Stephen King say "A violent, jarring, speed-rap of a novel that generates nearly constant suspense. Couldn't stop reading." Because this series pulls together an unusual and mysterious world where all that matters is survival. The raw emotion and high stakes pulled me in immediately and they'll pull ya' in too.

The main character of the novel is Katniss Everdeen. I love that name...K-A-T-N-I-S-S. It's not a conventional, stereotypical name like "John Smith" from "I Am Number Four." (No offense lol). She is a 14 year old girl with a young sister named Primrose who live with their single mother in District 12. Apparently, all that's left of North America are 12 districts under the rule of The Capitol. The Capitol is a tyrannical regime which forced all districts under submission in a war. There were once 13 districts, but one of them was destroyed, thus only 12 remain. Sad, isn't it? :( To keep everyone under control, The Capitol forces each district to give their food and resources to fund The Capitol and its inhabitants. That angers me still! :( Not only that, each district must send in 1 girl and 1 boy to a series of Gladiator fights called "The Hunger Games" where the children must kill one another until one is left. These "games" can take weeks, so it's obviously a fight-for-your-survival kind of book. I didn't expect this at all and I couldn't stop reading to see what happened to Katniss.

So...there is a lottery in each district to dictate who's chosen for the Hunger Games and...Primrose is chosen. To save her sister, Katniss chooses to fight in the Hunger Games in her stead (which she's allowed to do) and a boy in her district Peeta (the Baker's son) is chosen as well. They become a hot item in "The Hunger Games" and Peeta tells Katniss that he loves her. Now, I thought in the beginning that he wanted to get her on his side so he could kill Katniss in the end. However, I think that he truly loves her because he brings her food in the beginning of the book (one example), but you have to read the book to see what I mean. I give Ms. Suzanne a standing ovation for putting emotion in the right places. :)

Action...I didn't believe that the author would put these 24 children against one another. Wooh...when Katniss actually stood in the arena preparing to either retrieve a weapon or run off into the woodlands to find shelter, I said to myself "this is REALLY happening." But don't worry, Katniss is a beast with a bow and arrows. This girl can shoot, so I felt more comfortable (but still I was worried for her safety throughout!) That's the mark of an excellent author when she can make a reader care about what happens to a character.

I give "The Hunger Games" 4/5 stars. Seriously, it was THAT good. Ms. Suzanne doesn't spoil her work with unnecessary big words or developing a main character who's voice sounds middle-aged. If you don't have a copy, get one at your local bookstore or library RIGHT NOW or else. :) What do you think? Do you like "The Hunger Games" Post a comment below and I'll be sure to reply. Thanks for reading, peace. :-)