A teenager named Katniss Everdeen volunteers as tribute replacing her younger sister
Prim, who was initially chosen to participate in the Hunger Games, a death match between young
children that will determine their fate between life and death. Only one tribute (the ones chosen
for the games) will remain at the end of the games on live television that everyone watches for
pleasure and entertainment. These games are held annually in the world of Panem, a dystopian
world in which North America, no longer exists because the nation of Panem lies there and with
12 districts surrounding the Capitol, each district producing something different from the lands
they possess and live on. The Hunger Games is a trilogy book series and movies based off the
dystopian world written by Suzanne Collins. The series is thrilling and suspenseful, written to
entertain, excite and engage the reader in a story about a girl fighting for survival in a place that
she is seen as an easy target from the poor district of 12. The movies have done a well job of
capturing the important parts of the book as well as producing a film with action and love that no
one could otherwise expect.
The criteria I will use to review the book is based on the overall story of the book along
with the characters, plot and the outline of how the story was written. The first part about
discussing the book is that I enjoyed the book very much when I read it and I loved the story
with how it was written, flowing well with every part of the book. The Hunger Games is also
very successful with the characters and the way the author used them to tell their story along
with the plot of the book. The main characters of the first book, Katniss Everdeen and Peeta
Mellark become the focus of the story when they are the two chosen from District 12 to fight in
the games. In the beginning of the story they are just two people from the same district who must
now fight for their lives but are unfamiliar with each other. Until later in the games it is
announced that two people from the same district can work together and both leave the games
alive which is what they both desire so they begin to help each other and protect each other.
Their relationship is merely friendship in the beginning but then slowly it turns into love which
intensifies the story because Katniss has Gale Hawthorne back home, whom she has always
loved. The story becomes interesting when Gale sees all of this on TV as they kiss and he does
not know where his relationship stands with her. The author did an excellent job of illustrating
everything going on with the different scenarios. Gale is not a main character in the first book
because he is not a part of the games, so that leaves Katniss and Peeta who are the main focus as they are fighting to stay alive in a crazy game where they must kill everyone around them to
become the last one standing.
The plot of the story is well thought out and a true page turner as the reader continues to
find out more about the dystopian nation of Panem. Collins was able to come up with a story that
emphasizes the struggles of Katniss but also her courageousness to stay alive and keep fighting
for Peeta as well for herself and her family, who she wishes to return home to. The author is
successful in telling the story with little twists that make the reader want more and more. The
plot was overall, a well thought out plan of a dystopian world that differs very highly from the
one we know and the basis of the annual games was such a clever way of making something out
of the insane and unreasonable ways of the governmental system in Panem.
The theme of the book was between the struggles of Katniss and her suffering on
television as well as the inequality between the rich and the poor. Firstly, Katniss struggles a lot
in the story with all the different curve balls thrown at her in the games and then this is all being
taped for the entertainment of the people which emphasizes the kind of world she lives in
because these people watching the games enjoy it and live for that time of the year when the
games occur. The children of the games are objectified and that is emphasized with all the deaths
that occur throughout the course of the book. The inequality between the rich and the poor is
clear from the beginning of the book when the author describes the districts, District 12, the
poorest one and District 1, the richest one with the most resources available. The games shows
how unfair it is for the people of District 12 because they are always seen as the underdogs with
no victors ever coming out of the games and there is always the separation between the richer
districts and poorer ones. The theme goes back and forth between these two concepts of the way
life is in the world of Katniss Everdeen.
Many compare the book of The Hunger Games to that of Divergent, both based off
dystopian worlds with the strong girl as the main character for the story. The girl in both stories,
Katniss Everdeen and Tris Prior become the main focus point of the book fighting for their lives
in two worlds differing from each other but both facing struggles of their own with action
occurring quite often in the books. But there are differences in the two books because Divergent
is based more off of a choice the character makes and must then protect those around her while
trying to becoming the person everyone sees her as. The Hunger Games differs in that Katniss is
a true born fighter and hunter and must survive the games for everyone she loves by using her
skills as a hunter to kill as many other tributes as she can before she is killed herself. There are
many similarities and differences between the books but both are well written and a good read.
And I would highly recommend The Hunger Games to those interested in action and character
because that is what the story mainly revolves around with many successes all around.
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