"The Hunger Games" by Suzanne Collins

Image courtesy of suzannecollinsbooks.com

 

Collins, S. The Hunger Games. New York, NY: Scholastic Inc, 2008. Print. ISBN: 978-0439023528. Paperback. $8.99. 

Annotation: When Katniss Everdeen’s little sister is chosen to compete in the Hunger Games, a brutal show of force in which children from twelve districts fight to the death, Katniss volunteers in her place. Thrust into the dangerous and deadly world inside the Capital, she realizes that she may actually be able to survive, if she can handle what that means she must do. 

Let's Talk!

How far would you go to protect the ones you love? Katniss Everdeen is willing to risk death for her little sister. When Prim’s name is chosen to compete in the Hunger Games, which is a brutal show of force where children from twelve districts fight to the death, Katniss volunteers to take her place. Along with the boy tribute from her district, Peeta, she’s taken to the Capital. This is a place full of elaborate clothes and food, and a complete turnaround from the poverty she’s used to living in in District Twelve, and a lot of her competition in the Games are strong and healthy from living a wealthy life in districts like this. But when they actually get into the arena to begin the fight, and she survives one twist after another, Katniss realizes she might actually stand a chance at making it back home – even if it means Peeta can’t. 

A lot of people have probably seen the movie by now, but it really doesn’t compare to actually sitting down and reading this book. So much of the strength of the story comes from Katniss’s inner monologue as narrator. Her thoughts, calculations, and emotions are what really drive the plot forward. She is fierce, determined, and a force to be reckoned with – especially once she realizes she actually might have a shot at the Games. But she’s beautifully flawed, because she’s damaged from the losses in her past and she’s cold and distant. Even though her dystopian world is exaggerated, the emotions she tries to avoid are ones that any young adult can relate to, all alongside an action-packed story with a heart-pounding plot. You may love her, or you may hate her, but you’re going to care what happens to her one way or another.

Literary Awards (Get ready): 

• #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
• #1 USA TODAY BESTSELLER
• WALL STREET JOURNAL BESTSELLER
• PUBLISHERS WEEKLY BESTSELLER
• PUBLISHERS WEEKLY'S BEST BOOKS OF 2008: CHILDREN'S FICTION
• NEW YORK TIMES NOTABLE CHILDREN'S BOOK OF 2008
• AN AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION TOP TEN BEST BOOKS FOR YOUNG ADULTS SELECTION
• AN ALA NOTABLE CHILDREN'S BOOK
• 2009 ALA AMELIA BLOOMER PROJECT LIST
• #1 ON WINTER '08/​'09 CHILDREN'S INDIE NEXT LIST
• INDIES CHOICE--BEST INDIE YOUNG ADULT BUZZ BOOK HONOR
• 2008 CYBIL AWARD--FANTASY & SCIENCE FICTION
• 2009 CHILDREN'S CHOICE BOOK AWARD
• TEEN CHOICE BOOK OF THE YEAR FINALIST
• YALSA'S TEENS' TOP TEN, 2009
• NYPL “STUFF FOR THE TEEN AGE” LIST, 2009
• CCBC CHOICES 2009
• A NEW YORK TIMES EDITORS' CHOICE
• A KIRKUS BEST BOOK OF 2008
• A HORN BOOK FANFARE
• SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL BEST BOOKS Of 2008
• A BOOKLIST EDITORS' CHOICE, 2008
• LA TIMES FAVORITE CHILDREN'S BOOKS, 2008
• BARNES & NOBLE BEST BOOKS OF 2008 FOR TEENS AND KIDS
• BORDERS BEST BOOKS OF 2008: TEENS
• AMAZON BEST BOOKS OF 2008: TOP 100 EDITORS' PICK, TOP 10 BOOKS: TEENS

Watch Suzanne Collins talk about the most difficult part of the Hunger Games to write!