No Introduction Needed: "The Hunger Games"

Book Title: "The Hunger Games"
Author: Suzanne Collins
Version: Hardback
Voice: First Person
ISBN: 9780439023481
Publisher: Scholastic
First Published: October 31st, 2008
Number of Pages: 374


At this point just about every one knows what "The Hunger Games" books are. I admit that I came late to the party reading the series just this December after I had been working at the bookstore for a couple of months. I figured that since the first of the three movies came out now would be an appropriate time to review the books. I'll review the first one now, the second one tomorrow and the third the day after. That's the plan anyway hopefully it all works out.

It is in the future and Panem rules over the outlying districts, and each year to remind them of their disobedience Panem (or the Capitol) makes each district send one boy and one girl to fight in 'The Hunger Games.' Where 24 children fight to the death in an arena designed by the 'gamemaster' until only one is left standing. District 12 is the outer most district, the coal mining district, where food is scarce and money more so. This is where Katniss Everdeen lives with her mother and her little sister Primrose. In defiance of the Capitol rules against hunting Katniss and her best friend Gale sneak into the woods and search for food to bring home to their families. On 'Reaping Day' when the boy and girl are chosen for The Games everyone gets dressed in their best clothes and gather in the square for the choosing. The names are chosen from a large bowl, some kids have their names in the bowls more then a dozen times for the extra food it provides their families, by a woman named Effie Trinket. This particular Reaping is special for Primrose because it is the first time her name is in the bowl. Because this is her first year Katniss feels that Primrose has nothing to worry about. When the first name out of the bowl is Primrose Everdeen however Katniss is stunned speachless at first and then takes action by volunteering as tribute. The first that District 12 has ever had. The male tribute, as they are called, is Peeta Mellark the baker's son.

After a very quick goodbye to their families and friends Katniss and Peeta are whisked away to the train that will carry them into Panem and to the Games. Along for the ride is Effie Trinket and Haymitch Abernathy the alcoholic mentor to the two tributes. A mentor is the districts last winner of The Games an 'honor' that hasn't been District 12's since Haymitch was a boy, many years ago. Once the train arrives in the Capitol Peeta and Katniss are taken to the suite they will be staying in for the training period before The Games. In an instant they are surrounded by more comfort and wealth then they have ever even dreamed of and provided with such rich and abundant food that they literally cannot eat it. This is just the beginning of the many changes that Peeta and Katniss are going to be exposed to. When they go off to meet their team of stylists Katniss finds her team vapid and annoying but she quickly becomes close to her head stylist Cinna. He is the first person to talk to her about the reality of what she is facing and not automatically congratulate her. They form a bond that becomes Katniss's rock throughout all the pre-Games rituals. While Katniss is trying to stay on her feet in 4" heels and keep a smile on her face for the possible sponsers in the crowd Peeta seems to be lapping the whole show up. He pours on the charm whenever he is in view of the crowds that gather for the festivities making him an instantly loveable tribute.

While the two District 12 tributes barely interacted back home in the Capitol they are the only link to the life they knew for one another and so form a tentative bond. At the opening ceremonies each district makes a grand entrance showing off the tributes usually dressed in the style of whatever their districts provide for the Capitol. Katniss and Peeta come dressed as coal on fire and from then on she is known as Katniss Everdeen the girl on fire. The next public appearance is for the interviews, each tribute from each district sits on stage in front of an audience and on TV for a larger one and talks to Caesar Flickerman. A true Capitol-ite and larger than life personality Caesar has been the voice of The Hunger Games for as long anyone can remember. Although Katniss has a hard time getting people to like her she becomes a favorite when she shows off the dress that Cinna has made for her, one seemingly of fire. And then it is Peeta's turn to get in the hot seat and while there he reveals a secret so monumentous that the whole Capitol is rocked back. He tells Caesar that the one girl in the whole world that he loves is Katniss and that just the thought of being in the arena with her has his stomach in knots.

When the Games start Katniss is quickly targeted by a team of 'career tributes' (tributes that have been in training for this day since they were small) and she must do everything she can to stay out of their way and survive. Katniss discovers that Peeta is hunting her with the rest of the careers and she is devastated. A few more days go by with more losses and heartbreak when suddenly there is an annoucement from above, the rules have been changed and now two tributes are allowed to win as long as those tributes are from the same district. Katniss immediately sprints off to find Peeta.

"The Hunger Games" is a terrific book, it is well written and full of suspense. It is an easy read, made for teens, but don't let that fool you. It is a tale that truly disturbed and frightened me because it is a totally possible future. Being in Katniss's head and seeing the way she sees the world and The Games made the book so much more real and tangible. It is a dark book however and one that shouldn't be entered into lightly. "The Hunger Games" is a raw story full of emotion that at times left me in tears. I highly recommend the first book in The Hunger Games trilogy, it is the start of an adventure that is sure to win your heart.