THE HUNGER GAMES

Collins, Suzanne. 2008. THE HUNGER GAMES. New York: Scholastic Inc., 2008.

 HUNGER GAMES came as somewhat of a pleasant surprise to me. Not typically a fan of dystopia novels, I wasn’t sure how well I’d be able to relate to the main character. My worries were unfounded, however, when I got sucked into the storyline from page 1!

In each of the 12 districts of Panem, the annual Reaping is held—the choosing of one boy and one girl, between the ages of 12 and 18, to be participants in the Hunger Games. The Hunger Games are basically a brutal version of the reality show, Survivor, except instead of voting people off, you must kill your opponents. Odds are always low that the younger children will be called, but this year the near impossible happens—Katniss Everdeen’s 12-year-old sister’s name is chosen. Kat refuses to accept this, and therefore volunteers herself in Prim’s place. Immediately after this, Kat’s adventure begins.

HUNGER GAMES is not a humorous book. There are deaths, one of which is close to Katniss’s heart, and is written in a way that is likely to bring a tear to the reader’s eye. However, Katniss is a strong character, talented with a bow and arrow, and skilled at hunting. Reading about her movements through the Arena, the landscape chosen for the Games, is fascinating and will have the reader thirsting for the next scene to see what happens next. So while there is little-to-no humor, the action and heart of the book are more than enough to make up for it.

The novel does contain some romance, but not the traditional sort. The story is fast-paced and action-packed so there is little time to cultivate a budding relationship. Kat and Peeta, the boy chosen from District 12, are instructed by their handlers to play up the young love angle in order to win sponsors and audience favoritism. Peeta plays his part so well that Kat begins to wonder if he truly does have feelings for her, and because of this, her own feelings become confused and she realizes that she may have feelings for him as well. There is little time to fully resolve this, though, and readers will likely be reaching for the sequels as soon they turn this novel’s last page.

HUNGER GAMES is not about the romance, though. It takes a backseat to the warlike situation, the game of survival, the thrill of the hunt, and sacrificing everything so that the person you love most can live. Says a review in School Library Journal, “Collins's characters are completely realistic and sympathetic as they form alliances and friendships in the face of overwhelming odds; the plot is tense, dramatic, and engrossing” (Baird).

Reference List:

Baird, Jane Henriksen. 2008. Review of The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins. School Library Journal.