hunger games first book review

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The hunger games, book 1.

• Common Sense Says
• Parents Say 240 Reviews
• Kids Say 1,231 Reviews

Common Sense Media Review

By Matt Berman , based on child development research. How do we rate?

Exciting, provocative tale of lethal reality show.

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that The Hunger Games is a best-selling story about a dystopian society where the government forces 24 kids to kill one another until only one remains. The main Hunger Games series of three books was adapted into four movies starring Jennifer Lawrence. Even though many teen characters die…

Why Age 13+?

For a story about 24 kids forced to kill each other for entertainment, the gore

Adults drink, and one key character is often drunk (it's implied that he abuses

Characters kiss and have crushes, and a love story between two tributes is a cen

No product placements in the book, but this is the story that spawned a multibil

"Hell," plus descriptions of cursing that don't appear in text.

Any Positive Content?

Love of and loyalty to family, friends, and community are powerful motivations.

Beginning with elements of the Theseus myth, where a leader demands sacrifice fr

Katniss is a strong and capable warrior who bravely takes the place of her young

Katniss Everdeen, a teenage girl who's up against the crushing force of her gove

Violence & Scariness

For a story about 24 kids forced to kill each other for entertainment, the gore level is lower and less bloody than expected -- but there is some. Teens are speared, shot with arrows, stabbed, mauled by wild animals, burned, and have their heads smashed and their necks broken. Injuries are realistic, including burn blistering, blood poisoning, and gangrene with plenty of pus. A boy's face is mauled to the point that Katniss describes it as a "hunk of meat where his mouth was," and someone twitches to death from bad insect stings. Mention that a leg had to be amputated. Talk of past games and what happened with the story of one boy trying to eat the bodies of those he killed. Also talk of the oppression experienced by those who don't live in the Capitol, with rampant starvation, tongues being cut out, public whippings for people trying to eat the food that they grow, and a boy getting shot for taking a pair of glasses. Many detailed descriptions of how Katniss' father died in a mining explosion and how her family almost starved afterward when her mom fell into a depressive state.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.

Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

Adults drink, and one key character is often drunk (it's implied that he abuses alcohol to cope with trauma). A 16-year-old teen tries wine but doesn't like the fuzzy feeling it gives her and switches back to water.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Drinking, Drugs & Smoking in your kid's entertainment guide.

Sex, Romance & Nudity

Characters kiss and have crushes, and a love story between two tributes is a central theme in this survival story. Mentions of bare bodies in the context of healing wounds.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Sex, Romance & Nudity in your kid's entertainment guide.

Products & Purchases

No product placements in the book, but this is the story that spawned a multibillion dollar franchise of several movies with accompanying games, toys, and other merch in its marketing.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Language in your kid's entertainment guide.

Positive Messages

Love of and loyalty to family, friends, and community are powerful motivations. Compassion, humanity, bravery, and integrity are the seeds of rebellion and hope for oppressed people. This book shows the media at its manipulative worst, using contestants as pawns to both shock and entertain, and is a reminder to analyze messages critically.

Educational Value

Beginning with elements of the Theseus myth, where a leader demands sacrifice from young people in his country, author Collins highlights gaps between the wealthy and poor in a dystopian society with contemporary political and social trends set within a reality show competition. Great discussion starters for middle-school and up book groups, in which students will quickly make fruitful connections to our own society. Readers also learn a bit about how to survive in the wilderness.

Positive Role Models

Katniss is a strong and capable warrior who bravely takes the place of her younger sister in the deadly competition. Peeta is committed to keeping Katniss alive and risks death to stay true to himself. Both persevere through many dangers. Supporting characters such as Haymitch and Effie, while flawed in their own ways, are encouraging and caring mentors and help coach Katniss and Peeta through the games.

Diverse Representations

Katniss Everdeen, a teenage girl who's up against the crushing force of her government, is the heart and soul of the story. She isn't restrained by gender norms as she hunts and provides for her family back home, yet she's forced into a feminine stereotype in her love story with Peeta, her fellow tribute, as she struggles to survive the games. Most characters, especially the wealthy and privileged groups in each district, are implied to be White. But Katniss and others from District 12 are described with olive skin, dark hair, and gray eyes, and Rue and Thresh from District 11 are Black. Spoiler alert: Peeta's leg is amputated at the end of the story, and he learns to live with the disability.

Did we miss something on diversity? Suggest an update.

Parents need to know that The Hunger Games is a best-selling story about a dystopian society where the government forces 24 kids to kill one another until only one remains. The main Hunger Games series of three books was adapted into four movies starring Jennifer Lawrence . Even though many teen characters die -- by spear, rock, arrow, knife, fire, animal stings, poisoning, and more -- there are few truly gory moments. Perhaps the worst is when a boy's face is mauled by animals to the point that main character Katniss says there's a "hunk of meat where his mouth was." There are stories about the daily hardships and violence experienced by everyone outside the privileged Capitol, including how Katniss' father died in a mining explosion. Adults drink, including one key adult character who's frequently drunk. Characters kiss and have crushes. Language includes "hell," and there are descriptions of cursing that don't appear in the text. Kids' readiness for this kind of premise depends on their ability to read for a deeper meaning, and there are many layers here to discuss, including how compassion, humanity, courage, and integrity are the seeds of rebellion and hope for oppressed people.

Where to Read

Parent and kid reviews.

• Parents say (240)
• Kids say (1,231)

Based on 240 parent reviews

If your kid can handle violence the this is perfect i really reccomend anyone read this book

Important lessons!!!

What's the story.

THE HUNGER GAMES is set in the future, after the United States is gone. In its place is Panem, in which the privileged Capitol rules over 12 districts. To maintain an iron grip, the Capitol holds an annual televised program, a lethal competition to which each district must send one boy and one girl, who are known as "tributes." Out of these 24 kids, only one will survive. Katniss Everdeen, who volunteers to take her sister's place, and Peeta Mellark are District 12's tributes, but their competition is complicated by the fact that Peeta falls in love with Katniss.

Is It Any Good?

Author Suzanne Collins blends elements that are both classical and modern to produce a story that, if not entirely new, still bears her unique imprint. Beginning with elements of the Theseus myth, she mixes in a large dollop of Battle Royale by Koushun Takami, elements of Shirley Jackson's The Lottery , reality TV shows like Survivor , and political and social trends. But she makes the resulting story her own, and The Hunger Games avoids feeling derivative through her poignant characters and the complex interplay of personal feelings and political machinations.

Collins does all this in the context of an all-out action-thriller that's told in straight-ahead yet subtle prose with a carefully calibrated level of edgy violence that doesn't go over the line. A story of teens massacring one another could, in the hands of a different author, have been overly sensational. But by keeping the focus relentlessly on the personal, Collins makes it both moving and thought-provoking. The Hunger Games will be a terrific discussion starter for middle-school literature groups, in which students will quickly make connections to contemporary society.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

Families can talk about the popularity of The Hunger Games. Why has it struck such a chord with readers?

How is Katniss and Peeta's story manipulated by the Capitol media? How do they play along? Why is it sometimes essential for their survival? Are there any reality shows you watch that have moments that ring false to you? How can you tell?

Why are dystopian novels so popular? What are some of your favorites?

Describe scenes when Katniss, Peeta, and other characters model courage , compassion , and integrity . How do these character strengths inspire or give others hope in times of struggle or stress?

Katniss shows a remarkable amount of perseverance throughout the story. What helps her keep going? What and who helps you keep going when things are hard in your life?

Book Details

• Author : Suzanne Collins
• Genre : Science Fiction
• Topics : Activism , Magic and Fantasy , Sports and Martial Arts , Adventures , Brothers and Sisters , Friendship , Great Boy Role Models , Great Girl Role Models
• Character Strengths : Compassion , Courage , Integrity , Perseverance
• Book type : Fiction
• Publisher : Scholastic Inc.
• Publication date : September 14, 2008
• Publisher's recommended age(s) : 12 - 17
• Number of pages : 374
• Available on : Paperback, Nook, Hardback, iBooks, Kindle
• Award : Kids' Choice Award
• Last updated : May 6, 2024

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

Suggest an Update

What to read next.

Unwind: Unwind Dystology, Book 1

Little Brother

Matched, Book 1

Frequently challenged and banned books for kids and teens, fantasy books for kids, related topics.

• Perseverance
• Magic and Fantasy
• Sports and Martial Arts
• Brothers and Sisters
• Great Boy Role Models
• Great Girl Role Models

Want suggestions based on your streaming services? Get personalized recommendations

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

Book Review: The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

The hunger games by suzanne collins is the first book in the hunger games trilogy. the gripping plot makes it the perfect book to keep you occupied on a long haul flight. here’s my book review of the hunger games by suzanne collins., disclaimer: some of the links below are affiliate links, which means if you click on the link and make a purchase, i’ll get a small commission at no extra cost to you. please note that all sales are processed by the linked website, not rays of adventure, so you’ll be subject to their privacy policy., overview of the hunger games by suzanne collins.

