The Hunger Games
Ben Pike
“Let the seventy-fourth Hunger Games begin!” Only one may survive this ultimate battle. Suzanne Collins’ The Hunger Games thrilled me with its suspense and adventure. The story is set in the dystopian far future in North America, all that lies in the ruins of the past is Panem, a country with a Capitol and twelve districts. The Capitol is strict, greedy, and rules in a dictatorship over the districts. Every year, two children from each district are sent to the Hunger Games, where they fight to the death in an arena, and there can only be one winner. The story focuses on Katniss Everdeen, a sixteen-year-old from the poorest district, District 12. When Katniss’ little sister is chosen for the Hunger Games, Katniss doesn’t think twice about volunteering to take her place. Collins creates an exciting tale of survival, hardship, and sacrifice.
Teenaged fans of dystopian science fiction will absolutely love this novel. Collins writes the story in a beautiful way that creates a perfect image of what Katniss sees and feels emotionally. Written in first person from Katniss’ perspective, the text gives a clear idea of what she thinks and what she plans to do. I really liked Katniss because she is relatable and has a good character. Also, because she is courageous, strong, caring, bold, and clever she desperately wants to help her family and care for them. Trust no one is a constant theme in the story. There can only be one winner, so all alliances must be broken and no one is to be trusted, creating a feeling of suspense and betrayal. The setting is very appropriate for this story. The cruel, totalitarian Capitol is hated by the majority of the districts, except for districts 1, 2, 3, and 4. This makes Katniss want them to lose, so she sides with the poorer districts, which develops the story in a more interesting and exciting way. Overall, I enjoyed the book up until the very last page. The Hunger Games is filled with suspense and plot twists. Teens who enjoyed the Maze Runner or other dystopian novels will surely love this book. Also, I believe people who enjoy books about survival and adventure will like it too. I can’t wait to read the next book.