The Hunger Games
Author Suzanne Collins
-
Story
Games are fun! Unless you’re competing to the death to be pronounced the winner! In a dystopian future, the nation of Panem forces children from its districts to compete in front of a crowd of spectators from the hated Capital. When her little sister is picked for the games, Katniss Everdeen volunteers to take her place. She must rely on her survival skills, intelligence, and instincts to stay alive. Travelling to the capital, the competitors meet each other and try not to form strong bonds. There can only be one winner and there is only one way to win the game: survive.
-
Why we chose it
A dystopian young adult story about survival and the nature of freedom.
-
What a young reviewer said
Practically a modern classic and a must read for any young person. (Freya, age 15)
Great use of language - addictive plot - superb ending. (Jack)
-
First published
2008, Scholastic
Story Reviews
Our reviews come from a team of young story lovers! If you’re aged 8–16 and keen to join in, learn how to become a reviewer for The Story Museum.
The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Colins is, without doubt, the best book I’ve ever read! It has you tense, indignant and emotionally invested right from the first chapter. It is set in a cruel future, where North America has become one country, with 12 districts feeding all their wealth to the capitol. The districts once staged an uprising so, to dissuade them from repeating this, the capitol hold a yearly event in which they pit 2 teenagers from every district against each other, to fight to the death: this is the Hunger Games… The book is centralised around the character Katniss, who volunteers to enter the Games to save her younger sister who was selected. I love everything about this book; I love the romance, politics and gore. It is an easy read and an absolute page turner! I recommend it to 12+ who don’t mind death threat and mild gore; boy are you in for a ride! Happy Hunger Games!
Over many years The Hunger Games has been a must read book. And for me, someone who loves dystopian novels I couldn’t believe I had never read it. So I gave it a go… Instantly I found myself reading till 10 o’clock, repeatedly turning pages, aching for the next plot twist or action scene. The way the writer introduces, describes and develops characters as the story progresses makes sure the reader never knows what will happen next. As a story it’s brilliant, as a series starter it’s phenomenal. I would recommend this book to any reader no matter their age or preferred genre. It’s perfect!