The Hunger Games

Title: The Hunger Games
Series: The Hunger Games
Author: Suzanne Collins
Published: 2008
Genre: Dystopian, Action, Adventure
Rating: 4 out of 5

"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 steps forward to take her sister's place in the Games. But Katniss has been close to dead before—and survival, for her, is second nature. Without really meaning to, she becomes a contender. But if she is to win, she will have to start making choices that will weigh survival against humanity and life against love."

From Goodreads.com

Finally, I've read The Hunger Games! Although I didn't absolutely love it, I enjoyed this novel immensely, especially as it makes me think about how barbaric the world can become and the extent of control a government can have.

Katniss is classic: a mentally and emotionally strong female protagonist. Her soft spot is her sister, which is why she volunteered herself to fight, in place of her younger sister Prim. Katniss' wit and character is also to be admired, and although she isn't very nice to Peeta, the male contestant from District 12, her resourcefulness and moments with Rue do make her a good person.

Until chapter nine, the story was slowly paced, which frustrated me because I wanted to read the about the Games. However, the story rapidly picks up place once the contestants are in the arena. The idea of Capitol, the menacing and fascinating capital of Panem, was creepy yet interesting, with the people reminding me of Lady Gaga.

The Hunger Games was very fun and exciting to read, especially because it is action packed without spies and guns. I think this novel will appeal to everyone, especially those who like to read dystopian fiction and action/adventure. The romance was also nice to read about, but in my opinion I wouldn't have minded if there wasn't any.