Title: The Hunger Games
Author: Suzanne Collins
Review: WOW!!!! This book was amazing. The funny thing is that when I tell other people what it is about, they look at me like I’m crazy. “You are reading a book about kids killing kids, why?” It’s not exactly that, but it is violent. Kids killing kids because they are forced to or die, survival of the fittest in its most basic form. This is a scary idea, but you can see how the people got to that point. Can we keep from getting there?
The relationship between Katniss, Gale and Petra is sweet and I look forward to the next book. Who will she choose? Katniss is a fighter and a survivor, she will not go down easily. She wants to win so she can return home to her mother and sister. She doesn’t want to fight anyone, she just wants to live. Killing the other contestants makes her ill, but she needs to win in order to get back home.
This book is so full of images that will disturb you, but at the same time remind you of the true strength of the human spirit. It may be the work of a great imagination, but it is relevant to today. Are we headed this way?
You will love this book, everyone I’ve talked into reading it has. Fast paced and a quick read, you can’t put it down.
Publisher: October 1st 2008 by Scholastic, Inc. (first published 2008)
ISBN: 0439023483
Copyright: 2008
Pages: 374
Quick Review: 5 stars (out of 5)
Why I Read It: My son brought this home from school saying his friends had enjoyed it.
Where I Obtained the Book: Our local library.
Synopsis: Could you survive on your own, in the wild, with everyone out to make sure you don't live to see the morning?
In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. The Capitol is harsh and cruel and keeps the districts in line by forcing them all to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV.
Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives alone with her mother and younger sister, regards it as a death sentence when she steps forward to take her sister's place in the Games. But Katniss has been close to dead before—and survival, for her, is second nature. Without really meaning to, she becomes a contender. But if she is to win, she will have to start making choices that will weigh survival against humanity and life against love.
Author Biography: Since 1991, Suzanne Collins has been busy 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. For preschool viewers, she penned multiple stories for the Emmy-nominated Little Bear and Oswald. She also co-wrote the critically acclaimed Rankin/Bass Christmas special, Santa, Baby! Most recently she was the Head Writer for Scholastic Entertainment’s Clifford’s Puppy Days.
While working on a Kids WB show called Generation O! she met children’s author James Proimos, who talked her into giving children’s books a try.
Thinking one day about Alice in Wonderland, she was struck by how pastoral the setting must seem to kids who, like her own, lived in urban surroundings. In New York City, you’re much more likely to fall down a manhole than a rabbit hole and, if you do, you’re not going to find a tea party. What you might find...? Well, that’s the story of Gregor the Overlander, the first book in her five-part series, The Underland Chronicles.
Suzanne also has a rhyming picture book illustrated by Mike Lester entitled When Charlie McButton Lost Power.
She currently lives in Connecticut with her family and a pair of feral kittens they adopted from their backyard.
The books she is most successful for in teenage eyes are the Hunger Games, Catching Fire and Mockingjay. These books have won several awards, including the GA Peach Award
Other Reviews:
I too loved this book. It was so intense for me. I think I didn't have a fingernail left by the time I finished it.
ReplyDeleteI do know two people who did not enjoy this book. My sister thought it was disturbing and violent and just asked me what happened in the next two books because she didn't have a desire to read them but wanted to know what happens.
The other is my friend I play v-ball with. She didn't like the violence either. It was just too graphic for her. She didn't care what happens in the next two books and she is "surprised people actually enjoy reading that crap"...interesting don't you think?
It sounds really great and I've heard so many good things about it already....strange, that I haven't read it yet^^
ReplyDeletethx very much for the review =)
xoxo
{SeMi}CrAzEd
I LOVE this book ;)
ReplyDeleteGreat review and blog.
I'm following from Book Blogs.
ecwrites.blogspot.com
Good review, and I like the author bio you've included. Following from BookBlogs too.
ReplyDeleteI loved this book too!
ReplyDeleteIf you enjoyed reading it so much, I recommend to try and read "Battle Royale" by Japanese writer Koshun Takami. It's like a more gore and less romance version of Suzanne Collins trilogy. Actually BR came long before Hunger Games and I felt like it might have been inspired by this book in a way :)
Thanks for the comments I will look in that book, thanks. Heather your (sister) friends are crazy. Thanks guys, keep looking!!!
ReplyDeleteHi Lisa - I loved this book too! And I'm a new follower!
ReplyDelete