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins is the first book of three in The Hunger Games trilogy. It’s set in a future world, where years of conflict have led to the new country of Panem. It’s controlled by the Capitol, and has 12 Districts which are responsible for producing resources for the Capitol. The brutal, totalitarian rule of the Capitol means the people in the Districts live difficult lives, struggling to feed their families. It’s part of the Capitol punishing the Districts for trying to revolt a few years ago. Part of this punishment is the annual Hunger Games, where teenagers from each District are chosen to enter an arena and fight to the death for TV entertainment.

Katniss Everdeen lives in District 12, and ends up being the chosen tribute to represent her District in the Hunger Games. She’s joined by a boy called Peeta, who is also from District 12. They travel to the Capitol for their training, where they’re given elaborate costumes by designers and appear on TV interviews before they enter the arena.

The Hunger Games begins, and all the tributes must hide or fight, to try to be the last one alive. Katniss uses her archery skills, learned from hunting for food for her family, and manages to stay alive at first. But there’s a twist – Peeta is in love with Katniss, but in the game they are meant to kill each other. And Katniss also has a close friend from home, called Gale, who she’s unsure about her feelings for. It’s a complicated mix of teenage emotion, made even more complicated by the fact that Katniss and Peeta are on live TV and meant to kill each other. And so the Hunger Games begins…

If you’d like to buy this book, click on this link or the picture below to buy it from Amazon (affiliate).

What I like about this book

I found The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins really gripping. The action starts near the beginning of the book – it doesn’t take long at all for Katniss to learn she’s in the Hunger Games. The level of suspense is really good throughout the book, and I feel like it moves at a good pace.

The teenage love triangle is interesting as well. Both Peeta and Gale are likeable characters but for very different reasons, so you can understand why Katniss finds it confusing. It almost reminded me of the love triangle in the Twlight books, where Bella is torn between Edward and Jacob. But I found Peeta and Gale better male characters, with better reasons for choosing each one.

There are plenty of other interesting characters in the books as well. There’s Haymitch, an old Hunger Games victor, who I was never sure if I liked or not. But that just made him more interesting. The fashion designers from the Capitol are also good. I loved the descriptions in the book of the elaborate costumes they produced.

The whole idea behind the country of Panem was also good. It made me think about whether it was a commentary on our world now, with so many conflicts and so much destruction of the world. It actually felt a feasible idea that a totalitarian country like Panem could be the result of the world’s conflicts.

What I wasn’t so sure about

I really enjoyed this book, so there’s not much to dislike. I think the main thing was that I sometimes found Katniss a bit unlikeable. At times, she seemed strong and powerful. But occasionally, she came across selfish, and like she didn’t care about the emotions of other people like Peeta and Gale. I think the author was trying to go for the ‘imperfect heroine’ idea, which I like in a way. But maybe there were just a few too many imperfections. Katniss was good at archery and loved her sister, but apart from that, I couldn’t see too many positive character traits. I think just a few more things to like about Katniss would have made this book even better.

Would I recommend The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins?

My book review of The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins is definitely positive, so I would definitely recommend this book. It’s gripping and full of suspense, so it’s the perfect book to keep you occupied on a long haul flight. I found I could read it for hours at a time without getting bored. It’s not just a teenage book either. Although the main characters are teenagers, there’s plenty of interest for anyone of any age. It’s a really good book and I look forward to reading the second and third in the series. Make sure you check out my reviews of the second book and third book.

If you like the sound of this book,  buy yourself a copy for the weekend here! (affiliate)

If this book has inspired you to want to get on a long haul flight to start reading this book, it’s time to start planning your next trip the uk is a beautiful place to travel, with beautiful scenery in  wales  and  scotland . or you could visit some of the amazing cities in europe, such as  prague ,  berlin  or  vienna . the usa is full of amazing places as well, like the  florida keys ,  san francisco  and the  olympic mountains . start planning your travels and live life with no regrets.

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Review: The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (Book 1, The Hunger Games)

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I think your comments here are spot-on. Especially where you talk about "the book itself is oddly sexless" - so true, I hadn't thought of it in those words but you're right. It brings to mind the common theme in our societies/countries where sex is more taboo than violence, like how blockbuster movies full of violence get a lower rating than a film with some sexual content. Also the bit about reality TV - books like this could really do a lot more in their social commentary, I agree. I liked this one a lot more than the next two, but like you I kept thinking of Battle Royale which I loved (Collins' has said she had never read it or seen it but I wonder whether she'd heard of it, even if she then forgot? The similarities are hard to pass over!). The last book just got silly (and the sexless ending sooo drawn out and by then Katniss was just boring) but I'm very interested to hear what you think. Oh, and what other works did you find it borrowed from? Aside from the obvious classic dystopian works, I hadn't thought of anything else.

It wasn't until the end that I really noticed how sexless the book was. I think it's a flaw not too have addressed it at all. After all, if you throw a bunch of hormonal teenagers together it's almost certainly going to be an issue, particularly given the situation. Takami deals with the issue in Battle Royale in relation to the urge that surfaces in some of the males to force themselves upon some of the girls. It doesn't have to be deeply explored or in anyway graphic, but I think it should be acknowledged at least. Young readers are a lot more intelligent than is often made out. I'm interested in how the plot develops too - I'm hoping to have them read by the time the first movie comes out in March. If Collins has really made that claim, then it smacks of ignorance, and can only be disingenuous for me. Personally, I don't have a problem with the story borrowing from other places, and actually it's not nearly so much as some people have suggested, but I cannot believe that she hasn't read or seen it. Very poor. On the issue though, I do truly believe that The Hunger Games is a work in it's own right. Stories have always been borrowed and adapted, Shakespeare did beautiful things with other people's stories, and I think that's the real problem here; the plot is similar, but Collins's writing is nothing special, she doesn't add anything to the idea. Personally, I felt the first half of the book was pretty good, but the actual games were written badly; lacking entirely in drama, or interesting commentary - this, I think, is why the comparison to Battle Royale is a problem for so many people. As you say there are a few dystopian novels which spring to mind. I'd also point out The Lottery , a pretty famous short story by Shirley Jackson, which has strong similarities with the reaping. There's some mythology thrown in there too, a little Lord of the Flies , and something which I can't remember without my notes. :) Anyway, thanks for the comment Shannon, lovely to have you stop by.

Great review! I do agree about the simplicity of the book. I didn't touch upon that in my review just for the fact that I am in my 30s but in relation to other YA books I felt it could have had more stuffing. I found the the fact that there was no sex a bit refreshing. I liked how the author gets her readers invested in the characters emotionally. Once again, loved your review. I have just recently finished the Catching Fire and I am very curious how this will all end!

I'm just about to start Catching Fire , but like you I'm interested to see where the series is headed. I think all the preamble to the games is a good way of getting the reader emotionally-invested in the characters, but I did think the glossing over of all sexuality felt rather odd. The simplicity should certainly entice less regular readers to embrace the series. I wanted more, but the book is probably not aimed at me :)

Despite all the obvious shortcominfs of the book and indeed the series, it suceeds at keeping the interest of the reader. one would still want to go back into the world of the Capitol and the 12 districts to find out what became of peeta, katniss,and the rest of rhe crew. Having finished reading all 3 books, I have to say that I found the series entertaining, albeit with minimal mentally stimulating content. It is a good read for YA and adults alike.

muyiscoi - thanks for dropping by. I think Suzanne Collins definitely achieved an addictive read. Easy and light, what I've read of the series so far zips by and you always want to know what's going to happen next. Interesting to see how the rest of the series of the series holds up.

I broke down and bought this a couple of weeks ago and just started it yesterday. I haven't read YA since I was a YA and it's interesting to go back. I don't remember the language being quite so simplistic, but other than that it's an interesting story so far. I don't see myself falling head over heels for it, but I'm happy to be giving the book a shot, nonetheless.

It is pretty simplistic although I don't have a lot to compare it to, as I didn't read much as a YA (although, I'm not prepared to consider myself as a regular adult until I'm at least 30, so maybe I can still count myself as a YA :P) I can see why it's popular, but it didn't blow me away. See how you go, and let me know what you think.

This is the best analysis of the book I've read yet. The Hunger Games was the first YA book I had read in years, so for me it was an a new and exhilarating experience. I didn't mind the simplicity of the writing, though I do think there is a gap between the age level where the content of this book is appropriate and the reading level. I agree with Kelsey about the sexlessness of the novel being refreshing. I felt like I got to know the characters better than if there had been a greater emphasis on sex.

Thanks very much Kate - that's a lovely thing to hear :) Like you, I don't read a lot of YA, so it's always a case of adjusting my perspective. I think you're right too, there is an interesting contrast between the level that the writing and the level that the content are pitched at. I've heard quite a few people say that the lack of sex was refreshing, so I think I'm in the minority here. Although truth be told, I probably could have lived without the romance altogether.

Wouldn't that be something--a YA novel without a romance that actually makes it onto the bestseller list. One can wish...

It would indeed - sadly, I think the post-Twilight era is set to follow that particular formula.

