The Hunger Games

Hunger Games Book Review

Ben Zhang

The Hunger Games is written by Suzanne Collins, and the main characters are called Katniss and Peeta. It is set in the world of Panem. There are twelve distinct districts and one abandoned district. Katniss and Peeta belong to District 12, which mines coal. They volunteered themselves to attend the annual Hunger Games which is meant to remind the people of the abandoned district. It was abandoned because of the rebellions that had occurred in the past. Two tributes from each district are supposed to attend and will fight to death in the arena after they’ve gone through training, and only one can survive. The trainers are the past winners from the same district. The last session of the training is to show the game-makers the tributes’ best talents and will give them a score out of twelve. Every move in the games, the training (except the presentation for the game-makers), and the interviews is completely visible to the world. The tributes also have sponsors to help them have higher chances of surviving in the games.

It is written in first person, from the perspective of Katniss Everdeen. There was an unexpected twist in the game during the interviews. Thankfully, it really helped to increase the sponsors therefore more money will be coming in and they will have better equipment. If you think this book is just another regular fantasy book, you are wrong! The imagery used can really freak you out (at least I was freaked out ). Additionally, reading it in the first person point of view, it‘s like gazing into her private life which can be great fun for some people but others will turn away in disgust. The author’s thinking is really creative. The whole book is very intense with occasional “wow!”s.

I sincerely recommend this book to all students in secondary school, it is rated MY+ in the accelerated reader (although, in the school library it is rated UY ).