The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

In the nation of Panem, the only civilization left in the ruins of North America, fear is power. The Capitol keeps each of the twelve surrounding districts on a tight leash by exploiting this fear, particularly through a cruel and vicious ceremony known as the Hunger Games, a yearly contest for survival. Each district is required to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to compete in this fight for life that is televised live for all of Panem to bet on and enjoy.

Things are going fine for sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen of the poorest part of District 12. Her family is doing relatively well and Katniss hasn’t gotten caught hunting in the forest or poaching, crimes punishable by death. She even has a trustworthy partner in her illegal activities, a real friend. But when her younger sister is randomly drawn to be a contestant in the Hunger Games, she volunteers to take her place out of love and desperation. And even if Katniss doesn’t think she stands a chance, coming from the dumps of the poorest district, survival is part of who she is. But in the Hunger Games, there is no room for the luxuries of friendship or even humanity, because there can only be one victor.

The Hunger Games contains a shockingly disturbing view of the future in which humanity has progressed backward even if civilization and technology continues. It is a completely dystopian future where wealth is unevenly distributed to an extreme degree, starvation is commonplace, and fear rules people’s lives. Yet, in the midst of this harsh and unforgiving atmosphere, small amounts of humanity to persevere, especially in the form of spunky heroine Katniss. The fight for survival drives her to the edge between right and wrong, and Katniss struggles between feeling compassion for her human competitors and ruthless killing like a machine in order to win. I felt Collins illustrates this precarious balance very well through this action packed and thought provoking novel. The inclusion of romance and Katniss’ confusion over her feelings, even if that part gets rather annoying, only further demonstrates the struggle of humanity against a cruel regime of power, because love and friendship are the most human one can get. Suspenseful and full of hidden meaning, this page turner wills stick with readers beyond the last page and leave them craving more.

If the “End of Book one” on The Hunger Games’ last page is any indicator, this must read will soon be continued in a sequel or series. Fans of other dystopian novels including the Uglies series by Scott Westerfeld, Shift by Charlotte Agell, Unwind by Neal Shusterman, Cherry Heaven by L.J. Adlington, and The Giver by Lois Lowry will not want to miss The Hunger Games.

Rating: 5.0

Review copy from publisher Scholastic