I think you hit the nail on the head. However, I do believe that Katniss is, significantly, an important female character. Whilst her mother is too frail to do anything and Prim too young, she leads and grows in confidence - although I found her weak in the third novel.

Hi Matt - thanks for stopping by. I've just had a look at your own review of the book, and I have to say, you write very well. Katniss is a good character, and pretty positive, as female role models in popular fiction go. However, I think a lot more could have been done with her, particularly in the later books in the trilogy, when she really begins to fade.

I always welcome comments...

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Book Review

The hunger games — “hunger games” series.

• Suzanne Collins
• Drama , Dystopian , Science Fiction

Readability Age Range

• Scholastic Press, an imprint of Scholastic Inc.
• The New York TimesBestseller, 2009-10;Publishers WeeklyBest Book of the Year, 2008; American Library Association (ALA) Best Book for Young Adults, 2009

Year Published

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins has been reviewed by Focus on the Family’s marriage and parenting magazine . It is the first book in “The Hunger Games” series.

Plot Summary

Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen lives in the nation of Panem (a post-apocalyptic North America) with her mother and younger sister, Prim. Her family resides in District 12, the poorest of 12 districts ruled by the wealthy Capitol. Katniss provides for her mother and sister by hunting with her friend Gale in the forbidden woods nearby.

As punishment for the districts’ rebellion attempt years earlier, the Capitol holds an annual televised event called The Hunger Games. Each district must draw the names of a boy and girl between the ages of 12 and 18. These 24 youths become contestants (called “tributes”), who must fight to the death in a vast arena created by the Capitol Gamemakers. The lone survivor returns home to wealth and fame.

One year, on the day of “reaping,” Prim’s name is drawn. Katniss volunteers to take her sister’s place. The other tribute is Peeta Mellark, a baker’s son who once saved Katniss’ family from starvation by sneaking them bread. Guards put Katniss and Peeta on a train for the Capitol. Haymitch Abernathy, their trainer, accompanies them. He is the only District 12 tribute who has ever survived the Hunger Games.

The bored, wealthy people of the Capitol celebrate the Hunger Games with parties and parades. Capitol-appointed prep teams create an image for each tribute by providing costumes, makeovers and talking points. Tributes who impress the Capitol viewers win “sponsors” — or wealthy fans, who will fund gifts of food and equipment at critical points in the Games.

In his pre-Games TV interview, Peeta claims he’s secretly loved his District 12 counterpart for years. Since tributes are always on camera, Katniss can never ask Peeta if his declaration is true or a ploy to attract attention. She plays along, and they draw many sponsors with their ill-fated romance.

After Olympic-like opening ceremonies, the tributes are thrown into an arena with miles of forestland. Eleven tributes die the first day as the contestants fight for the few supplies the Capitol has provided. Katniss takes off alone, hiding and hunting for several days until a group of allied tributes traps her in a tree. There, she finds a young tribute named Rue, who reminds her of her sister. They drop a nest of mutated yellow jackets on their opponents and escape. Their alliance and friendship are short-lived. Another boy kills Rue with a spear a few days later.

Playing on the audience’s thirst for romance, the Gamemakers announce that if two members from the same district are the last two contestants, both may return home. Katniss finds Peeta and nurses the wounds he’s acquired in a battle with another tribute.

When only one contestant besides Katniss and Peeta remains, the Gamemakers release a pack of vicious dog-like creatures. The beasts slowly maul the other boy to death. Katniss and Peeta believe they’ve won the Games, but at the last moment, a voice announces that the previous rule change has been revoked. Only one contestant can win, meaning the District 12 tributes must fight each other to the death. Peeta and Katniss threaten to eat poisonous berries simultaneously. The Gamemakers, knowing a double suicide will be an unsatisfying conclusion for the audience, quickly uphold their earlier ruling.

Though both teens are allowed to return to home, Haymitch tells Katniss that the Capitol is furious with their attempt to throw the Games. So even as she rides the train to District 12, Katniss senses she is anything but safe. She also learns that Peeta’s love is real, but he’s crushed to hear that Katniss is uncertain of her feelings for him. She’s developed a deep fondness for Peeta, but she finds herself thinking more about Gale, a friend she used to illegally hunt with in the forest.

Christian Beliefs

Other belief systems.

A few times, Katniss mentions having good luck. Rue carries a good luck charm. Katniss says the woods where she hunts have been the savior of her and her family. She says her mother and sister can work magic with herbs (meaning that they’re good at making and administering medicines). Before becoming a tribute, Katniss devoted her Sundays to hunting and trading with Gale.

Authority Roles

Katniss’ father died in a mining accident several years earlier. She recalls his beautiful singing. Katniss’ mother subsequently suffered a mental breakdown, leaving Katniss to support the family. Though Mother eventually improves, she is never the same nor does she reclaim the roles of parent or provider. Peeta’s mother smacks him across the face for burning bread. Haymich, District 12’s sole Hunger Games winner in its 40+ year history, is Katniss and Peeta’s official adviser. Known throughout the nation for his embarrassing alcohol-induced TV appearances, he sobers up some to help them form a strategy. He sends them gifts on the battlefield when they follow his orders. The dictatorial leaders of the Capitol, as well as its self-absorbed citizens, dress strangely and eat lavishly. In their existential boredom, they seek extreme “entertainment,” which includes watching others suffer brutality and die gruesome deaths.

Profanity & Violence

The word h— appears once. In this tale of 24 teenagers forced to kill each other, readers follow a number of gruesome, bloody and otherwise disturbing scenes. One tribute murders another by snapping his neck. Other tributes are killed by spears, arrows, blows to the head with rocks and the stings of mutated yellow jackets. Wounds ooze blood and puss, and the wounded smell festering flesh. One of the final tributes is mauled by a pack of rabid dog-like creatures for hours before he dies. Katniss also mentions how, in previous games, tributes were killed by venomous snakes, went insane from thirst or froze to death. One previous contestant tried to eat the tributes he’d killed, but the Gamemakers stopped this because it didn’t play well with the audience. Leaders in the Capitol cut out the tongues of those who disobey them. Despite the many alarming images, readers find little if any gratuitous gore. The descriptions emphasize the horrible plight of the tributes and the gross desensitization of the Capitol dwellers.

Sexual Content

Katniss and Peeta kiss a number of times and snuggle together for warmth in a sleeping bag.

Discussion Topics

Get free discussion questions for this book and others, at FocusOnTheFamily.com/discuss-books .

Additional Comments

Like the Hunger Games tributes in the Capitol arena, many early Christians faced cruel deaths in the Roman Colosseum. Parents or teachers might study the persecution of early Christ followers and compare/contrast those believers with the Hunger Games contestants.

Mythology: The book’s plot was influenced by the Greek myth in which King Minos requires 7 boys and 7 girls from Athens to battle the Minotaur in a labyrinth.

Alcohol: Haymitch drinks constantly. He is often drunk and humiliating himself, like when he vomits all over the floor of the train en route to the Capitol. The prep team gives Katniss wine at a dinner, but after drinking half of one glass, she feels foggy and switches to water. She says she can’t understand how Haymitch can stand being in a fog all the time. Instead of observing Katniss and rating her pre-Games performance, the intoxicated Gamemakers ignore her and sing drinking songs.

Gambling: The Hunger Games are a hotbed of gambling, not unlike big sporting events of today.

Nudity: The prep team examines Katniss in the nude, and she’s often naked in their presence as they prepare her for TV appearances. The mentions of nudity, neither graphic nor sexual, emphasize how Katniss is viewed as an object to be modified rather than a human being.

Illegal activity: Katniss and Gale hunt illegally. They sell some of what they gather and/or kill on the city’s black market. Nearly all District 12 citizens rely on the black market for survival.

Movie Tie-In: Producers often use a book as a springboard for a movie idea or to earn a specific rating. Because of this, a movie may differ from the novel. To better understand how this book and the movie differ, compare this book review with Plugged In’s movie review for The Hunger Games.

Read Plugged In’s insight about young adult book trends at Teen Lit: Now Without Witches!

You can request a review of a title you can’t find at [email protected] .

Book reviews cover the content, themes and worldviews of fiction books, not their literary merit, and equip parents to decide whether a book is appropriate for their children. The inclusion of a book’s review does not constitute an endorsement by Focus on the Family.

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17 Sep The Hunger Games – Reviewed by Emma Ciliberti

Book review: the hunger games by suzanne collins.

The Hunger Games, written by Suzanne Collins, is an action-packed book that depicts the tribulations teenagers face. The narrative follows the experiences of Katniss Everdeen, a sixteen-year-old who finds herself in dire circumstances.

 Katniss is required to attend the Hunger Games alongside Peeta Mellark. Katniss did not have an established relationship with Peeta before the games, which made matters worse. The Capitol controls the summertime Hunger Games, which consists of 24 contestants entering and 1 contestant exiting. In order to win the games, you must outlast everyone else in the woods, becoming the sole survivor. Because she must leave her mother and sister Prim at home, Katniss must deal with the harsh reality that they may not be able to live without her. Additionally, Katniss believes she won’t prevail because she’s only sixteen and hasn’t had any training. However, there are eighteen-year-olds who have trained their entire lives participating. During the games, Katniss realizes she cannot stab Peeta in the back by killing him; then, she discovers that maybe she would not have to.

