The Hunger Games

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Collins, S. (2008). The hunger games. New York: Scholastic Press
ISBN: 0439023483

Plot
Katniss Everdeen is a 16 year old girl who lives in a harsh, dystopian, future world. She hunts and forages with her friend Gale to feed her family. When her 12 year old sister is selected to participate in the deadly Hunger Games (a sick, nationally televised fight to the death between randomly chosen teenagers from each district of the country), Katniss volunteers to take her place. Joining her on her quest to survive the games is a boy from her district, Peeta. Peeta and Katniss join forces to survive. Peeta has told Katniss that he loves her on television before the games began. This is popular with the audience. It is decided that two may survive the games this year, instead of just one. Katniss uses her hunting experience to survive. When Peeta is hurt, she protects him. But she defies the government on two occassions. Once when she uses flowers to decorate the body of a young girl she had made an alliance with after another contestant has killed her. She defies the government again when she and Peeta are crossed-up and told that there will only be one survivor, after all. They decide to eat poison berries, instead. The powers that be relent. But now Katniss is in danger from the government she openly defied on national television. She must pretend that she is in love with Peeta to explain her actions. It is then that she learns that Peeta really does love her. The book ends as they return to their home district. The story continues in the second book of the trilogy, Catching Fire.

Critical Evaluation
This is an exciting and fast-paced thriller. Collins writing has evolved to a high level. There is tragedy and tenderness portrayed with equal skill. She is an excellent descriptive writer. The dystopian setting and brutal conditions of Katniss' world is vividly depicted. Collins puts the reader in the position of rooting for a character in the barbaric Hunger Games, while simultaneously being appalled and fascinated by them. There are obvious reflections of our own society in these brutal games. This is a wonderful new series by Collins.

Readers Annotation
Katniss Everdeen volunteers to be a contestant in the televised, brutal Hunger Games to save her little sister. If she wins, she will have fame and fortune and her family will be safe. If she loses, she dies. To win, she must kill everyone else in the games. Her story is thrilling and heartbreaking at the same time.

About the Author

American Suzanne Collins is the author of the best selling YA series The Underland Chronicles. The Hunger Games trilogy is her second entry into the world of tween literature and represents a significant step forward for her as it has garnered a huge cross-over adult audience and a movie deal. She is the daughter of an Air Force officer and grew up in Europe and on the East Coast. She began as a children's television writer. She lives in Connecticut with her husband and two teenage children.

Genre: Fantasy/Science Fiction

Curriculum Ties: Language Arts

Booktalk Ideas: Friendship, betrayal, bravery

Reading Level: Grade 6+
Interest Level: Grade 7+
Challenge Issues: Violence. This book could be defended on the basis of it's overall message that what is happening is wrong. It is a multiple award winner.

This is included because it is the first book in Suzanne Collins breathtaking new trilogy.

Catching Fire

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
Collins, S. (2009). Catching fire (1st ed.). New York: Scholastic Press
ISBN: 0439023491

Plot

Katniss Everdeen has won the brutal Hunger Games. But when she returns home to District 12, life is not as easy as it was promised to be. First of all, she feels torn between Peeta, the boy she won the games with, and Gale, her long time friend. Secondly, her defiant actions during the games have had unforeseen and dire consequences. The President of Panem is upset with the underlying feelings of rebellion her actions have stirred. She must take a cruel victory tour through the vanquished districts with Peeta and pretend that the only reason she did what she did was because of her overwhelming feelings of love for him. When this does nothing to quell the defiance of the people, she is thrown back into a super Hunger Games: one in which only past winners compete. She and Peeta team-up with other competitors. When she learns of one's plan to harness lightning to destroy other players, she shoots an electrified arrow into the force field containing the arena. This destroys the arena and temporarily paralyzes Katniss. When she awakes, she is being transferred to District 13, a district that supposedly had been destroyed generations ago. Her friend Gale is with her and informs her that he got her sister and mother out in time. She is confused by this. Why are they not home in District 12? Gale tells her, "Katniss, there is no District 12."

Critical Evaluation

Catching Fire starts out slower than The Hunger Games, but then rapidly picks up pace to become exciting and action-packed. Collins' writing is as descriptive and gripping as ever. The tour through the districts is heart breaking. Katniss' character is deepened as her dreams are haunted by faces of the vanquished from the games. The book ends with a turn of events that leaves the reader hungry for more.

Readers Annotation

Katniss Everdeen thought her problems were over once she won The Hunger Games. Little did she know that her troubles had just begun. Her defiant actions in the games have stirred rebellion in the districts. Now her life and those of all she loves are threatened if she can't play the government's game exactly as planned.

About the Author

American Suzanne Collins is the author of the best selling YA series The Underland Chronicles. The Hunger Games trilogy is her second entry into the world of tween literature and represents a significant step forward for her as it has garnered a huge cross-over adult audience and a movie deal. She is the daughter of an Air Force officer and grew up in Europe and on the East Coast. She began as a children's television writer. She lives in Conneticut with her husband and two tennage children.

Genre: Fantasy/Science Fiction

Curriculum Ties: Language Arts

Booktalk Ideas: Friendship, betrayal, bravery

Reading Level: Grade 6+
Interest Level: Grade 7+
Challenge Issues: Violence. This book could be defended on the basis of it's overall message is that what is happening is wrong.There is social commentary which makes the violence an integral part of the plot.

This is included because it is the second book in Suzanne Collins breathtaking new trilogy.