BOOK REVIEW: The Hunger Games (trilogy) by Suzanne Collins

BOOK REVIEW: The Hunger Games (trilogy) by Suzanne Collins

The Hunger Games trilogy is about Katniss Everdeen, living in the future where the Capitol controls 12 surrounding districts. As a punishment for a past rebellion, the Capitol holds annual Hunger Games where a male and female from each district, ages 12 to 18, are drawn at random and forced to fight each other to the death. Whoever wins is sent home, rich and free from having to participate again.

That is until Katniss and Peeta, the boy from her district, show defiance in order for both to win together. President Snow cannot accept that. As punishment, he forces them back into arena--back into Katniss's worst nightmares. The country is outraged by the turn of events and rebels end up breaking them out of the arena. Peeta is captured by the Capitol, however, and is brutally tortured, made to believe Katniss is a dangerous enemy. Katniss must decide if she will harm him further by acting as the Mockingjay--the face of the rebellion. She must also decide who she loves most, Peeta or her long-time best friend, Gale. Through her challenges, she must also figure out how to go on living.

Katniss's fire and strength are truly admirable. You watch her grow from a naive young woman to someone who has seen too much heartache at such a young age. It is impossible not to cry at her immense heartaches and cheer for whichever beau is your favorite. Luckily, she ended up with my favorite.

The books are clean, though they are gory in parts, and addicting. The characters are realistic, and days after I've finished the books I want more of them. The first two books seem slightly repetitive, but come to completely different ends. She has a lot of "crazy time" where she must recover from the brutality she witnesses, coupled with some "hide in the closet" time. You feel for her and hope her world becomes better. Maybe it does, maybe it doesn't. You'll have to read them to find out. Rated PG-13 for violence and adult themes. I give these books a 4.7 out of 5. Way to go Suzanne Collins!