 I recommend reading The Hunger Games due to its inspiring heroine who changes the fate of Panem for the rest of eternity. Overall, The Hunger Games features amazing story twists and explores a wide range of emotions. If you enjoyed the first book, be sure to inquire about the sequel, Catching Fire.   

~Emma Ciliberti

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (Hunger Games: Book 1)

I came to the Hunger Games series late in its popularity. Way late. Less than a month's time to the release of the highly anticipated film adaptation (an adaptation written in part by Suzanne Collins herself, one of the credited writers of the script) and I've known about the series less than a year, and having only read the series a few months prior to this review.

My own lack of trendiness aside, the books have seen a meteoric surge in popularity since the publication of this first volume in 2008. It was nothing short of an instant hit from almost the first moment. Set in a dystopian future where North America has been split into 12 districts by an evil government known only as The Capitol after a devastating war. The 12 districts are punished by being kept desperately poor – and once a year they must each select one boy and one girl by lottery to do battle in a grand gladiatorial arena known as the Hunger Games. These twenty-four children, ranging in age from twelve to eighteen, must fight to the death, and there can be only one winner. When Katniss Everdeen’s twelve-year-old sister’s name is drawn for the Hunger Games, Katniss volunteers to take her place, and is thus drawn into a horrifying and desperate fight for survival against the odds, the elements, and her fellow, bloodthirsty competitors.

The first thing that struck me about the book, beyond the smart, polished prose and the immediately compelling protagonist Katniss, was the depth of insight into human life which Collins so deftly exhibits. Almost from the first page, as with Rowling's Potter novels, the reader is struck with a sense that here is something special—that often ineffable quality which so many writers lust to possess but which is rarely achieved, that this book in some strange way resonates with the deepest realities of human existence, or at least of human existence at this time in history. Critics of pop culture will sneer (when will they not?) that the popularity of the books is due to various factors like declining education or “mass obsession,” but there really is something here beyond the surface, illusive and difficult to articulate yet nevertheless no less present for all that.

Katniss' journey is many things, tapping into the archetypal mythical journey outlined by Joseph Campbell, a genuine pyschological depth of the toll of participation in such a games. Reflection on ethical and moral questions regarding murder and self-defense, on the impact of such a Games in a social and communal pyschology. It is hard, coming away from the books, to shake the feeling that these Games are a ritual bloodletting with quasi-religious undertones, much like the Roman gladiatorial arena where the ritual murder of Remus by Romulus (which allowed for the building of Rome on the atonement of his blood) is recapitulated in the death of each gladiator. That somehow the Games are an attempt to cover the guilty conscience of the hedonistic Capitol by the atonement of blood while the rest of Panem dwells in deep poverty (the work of Rene Girard on scapegoating is vital reading here).

The book is also fundamentally about the transformation of Katniss herself into a fully-formed human being by way of trial by fire. Mythological and historical references abound. The “trial by arena battle” is as old as the sands of the sea, of course, and the name of this civilization, Panem, comes from the old Latin expression panem et circuses, that is, “bread and circuses,” an expression used by ancient writers to illustrate the fixation of the Roman citizens on food (hedonistic gluttony) and circuses, or entertainment. Such a name is perfectly suited for this dystopian future eerily like our own present. We in the West are the Capitol, a comparison made more disquieting by the intentional allusion back to Huxley's Brave New World, one of the first dystopians in which the people were enslaved, not to a totalitarian state, but to their own pleasures, caught in a vast corporatocracy even though they were not even aware of its presence. The best science fiction is not about the future, but about revealing the present, and in this The Hunger Games matches the definition perfectly.

Collins is a fine writer worthy of her craft, and the book is compelling all the way through. I don't usually stay up late reading novels, but this time I did. It is a massive whirlwind of enjoyment and insight. It does not pull its punches, and for this reason The Hunger Games is also not free of controversy. Some religious groups have denounced the books as unacceptable for its presentation of violence and for the ever-present theme of looming death. Such readings are in fact misreadings, these groups having missed the obvious point of the series, which is that violence, while very real, is not a viable response. Katniss throughout the book avoids killing where she can, and only does so regretfully, in self-defense. The books are about how violence and vengeance destroys and lowers human life. Far from being a pro-violence or blood-letting message, the books end up being a strong anti-war tract by subverting the honor-warrior-noble-battle trope common in many stories today. Ultimately, the books are about self-sacrifice and the ability of love to overcome the might of totalitarianism, cruelty, and hatred. I do not believe I can recommend them highly enough. 9.3/10, AT Ross

I have no hard and fast rule concerning whether to read a book before seeing the cinematic adaptation, but having seen the trailer for The Hunger Games and deduced the nature of the story being told, I was determined to read the book first.

It’s still a while until the movie hits, but I absolutely loved the book.

Suzanne Collins has written something really special in ‘The Hunger Games’ and I would not hesitate to recommend this to people of almost any age.

The story can be pretty easily determined by watching any of the number of trailers for the movie, but imagine a post-civil war era America who have lost any track of their heritage. 12 districts exist to service the Capitol, and as a result of a long-gone uprising, the Capitol now forces the districts to provide 2 tributes each to compete in a ruthless battle-to-the-death to remind them of their situation.

These are the Hunger Games, and the focus of the whole book (though the book does not necessarily solely take place within the Hunger Games).

The characters are wonderful to read, if maybe a little two-dimensional. But this two-dimensionality only exists so that the characters could be read and understood by readers of any age, but through any lack of talent on the author’s part.

I have heard it said that this series is a little Twilight -ish in terms of the ‘emotions’ and focus on female characters, but I found no evidence of this. In fact, I found Katniss Everdeen’s slow and never realised understanding of her feelings quite evocative of my own time as a teenager.

The world around the story is quite wonderful, and leaves me with an endless number of questions: what aren’t the people being told; who is still alive; what is going to happen next? The sheer brutality of it is very fresh, untold in other books, and especially impressive in this one as it is told in a way that is not gruesome for the sake of gruesome; sexy for the sake of sexy. What happens all seems very natural.

You may see this book on the shelves of a children or teenager’s section of the bookstore and shy away from it. Don’t. You’ll be missing out. Suzanne Collins has managed to replicate the wonderful breadth and width of all-ages storytelling without cutting any of the corners off. The Hunger Games was a simply magnificent read. 9.0/10, Joshua S Hill

Winning will make you famous. Losing means certain death.

This Young Adult book is set in the future long after North America has been demolished, in a nation known as Panem. The nation is separated into twelve districts, which surround the Capitol. It was formerly thirteen until the thirteenth was destroyed by the rulers of this world.  Every year in order for the rulers to flex their might, a boy and girl aged between twelve and eighteen are randomly chosen to represent their district in a reality TV show. However, this show has a twist. The show is to the death and only one winner will survive. This book follows Katniss Everdeen as she steps in to enter this game....

This is a well written and engaging novel which sees the likes of Big Brother and I’m a Celebrity taken to a disturbingly, yet possible conclusion. I have recently become a fan of teenage fiction and this is one of the better reads of this genre. Yes, the story is not unique and has been seen in the films ‘The Running Man’ and ‘The Condemned’ . Although, it is the addition of teenagers, playing the central characters, which gives this book bite. 

We follow the exploits of Kat, a sixteen year old from District Twelve – the poorest of the districts – as she embarks on the journey of her life. Kat is already a hunter and her life to date has already instilled into her a fight to survive attitude, and a steely character.  It is these characteristics which will stand her in good stead in this shocking tale.

The characterisation is stronger in this than other YA books and is more adult in its approach. The pace is fast, always an emotional roller coaster and highly descriptive at the same time, especially in the handling of it’s hunting scenes. Occasionally, it can be too descriptive and sometimes this gets in the way of the plot and prose though not to a detrimental effect.

There were times when I was reminded of ‘Enders Game’ and times when I was reminded of ‘Romeo and Juliet’ . Yes, it does have a love theme running through it. However, this adds to the story and is paramount in driving the characters’ motivations throughout the book.

This is a book which will be enjoyed a lot by teenagers, as well as adults, to which it will have a certain resonance, having witnessed the explosion and possibilities of reality TV this last decade. It is a strange phenomenon in modern culture and hopefully this is not it’s natural conclusion. This book is also followed by two subsequent books, which will be reviewed in the near future.

All in all this is a book worthy of reading, and while it is possible, I guess you will have to suspend your imagination, as I personally cannot envisage a society where parents would allow this to happen. At least I do not want to live in that dystopian society if it does... Enjoy... 9.0/10, Allan Fisher

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Reviews by Allan Fisher and Joshua S Hill and AT Ross

12 positive reader review(s) for The Hunger Games

Suzanne Collins biography

Hunger Games

• The Hunger Games (Hunger Games: Book 1)
• Catching Fire (Hunger Games: Book 2)
• Mockingjay (Hunger Games: Book 3)
• The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (Hunger Games: Prequel)

Melina from USA

WOW! This was an awesome book. I couldn't set it down, not even once. The romance of Katniss and Peeta, the friendship of Katniss and Rue, it was just fantastic.

