The Hunger Games

Quote: “Only I keep wishing I could think of a way to…to show the Capitol they don’t own me. That I’m more than just a piece in their Games”
Summery: Katniss is just a normal, sixteen year old girl. Well, sort of.
She happens to live in the 12th district of an area called Panem that used to be known as North America. Oh yeah, she also has to hunt illegally to feed her family after her father died and her mom went crazy.It's either that or let them starve. Not average to our standards, but if you were to compare her to everyone else in Panem, she's just another girl trying to survive. 

Then one day, everything changed for her. Her sister, twelve-year-old-Prim, had her name drawn to be District 12's female tribute for The Hunger Games, the Capitol's way of making sure people are aware that they are in control. No exceptions.

Basically, everyone between the ages of twelve and eighteen has to have their name entered in for The Hunger Games, and there are two chosen from each district--one male, one female. Except, of course, if you want to enter your name more than once. Each extra entry gives a year's supply of grain and oil for one person. Katniss' was entered over twenty times that year. 

Katniss knew what they were like; everyone in Panem was forced to watch the televised Hunger Games each year.

There was no way she would let her little sister go through that.

So, Katniss pushed Prim aside and took her place. Then. . .The male tribute was chosen.

Peeta. The boy with the bread.

Peeta had given her family two loaves of bread a long time ago--that bread gave them enough nourishment to survive. She owed her life to him, and now she was going to have to be in an arena where she was expected to kill Peeta. Katniss began to think about the games as she rode to the capitol in a train ten times nicer than her own house, I'm about to die. I am. But I must stand strong, for Prim. For Gale. She pushed all thoughts of Gale outside of her head; he was a friend that she had hunted with for a few years, nothing more. I'm so puny and weak, how am I supposed to kill twenty-three youth I don't even know?? Could I come to the point where I turn into such a beast that I do kill people??? 

Katniss thought about it. The capitol does The Hunger Games each year to show the districts that the capitol has power over them. That they can do nothing against them when they steal two of their young ones to place in an arena where you must live off the land for a few weeks. And kill, let's not forget about that. See, only the last person standing in the arena can actually go home. Everyone else either gets killed or dies of "natural" causes.

As soon as she arrives, she gets bombarded by stylists making her look inhuman for the televised showing of all of the contestants. She is told to always stay right next to Peeta--to appear as his best friend. His girlfriend. 

Without Katniss' input, it appears that their way of getting sponsors for this is by acting completely in love.

"Think about it," Says Haymitch, their mentor, "It's a tragic love story. Only one of you can win. Trust me, sweetheart."  

But little does Katniss know, Peeta really is in love with her. And they've just been thrown into the arena.

Violence/Romance: Ok, so obviously this book has a decent amount of violence in it. For some readers, it may be a little more than they would care for. I personally like it, but it depends on the reader. As far as romance. . .Many kissing scenes do occur between Peeta and Katniss, although they aren't described in great detail. Katniss has to act in love with him, although she finds it becoming more and more real the further they go. Peeta, on the other hand, is extremely in love with her, and has been since they were five.

Spirituality: There's really no religion/spirituality in it whatsoever.  

What I liked: First off--this book is AMAZING!!!!! Probably the best I've ever read. The character development is awesome, and the way it's written is so good, I literally coundn't stop reading. It's not predictable, either; there are many things that you would never think would take place. 

Katniss is very protective over her sister, and it's nice seeing the affection that's there. In general, Katniss is a very affectionate person, you can really see that she's has a loving bond with the characters--therefore you  have a loving bond with them. Peeta is a great character, and again, generally cares about Katniss' welfare. I liked how the book showed that the people (some of them, anyway) didn't like killing, and wanted to remain. . .well. . .human. 

What I didn't like: I didn't like how Katniss seemed to be a little immodest at times--she is recorded as--not in any detail whatsoever--being completely stripped when the stylists design her outfit, and stripped down to but her undergarments to bathe one day--even though she knew that she was being seen by all Panem. There are a few h--l's thrown in there, but other than that, no swearing.  

Rating: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

This book is really good, you should check it out!~Elizabeth