The Hunger Games

In the future, America has fallen, and Panem has risen in its place. Within Panem are thirteen - now twelve - districts who follow the Capitol and abide by their laws. Whoever chooses not to listen to the capitol faces dire consequences, very possibly death.

The Hunger Games are a sickening set of games that happen every year, that show people that the capitol is still in control, and that they can not be opposed. They place a set of twenty-four kids in an arena, and these kids are told to fight until there is only one person left alive.

Katniss Everdeen is just a normal girl who lives in the District 12 'Seam', which is the poorest section of district twelve. When her sister is called upon to play in the games, she willingly takes her place, and is sent off to compete in The Hunger Games. Will Katniss live through the merciless attacks by the other people in the arena, or will she die trying to survive?

This book was astonishingly well written, but it seems very close to Battle Royale. The author paints vivid mental pictures of Katniss' experiences, of her trying to just survive in a set of games that she has virtually no change of winning.

The book begins a bit slow, but about fifty pages in, the pace starts to really pick up. After that first fifty pages, I found that I could not put the book down. If you're looking for a fast-paced read with lots of action with some romance mixed in, then The Hunger Games is your book.

CAUTION: The Hunger Games may not be suitable for some people to read. Some of the scenes do get gory and very... vivid.