Taneisha from Australia

I first read the series when I was 10 and have decided to reread the series now at 15 and was extremely impressed with the underlying message to readers the book conveyed. The book is page-turning, absorbing, fast-paced, and adventurous whilst also giving readers a warning on how dark society can be. I highly recommend this book, especially for those who love the movie as it (as most book-based movies) was quite misleading and left out some beautiful moments highlighted in the book.

Anon from England

This book is one of a kind.

Eshal from Canada

I found this book really interesting, thrilling and action-packed. The book is page-turning, absorbing, fast-paced, and adventurous, and I often found myself sneaking them under the sheets along with a flashlight. I think that they should have included a bit more about Gale because they never added a scene with him in it. But when I watched the movie it was not at all how I imagined it to be. I think that the book is better that the movie. The book includes all of the details and every thought that every character is thinking. At the part when Haymitch talks in Katniss’s head is really badly filmed in the movies. I love how Katniss is a rebel that does not support the Capitol. This book changed my perspective about life and makes me appreciate that I was not forced to enter the Hunger Games.

Cat Fitzpatrick from UK

I'm very late to the party with this one, with all the fuss around the film adaptation probably putting me off a bit, but I was very pleasantly surprised when I finally picked this up. I literally just sat down and read it straight through - it was gripping and entertaining, and I really liked the concept and main character. It is one of those novels where a very clear image appears in your head whilst you read it, and I'm looking forward to reading the following books, but the pace sometimes dropped a little with a very heavy focus on what Katniss was eating. Obviously it's a survival story and I do like realism in my books, but this can go a bit far and I don't need to know about every bit of cracker she eats. Overall I would definitly recommend this.

Tunaisthebestfishtoeat from UK

I really enjoyed this book and due to the easy flow of action it became a very quick read. For those who have read this, I would like to suggest the book 'Divergent' as it has a similar theme. Trust me,if you enjoyed The Hunger games then you won't be able to put Divergent down. About The Hunger Games, I would suggest you definetely read the book BEFORE you watch the film! Good book 8/10 for original content and well formed characters.

From from UK

I really, really, really did love the books when I read them. They were page-turning, absorbing, fast-paced, and adventurous, and I often found myself sneaking them under the sheets along with a flashlight. However, it was when I looked back on them that I realized they weren't really anything special. The writing was pretty bad, and to be honest the whole first-person present thing made it kind of hard to read. Nevertheless, if you're simply looking for entertainment and nothing to really think over or look deeply into, it would be a lie to tell you its not a great choice.

Stella Mellark from Mexico

I just love the book. It completes my life. In some way I feel like Katniss, she tries to survive and protect her little sister Primrose. Maybe I am obsessed with The Hunger Games, cause, you have to see my room and my school stuffs. Aand i want to say thanks to Suzanne Collins, for writting "The Hunger Games".

Reece from England

I loved this book, I have read the other two books and seen the film four times. It is by far the best book I have ever read.

Bella from Brisbane

As I am only 13 this book came to me through Taylor Swift as she wrote 2 songs for the film. I came across it and started to get into it and after 3 days I could not put the book down. It was just amazing!!! I love it so much that I recently did my English oral on the film. I say, if anyone is into a killer of a book you NEED TO READ THIS!!!!!!

Stefani from Istanbul, Turkey

It was extraoridinary! It was so great I couldn't put it down. It was one of the best books I have ever read and that's saying a lot since I've read tons. It was amazing and it changed my perspective about life. Definitely worth the time!

Katniss from Holland

I love these books. Katniss (I have the same name, seriously) isn't the nicest person in Panem, but how she loves her sister and her friend Gale is fascinating. I love how she never wanted to be a heroine, but she is though.

Ryan from Canberra

This isn't the best written story I have read, Katniss is not a particularly sympathetic / relatable main character, and yet I could not put this book down. The Hunger Games has a way of getting into your head, it is an example of some very clever story telling that explores some very dark themes, and despite not being able to fully connect with the main character, you can still admire her skills and determination.

Gary from Canada

It was a hell of a fun read, though I could not help but feel a little disentangled with some of her dialogue throughout the book. It's either in their world kids are pretty stupid or she doesn't realize how smart they really are. I also found that it was stolen from the Battle Royale comics, which I found to be much more heart rendering and nervousing but nonetheless, her vigorous spirit in writing this tale kept me reading throughout and I rather enjoyed the action.

Fan from South Africa

COULD NOT put it down, nor Catching Fire but Mockingjay lost the plot a bit. I got a bit confused when they actually made it to the Capitol. At any rate, I will be trying Ms. Collins other works as well. GREAT READ!!

Anke from USA

This book took me by surprise. It has a great story and the pace is fast. It is fascinating and truly a page turner. Highly recommended.

9.1 /10 from 17 reviews

All Suzanne Collins Reviews

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Suzanne Collins “The Hunger Games” trilogy – book review

Hunger Games is one of those few instances where I did not insist on reading the book before I saw the film.  In fact I had little intention of reading the books at all. I saw all the movies, and then a few years later I came across Roxane Gay’s article about the Hunger Games . I was intrigued enough that when a kindle edition came up on special offer, I decided to give it a go.

I devoured the first one. I started reading when waiting for a relatively unpleasant medical appointment – and it really does take an absorbing book to take your mind off things in such a situation. I finished it the next evening, and naturally started thinking of excuses to start reading the next ones. If you are looking for a gripping read, Hunger Games is an easy fix.

I enjoyed the antiutopian setting of a ruthlessly upturned United States in which, the capital demands a tribute from each of the local district to fight to the death in a yearly slaughter.

 The inspiration seems to have been the gladiators’ fights in ancient Rome. “Panem” is the name of the capital city in Hunger Games . It comes from “panem et circenses”, the Latin for “bread and games”, the cry of the Roman populace for food and entertainment. Much like the citizens of ancient Rome are typically portrayed by popular culture, the inhabitants of Panem are decadent lovers of opulence and pleasure, unafraid to have people die just to keep themselves entertained.

Like gladiators, some of the tributes are professional fighters, willingly exposing themselves to the arena, whereas some are dragged into the fight against their will.  Unlike the gladiators, the tributes are children. Each district provides two tributes: one boy, one girl. This is why this book gets classified as a young adult novel, even though the children basically spend most of their time trying to murder each other. The Hunger Games can only have one winner- and this is typically the child who has slaughtered everyone else

The narrator, Katniss Everdeen, has volunteered to take part in the Hunger Games to replace her little sister, Prim.  atniss comes from one of the poorest districts of the country and has little hope of surviving the games. In this futuristic version of the Empire, the games are live television, and survival depends not only on skill but also on attracting sponsors.

The other tribute from Katniss’s district is Peeta, a boy who once saved her life by giving her bread when she was almost starving to death. Cue: the repeated theme of bread and hunger.

Eventually Katniss realizes that the best way to attract sponsors in the Hunger Games is to create an on-screen romance with Peeta. She is unsure whether she really has feelings for him. Before the Hunger Games began, she was enjoying a close friendship with Gale another boy from district 12.

Katniss’s conflict with what she is meant to be portraying “for the cameras” and what is actually real rings very true.

The first book is definitely the strongest of the three. The dystopia of institutionalized reality TV demanding on-screen murder, ostensibly for “preserving the peace” feels eerily recognizable. One might think of some parallels between the well-off Western countries with their demands on the developing world and the greedy Panem, extracting all its resources from the struggling districts around it.

Stop reading now if you are worried about spoilers.

In the second part of the Hunger Games, Katniss’s actions in the first Hunger Games are seen as a sign of rebellion against the totalitarian state. Even though she and Peeta threat of double suicide at the first Hunger Games was simply a desperate bid for survival, some in Panem have portrayed Katniss as a possible revolutionary.

The revolutionary undertones bring upon her the wrath of President Snow, the snake-like leader of the regime, who walks around wearing creepy white roses. This is where the strength of the novels begins to ebb. 

President Snow initially tells Katniss to “convince him” and presumably everyone else, that the love she feels for Peeta is real. This would allow the world to accept that she isn’t a revolutionary, but simply a love-struck teenager. When she fails to convince the people of her peaceful intentions, Snow drafts both Peeta and Katniss into a special anniversary edition of the Hunger Games, presumably because he thinks it will give him an excuse to kill them.

It is hard to believe that a leader of a totalitarian regime would really bother too much about this. National heroes might be required to appear on TV and clarify they are not rebellious.  If they fail, they tend to “have a mysterious accident”. They tend not to be given EVEN MORE screen time.

President Snow really seems to be a glutton for punishment.  He spends a lot of time and effort to make Katniss and Peeta into martyrs rather than getting rid of them simply and efficiently. This makes no sense, especially as he apparently has a reputation for poisoning people. With the country already rebelling would you really waste that much money in setting up a Hunger Games PR exercise?

