Michael Van Cise

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins


My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I heard about this book on NPR. Since the NPR piece spoke highly of the book and I am in a science fiction book club, I thought I might check this series out. While the book is geared toward young adults, it does not feel juvenile or dumbed-down. In the way that the Harry Potter series appeals to people of all ages, I can see how The Hunger Games would appeal to adults as well as young people.
The basic story resembles lord of the flies, The Running Man (Schwarzenegger movie), and Battle Royale. The book is set in North America in the future where the world, or at least the world of the main character, Katniss Everdeen, is governed by a totalitarian centralized authority. This central authority has divided its citizens into 13 districts (only 12 of which remain, as the 13th has been destroyed by the central government) each of which plays a certain role. Each year, the authority requires each district to send one boy and one girl (12 to 18 year olds are required to "register") to "The Hunger Games" which is a competition to the "last man standing."
The book is rebellious and insurgent. Katniss, though far outpowered by the centralized state, does all she can to resist the government--by hunting illegally and by some of her actions in the hunger games.
The book is well written and the characters and story are compelling. I really enjoyed The Hunger Games and am looking forward to reading the second part of the series, Catching Fire.