The interaction between the characters are still entertaining though, and there is fun to be had enjoying Katniss’s melodrama of being torn between Peeta and Gale. Poor Gale would like to rebel against Panem, but Katniss still thinks rebellion is too dangerous to think of. And whenever Peeta is in danger, Katniss tends to forget all about Gale.  Ooops.

Amidst all this teenage angst, in unlikely plot twist, the anniversary Hunger Games are partially hijacked by the rebels, and Katniss gets kidnapped to serve as an inspiration for revolution.

I mean, c’mon…

If the Panem government was truly infiltrated by the rebels to that extent, you would have hoped they’d be busy trying to assassinate the president or something. But apparently not.

They even kidnap some of Katniss’s stylists so that she is ready to have her fashion shoots for the revolutionary propaganda. Talk about convenient.

And that for me, is the problem with the 2 nd and 3 rd book of the series. Everything seems to revolve around Katniss. Of course, she is heroine of the books, so that makes sense to an extent. However, in most books, there is usually some pretence to covers up the character-centric nature of the story. Things will happen to the character apparently at random.  States will make decisions based on external factors. Not in Catching Fire or the Mockingjay.

Policy will be decided based on what Katniss thinks best. War maneuvers pretty much likewise. Then when the war is almost at an end, and the female president of the rebellion, Coin, decides to bomb innocent children, she makes sure personally that Katniss’s little sister is among them (needless to say, Coin is not fond of Katniss). Katniss is also supposed to be the person to execute president Snow personally.

I know this is a young adult series. But it still feels strange to postulate that the entire future of a huge country rests on one person’s shoulders. In many ways this approach is the height of individualism, pitting a singular self against system. It subscribes to the “great person” notion of history, where the fate of the world lies in one person’s hands. It probably also appeals to a teenager’s sense of self-importance.

But the novels do hint at the various ways in which Katniss might be broken: there’s a constant reminder of why she doesn’t want to have children (because they might be taken from her to participate in the Hunger Games). Her killing rebellious side (highlighted by her affection for Gale who in the end becomes responsible for creating bombs for the rebels) struggles against her warmer impulses (her love for Peeta and her admiration for his baking and art).  It is characteristic that Katniss describes herself as not much of a healer. unlike her mother and Prim, but she is able to provide medication to Peeta. Peeta consistently unlocks Katniss’s softer side. It is when Peeta is imprisoned that Katniss’s demons are truly unleashed – the aim of her life becomes to “kill Snow”.  It is this brokenness that makes Katniss so appealing a heroine. She may well be brave, but she is not without her weaknesses.

I also like the fact that the rebellion itself is portrayed as inherently problematic. Some of the revolutionaries are truly fighting for freedom, but some seem to be willing to exchange freedom for another kind of bondage.

I did enjoy reading the Hunger Games trilogy a lot. I do think there is plenty of stuff to think about and unpack in it.  I just found a single teenage girl with a bow and arrows abolishing a massive totalitarian state slightly unrealistic. But I guess we can all dream.

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Book Review: The Hunger Games By Suzanne Collins

By: Author Laura

Posted on Published: 27th January 2011  - Last updated: 10th January 2024

Categories Book Reviews , Books

The Hunger Games Summary

In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. Long ago the districts waged war on the Capitol and were defeated. As part of the surrender terms, each district agreed to send one boy and one girl to appear in an annual televised event called, “The 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. The terrain, rules, and level of audience participation may change but one thing is constant: kill or be killed.

The Hunger Games Review

The Hunger Games is genuinely one of the best books I have ever read. I literally could not put it down once I started reading it; there was just too much suspense and surprise from the onset. There are so many things about this book that just shouldn’t work, but somehow they do.

Initially, I thought that The Hunger Games was an action book but as the story progressed it I realised that it’s dystopia-cum-romance. I was also under the impression that the story was set in a time or place completely different to our world now. However, I soon realised that in fact it was set in modern times complete with television sets and advanced science technology.

There is such a juxtaposition of the world where the main character Katniss lives and ‘The Capitol’ where the rich people live. There should be an awful clash as Collins tries to mix two very different sorts of environments together but, in fact, there is an explosion of brilliant literature.

Katniss’ world reminds me of one similar to Robin Hood’s, where people hunt with arrows and kept under strict control by the Capitol. However, the Capitol seems very much like the centre of a busy city, like London, with stylists and televisions and posh hotel suites.

Suzanne Collins has created a twist on the popular reality TV show ‘Big Brother’ where contestants are placed inside a locked arena. The difference is twenty-four contestants go in, but only one can make it out alive. There is so much attention to detail and each and every one of the main characters are explained in full, details which many other authors would have skimmed over.

What makes this book really interesting for the reader is that Collins seems to include us in it. The ‘Hunger Games’ are broadcast on screens everywhere for the general public to see and we feel like we are the ones at home watching it and cheering on for different players.

Katniss is a brilliant character as she is very aware of what the audience wants to see and makes sure that she gives it to them (and us). This is one of the most sophisticated and engaging novels I have ever read and I am sure that it will appeal to people of all ages, not just teenagers.

The suspense is continuous throughout the book, right until the very end, and it leaves the reader wanting to know more about Katniss and her story. There is even the suggestion of a love triangle between her and two other characters.

The reader assumes that at the end of The Hunger Games the worst is over for our protagonist but in actual fact, it may be just beginning. Katniss has done something that no one else has ever dared to do, and has made the Capitol look like fools. This book definitely leaves you begging for more and excited for the next two books that make up this trilogy.

Buy The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Check out my reviews of: Catching Fire book review Mockingjay book review Catching Fire film review 13 Books Similar to The Hunger Games Best Dystopia Novels for Teens

Founder & Editor of What’s Hot?

Sunday 30th of January 2011

I seriously like your blog! It's really original!I definitely will be checking out What's Hot?, cause now I'm a follower!

Monday 16th of January 2023

I think that The Hunger Games is a dystopian science fiction series. That is sort of funny, engaging, and exciting. Books have this power of dragging us from reality and throwing us into the world of imagination. One of the themes that i think made the hunger game series interesting for me was that the hunger game Explores many facts of love. But the one thing it hits on most is that love often drives people to sacrifice their lives. This book is a portrayal of love, sacrifice, willpower, working as a team, survival, and so much more.

Marika xoxo

Love your blog!I'll check the book out! :)

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Saturday 29th of January 2011

yeahh i thought it was really good :) you should check it out! thanks :) ohmyygod i really wanna go to california :O checked out your blog :) its looking greatt and now im following, yay! :)

WOW THE BOOK SOUNDS GOOD! AND I'M ALSO FEELING YOUR BLOG. UHM I LIVE IN CALIFORNIA AND JUST STARTED MY OWN BLOG ABOUT FASHION MUSIC BOOKS ECT YOU SHOULD TOTALLY FOLLOW ME I'D LOVE SOME FEDBACK!

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Suzanne Collins Talks About ‘The Hunger Games,’ the Books and the Movies

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“The Hunger Games,” by Suzanne Collins, came out in 2008. It is the first in a trilogy by the same name that includes “Catching Fire” (2009) and “Mockingjay” (2010). The series has more than 100 million copies in print worldwide, and spent more than 260 consecutive weeks on The Times best-seller list. The books have spawned four record-breaking films and many Katniss Halloween costumes. In a 10th anniversary edition of the book, which hits stores this month, David Levithan, a vice president and publisher at Scholastic Press, interviewed Collins. An excerpt from that interview, including potential spoilers , is below, condensed and edited for clarity and length.

[ Read “Katness Everdeen Is My Hero,” an essay by the writer Sabaa Tahir , commemorating the 10th anniversary of the publication of “The Hunger Games.” ]

David Levithan: Let’s start at the origin moment for “The Hunger Games.” You were flipping channels one night.

Suzanne Collins: Yes, I was flipping through the channels one night between reality television programs and actual footage of the Iraq War, when the idea came to me. At the time, I was completing the fifth book in The Underland Chronicles and my brain was shifting to whatever the next project would be. I had been grappling with another story that just couldn’t get any air under its wings. I knew I wanted to continue to explore writing about just-war theory for young audiences. In The Underland Chronicles, I’d examined the idea of an unjust war developing into a just war because of greed, xenophobia and longstanding hatreds. For the next series, I wanted a completely new world and a different angle into the just-war debate.

DL: Can you tell me what you mean by the “just-war theory” and how that applies to the setup of the trilogy?

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The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins book review

It was not that long ago when dystopian novels were being published at a unprecedented rate. That phase seems to have passed but the books that captured our hearts are here to stay and The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins is one of those novels.

The Hunger Games: Summary

In Panem (which is somewhere in the Rocky Areas in an unspecified time period), 16-year-old Katniss Everdeen watches as her younger sister Primrose is chosen to represent District 12 in the Hunger Games. These games are life-and-death situations for teenagers that are for entertainment purposes for the watching audience. But Katness is not going to let her sister risk her life in the games.

Katness volunteers to take the place of her sister in the Hunger Games. She isn’t the only one from District 12 participating in the games. Peeta Mellark is also selected for the games and in the press conference, he confesses his feelings for Katniss. Katniss has feelings for someone else but has to pretend to have feelings for Mellark to get the support of the watching audience.

In the actual games, Katniss has to face fellow citizens of Panem in a contained setting. Only one person can win the games but the rules are changed here and there to make things interesting. As Katniss tries to survive the games, she realizes that she and everyone else are pawns of the game’s owners and she fights back to their annoyance.

Will Katniss survive the games? Will she keep her sanity after all the horrific events she experiences? All Katniss knows is that she is going to make the owners of the Hunger Games pay.

I will admit it took me a while to read The Hunger Games. Part of that was the perceptions because I wasn’t too interested in a tournament of teenagers killing each other. But I eventually got around to reading it and I coundn’t put it done and I knew I had to finish the series!

Katniss is a great protagonist (more so in the first novel then the remaining two) and the drive that keeps her going makes the book a page turner. The plot works because of the human element that Collins makes sure to emphasize. Katniss and her opponents are teenagers that are thrown into the mouth of the lion for the entertainment of adults. And that is the norm in Panem.

Not many books can make you get behind a character yet this novel does it with ease. Yes, the enemies are hard to relate to and are pretty weak but Katniss and her drive make up for it. It’s a great read and had one of the better movie franchises to come out of the dystopian era .

The first novel and the series were an amazing read and I am glad I gave this novel a chance. Just because a novel is popular and has garnered a huge fandom doesn’t mean that the novel or the series won’t be good. I enjoyed the series a lot and recommend it to anyone who enjoys Young Adult novels or good writing.

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Plot Summary

The hunger games, by suzanne collins.

'The Hunger Games' is a young adult dystopian novel set in a post-apocalyptic universe where children are pitted against each other in a battle royale to the death.

Article written by Neesha Thunga K

B.A. in English Literature, and M.A. in English Language and Literature.

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins follows the story of Katniss Everdeen, a 16-year-old girl who offers herself as a tribute in the annual Hunger Games in the post-apocalyptic world of Panem . Katniss undergoes several trials and tribulations as a part of the Hunger Games, which is a battle royale to the death of children aged between 12 and 18. 

‘Spoiler-free’ The Hunger Games Summary

During the annual “ reaping ” in the post-apocalyptic nation of Panem, one male and one female child aged between 12 and 18 are chosen as tributes for The Hunger Games. In the 74th edition of the Hunger Games, Katniss Everdeen , a young self-sufficient 16-year-old girl offers herself as a tribute from District 12 in place of her younger sister, Primrose. Peeta Mellark , a boy who went to school with Katniss is chosen as the male tribute. 

Katniss and Peeta make their way to the Capitol , where the Games are always held. They try to make themselves presentable with the help of various stylists and advisors – to gain sponsors during the Games for food and tools for survival.

During the Games, Katniss and Peeta undergo several chilling trials in their attempt to stay alive. They end up winning the hearts of the public as “star-crossed lovers” (as quoted in The Hunger Games), but the oppressive Capitol is not too happy when they begin rebelling.

The Hunger Games Summary 

Spoiler alert: Important details of the novel are revealed below

The novel begins in a post-apocalyptic nation known as Panem. Panem was formerly North America and has now been divided into the Capitol, a wealthy and autocratic state that exploits 12 districts (that exist in varying degrees of poverty) for their labor and natural resources. Each year, a battle royale to the death in the form of The Hunger Games is held. The Hunger Games were enforced as punishment for a failed rebellion by District 13 , which was obliterated by the Capitol. Thus, every year a boy and a girl between the ages of 12 and 18 are chosen as tributes from each of the oppressed districts to attend the Hunger Games. 

In the 74th edition of the Hunger Games, Katniss’s younger sister, Primrose, is chosen as tribute from District 12 – during the televised event of the reaping . However, Katniss, the 16-year-old heroine of the novel, volunteers herself as a tribute instead. Peeta Mellark, a boy who went to school with Katniss and offered her family bread when they were starving, is named as the male tribute from District 12. 

Katniss and Peeta make their way to the Capitol. During their journey, they are advised by a drunken mentor called Haymitch Abernathy , the only living victor of the Hunger Games from District 12, as well as their chaperone, Effie Trinket to enhance their public perception. This would enable Katniss and Peeta to gain sponsors for life-saving gifts during the Hunger Games. 

A stylist named Cinna designs specialized costumes for both Katniss and Peeta to help them stand out from the rest of the participants. Katniss’ costume, which is based on the theme of fire, earns her the moniker “Girl on Fire” when she is introduced to the public at the Capitol.

Katniss surprisingly earns the highest score during an evaluation by the Gamemakers , while Peeta reveals his long-standing love for her during a televised interview with Caesar Flickerman . Although Katniss is taken aback by this revelation, she accepts that his words made her look desirable. Haymitch proceeds to promote the image of Katniss and Peeta as star-crossed lovers from District 12. 

Katniss develops an amicable relationship with the female tribute from District 11 – a petite 12-year-old girl named Rue . Soon, the Hunger Games begin. It results in a bloodbath right at the beginning, as the tributes fight to grab weapons for their survival. Katniss takes Haymitch’s advice to flee the scene immediately and manages to escape the notice of the other tributes. 

Katniss soon ends up encountering the tributes from Districts 1,2 and 4, also known as the “ career tributes ” i.e., tributes who train throughout their lives to compete in the Games. These tributes are ruthless and one of them almost always emerges as the victor in the Games. Katniss is horrified to find out that Peeta has ganged up with the career tributes, who are bent upon killing Katniss. The Careers move away from Katniss, however, and she remains safe.

Katniss wanders further and further away from the other tributes as she goes in search of water. An artificial fire is created by the Gamemakers to push her closer to the others, and she hides in a tree to escape from the Careers.

During the night, Katniss and Rue (who was hiding in a nearby tree) plot to bring down a nest of “ tracker jackers ,” on the pack of Careers. Tracker jackers are violent insects that have been genetically modified to target those who disturb their nests. They shoot venom into the fear-housing part of the victim’s mind and cause hallucinations. The nest of tracker jackers ends up killing two of the career tributes and drives the rest of them away. Meanwhile, Katniss is stung as well and starts having hallucinations.

Peeta comes back and instead of killing her, he tells her to run away and fends off one of the Careers. He later informs her that he had been trying to protect her. Katniss escapes and passes out in a ditch. She and Rue team up once again to destroy the supplies of the Career tributes, but Rue is fatally wounded by the male tribute from District 11. Katniss kills Rue’s killer in return and keeps Rue company while she lays dying. She pays tribute to Rue by spreading flowers over her body, and District 11 sends her a loaf of bread in gratitude.

Just then, a rule change is announced in the Games. Instead of a single victor, the Gamemakers allow two tributes from the same district to win as a team. Katniss and Peeta thus team up, but Peeta has been severely wounded due to his fight with the Career tribute . 

Katniss pretends to be in love with Peeta to receive gifts from the sponsors. She risks her life to obtain medicine for Peeta. On the way, she encounters a Career tribute who tries to kill her but is killed himself by the male tribute from District 11 named Thresh . Thresh spares Katniss for what she has done for his partner, Rue, and Katniss is able to obtain the medicine and nurse Peeta back to health.

Thresh is killed by the last remaining Career, Cato . Katniss and Peeta are forced to encounter Cato by the Gamemakers, only to find him being chased by mutant wolves. Cato is torn to shreds but is left to die a slow death. Katniss shoots an arrow through his head out of mercy.

Thus, Katniss and Peeta emerge as the last two survivors in the Games. However, in a cruel twist of fate, the Gamemakers announce a rule change once again. They ask Katniss and Peeta to kill each other and provide them with a dramatic finale. Katniss and Peeta, however, decide to rebel against the Capitol and prepare to consume the “ nightlock berries ” – highly poisonous berries – together. Realizing that the duo was going to kill themselves, the Gamemakers hurriedly end the Games and declare both of them as the winners.  

Katniss and Peeta thus return home to a hero’s welcome from District 12. However, Peeta is heartbroken to realize that Katniss merely played the role of a girl in love to gain sympathy from sponsors during the Games. Haymitch also warns Katniss that the Capitol would not stay quiet in the face of her rebellious act. Katniss steels herself for what comes next, even as she struggles with the ramifications of the Games.

Why is The Hunger Games a banned book?

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins is not banned per se. However, it has continuously remained controversial ever since its publication. In 2016, it became number 5 on the most challenged books list of the American Library Association for “insensitivity, offensive language, violence, anti-family, anti-ethic and occult/satanic values.”

Is The Hunger Games okay for an 11-year-old?

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins is a young adult dystopian novel that has been deemed by Scholastic to be appropriate for children aged between 11 and 13. However, parents are concerned that it might be too violent for young children and that it might be too graphic at times. It is also commonly categorized as a Young Adult novel meant for 12 to 18-year-olds.

Why did Katniss kill herself?

Katniss does not kill herself at the end of the Hunger Games. However, she does attempt to commit suicide as an act of defiance against the Capitol, along with her partner and male tribute from District 12, Peeta Mellark. She does not go through with her suicide, as the Gamemakers allow her to return home along with Peeta.

Who does Katniss actually love?

Before she goes to the Hunger Games, Katniss harbors strong feelings for her long-standing friend, Gale. However, she develops an unbreakable bond with Peeta Mellark during the Hunger Games. She also plays the part of a lover to gain sympathy from the sponsors during the Games. As a result, she emerges with confused feelings at the end of the book.

The Hunger Games Quiz

Summon your survival instincts and strategy—our ' The Hunger Games ' Trivia Quiz awaits! Do you have the wit and knowledge to navigate the perilous arenas and intricate politics of Panem? Take the challenge now and prove your mastery over the gripping world of The Hunger Games!

1) Who gives Katniss the mockingjay pin?

2) How does Katniss injure herself while trying to get water during the Games?

3) Who is Katniss’s mentor during the Games?

4) What is the signal that Katniss uses to communicate with Rue during the Games?

5) Who is selected as the male tribute from District 12 along with Katniss?

6) How does Katniss become a tribute in the Hunger Games?

7) What is the name of the stylist assigned to Katniss?

8) What symbolic act does Katniss perform during her first public appearance that captures the audience's attention?

9) What kind of weapon does Rue use in the Games?

10) What injury does Peeta sustain during the Games?

11) Who becomes Katniss’s close friend and ally during the Games?

12) What is the main industry of District 12?

13) How do Katniss and Peeta both survive the Hunger Games?

14) What is the name of Katniss’s younger sister?

15) What tactic does Katniss use to destroy the Career Tributes' supplies?

16) What does Katniss fear the most when entering the Hunger Games arena?

17) Who is the last tribute to die in the Games?

18) Who is the author of ' The Hunger Games '?

19) What token does Katniss wear during the Games?

20) What is the primary purpose of the Hunger Games according to the Capitol?

21) What creature attacks the remaining tributes at the end of the Games?

22) What plant does Katniss recognize as edible, helping her and Peeta survive?

23) Which District is known for producing Career Tributes?

24) What is the name of the annual event where tributes are selected to fight in the arena?

25) Who saves Katniss from an attack by another tribute early in the Games?

26) What skill is Katniss best known for?

27) In which district does Katniss Everdeen live?

28) What does Peeta reveal during his interview that shocks everyone?

29) What strategy do Katniss and Peeta use to gain favor with the audience?

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About Neesha Thunga K

Neesha, born to a family of avid readers, has devoted several years to teaching English and writing for various organizations, making an impact on the literary community.

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The Hunger Games (Book 1) Paperback – July 3, 2010

In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. Long ago the districts waged war on the Capitol and were defeated. As part of the surrender terms, each district agreed to send one boy and one girl to appear in an annual televised event called, "The 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. The terrain, rules, and level of audience participation may change but one thing is constant: kill or be killed.

• Book 1 of 3 Hunger Games
• Print length 384 pages
• Language English
• Grade level 7 and up
• Dimensions 5.5 x 1 x 8.5 inches
• Publisher Scholastic Press
• Publication date July 3, 2010
• ISBN-10 9780439023528
• ISBN-13 978-0439023528
• See all details

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About the author, product details.

• ASIN ‏ : ‎ 0439023521
• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Scholastic Press; Reprint edition (July 3, 2010)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Paperback ‏ : ‎ 384 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 9780439023528
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0439023528
• Reading age ‏ : ‎ 10+ years, from customers
• Grade level ‏ : ‎ 7 and up
• Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 12 ounces
• Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 1 x 8.5 inches
• #2 in Teen & Young Adult Science Fiction Action & Adventure
• #3 in Teen & Young Adult Survival Stories
• #4 in Teen & Young Adult Dystopian

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About the author

Suzanne collins.

Suzanne Collins has had a successful and prolific career writing for children's television. She has worked on the staffs of several Nickelodeon shows, including the Emmy-nominated hit Clarissa Explains It All and The Mystery Files of Shelby Woo. Collins made her mark in children's literature with the New York Times bestselling five-book series for middle-grade readers The Underland Chronicles, which has received numerous accolades in both the United States and abroad. In the award-winning The Hunger Games trilogy, Collins continues to explore the effects of war and violence on those coming of age. Collins lives with her family in Connecticut.

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Customers say

Customers find the book outstanding, enjoyable, and well-done. They also describe the plot as interesting and masterfully written. Readers praise the writing as compelling, flawless, and believable. They describe the book as engaging, exciting, and very talked-about. They appreciate the wonderfully realized characters. Customers find it thought-provoking, emotional, and intense.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

Customers find the book outstanding, well-done, and enjoyable. They say it's intriguing and a great book for teenagers. Readers also mention the Capitol is rich and luxurious.

"... It looked intriguing and the main character had a lean and angry feel to her that I hadn't seen in a while...." Read more

"...The Capitol is a rich extravagantly luxurious cityscape , reminding me of the planet Corauscant from Star Wars fiction...." Read more

"...They are well done , not gratuitous in the least bit, are an important part of the story and not overly graphic when compared to a lot of books..." Read more

"...To my surprise this novel was fantastic and blew away any doubts of a bad read in my mind...." Read more

Customers find the plot interesting and the first-person narrative masterfully written. They appreciate the detailed observances of Katniss. Readers also mention the pacing is excellent, and the twists are unexpected and genuinely surprising.

"...This is fiction at its finest with an immediacy that would have made George Orwell proud.--------------Disagree?..." Read more

"...novel, action, adventure, danger, dystopia, some horror and a little fantasy (what with the exciting creatures like wolves and wasps) thrown into..." Read more

"...They are well done, not gratuitous in the least bit, are an important part of the story and not overly graphic when compared to a lot of books..." Read more

"...The pacing of this story is excellent as you have your slower dramatic scenes mixed in with vicious acts of violence that just blend in so well you..." Read more

Customers find the writing quality compelling, flawless, and easy to read. They appreciate the believable dialogue and skillful skill of the author. Readers also appreciate the creativity and detailed observances of Katniss Everdeen.

"...I have some random thoughts about this book:The writing is good . We are not talking high literature here, and thank goodness for that...." Read more

"...This book was very well written and cleverly told to keep the reader very much entertained. The entire time I read this novel I couldn't put it down...." Read more

"...The writing is exceptional and Katniss's character development is very thorough...." Read more

"...It has a point. The setting is very well thought out , the actions and reactions are very clear and often unsettling...." Read more

Customers find the book engaging, interesting, and exciting. They say it's riveting from start to finish and intriguing. Readers also mention the characters are believable.

"...Also, the book ends. The Hunger Games end and that makes it a compelling (and fulfilling) read.CHARACTERS..." Read more

"...It is a romance, a science fiction novel, action, adventure , danger, dystopia, some horror and a little fantasy..." Read more

"...This is a serious book with its funny moments ...." Read more

Customers find the characters wonderfully realized. They say it makes them human and likable. Readers also mention the heroine is interesting and portrayed in a compassionate and touching way.

"...Excellent plot, excellent dialog, lots of action, very fine character development ...it is all here...." Read more

"... Every character has depth and personality , which make them stick in our minds even after we have finished reading the book...." Read more

"...This is a serious book with its funny moments. The main character is brilliantly written in first person, it's hard not to feel like you ARE Katniss..." Read more

"...believable world-building in conjunction with such wonderfully realized characters that'll invest you in Katniss's painful tale...." Read more

Customers find the book thought-provoking, riveting, and emotional. They appreciate the gripping narrative and vivid world-building. Readers also mention that the message is sweet-hearted and down-to-earth.

"...There's no sentimentality in this book or inauthentic moments and that's what makes the story work because it feels as if you're right there every..." Read more

"...It is a romance, a science fiction novel, action, adventure, danger, dystopia , some horror and a little fantasy..." Read more

"...the second chapter, not because it was hugely sad, but because it was intense and well written...." Read more

"...It's a gritty, primal , and relentless struggle for survival. Collins really knows how to make a very fast paced narrative and it truly shows here...." Read more

Customers find the book's pacing fast, intense, and quick. They say it draws them in quickly and is a quick read. Readers also mention the book is an exciting page-turner.

"...you that while Hunger Games is NOT COMPLETELY ORIGINAL, it is an impeccably paced ..." Read more

"...It's the exceptionally paced narrative , believable world-building in conjunction with such wonderfully realized characters that'll invest you in..." Read more

"...The Hunger Games” is fast-paced (for the most part) and will appeal to a wide audience and range of ages...." Read more

"...It's easy to lose track of time , minutes will turn into hours so beware of the addicting nature of this novel...." Read more

Customers find the series excellent, powerful, and remarkable. They also love the premise and conflicts.

"...aside, the premise is engaging and, for the most part, different ...." Read more

"...premise is at the center of "The Hunter Games," the brilliant, powerful first book of Suzanne Collins' bestselling trilogy...." Read more

"...The Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins is by far one of the best series I have read in 2012! I can not recommend it high enough!..." Read more

"...Sure, the second Games was great , although not as good as the first one. And I did shed tears once...." Read more

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The book series was very good and I finished it!

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