Shon Review The Hunger Games

Title / Author: The Hunger Games: Collector's Edition by Suzanne Collins
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Year Published: November 2011
Series: The Hunger Games, Book 1
Genres: Young Adult, Dystopia, Romance, Science Fiction, Fantasy, Fiction
Source: Bought
Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Other Titles from this Author: Catching Fire (The Hunger Games #2) & Mockingjay (The Hunger Games #3)

Synopsis

The nation of Panem, formed from a post-apocalyptic North America, is a country that consists of a wealthy Capitol region surrounded by 12 poorer districts. Early in its history, a rebellion led by a 13th district against the Capitol resulted in its destruction and the creation of an annual televised event known as the Hunger Games. In punishment, and as a reminder of the power and grace of the Capitol, each district must yield one boy and one girl between the ages of 12 and 18 through a lottery system to participate in the games. The 'tributes' are chosen during the annual Reaping and are forced to fight to the death, leaving only one survivor to claim victory.

When 16-year-old Katniss's young sister, Prim, is selected as District 12's female representative, Katniss volunteers to take her place. She and her male counterpart Peeta, are pitted against bigger, stronger representatives, some of whom have trained for this their whole lives. She sees it as a death sentence. But Katniss has been close to death before. For her, survival is second nature.

My Review

With Mockingjay, Part 2 coming out in theaters this week, I decided to re-read The Hunger Games. I wanted to take a look back, a see how it all begin.

For those of you who have not read The Hunger Games, the book is broken into three parts. Part 1 - The Tribute, Part 2 - The Games and Part 3 - The Victor.

Part 1 - The Tribute. This is basically your backstory and your introduction to the character and the world. And here is where you find out what a 'Hunger Game' is. There is not much action in part one but you do get your first look at the beginning of, let's call it "a spark" between Katniss and Peeta. Their interact with one another is what give part one some life.

Part 2 - The Games. Here's where things get bloody! After the killing, this part of the book gets a little slow. It's not until Katniss teamed up with a fellow tribute that a short but beautiful friendship develops. Katniss' relationship with young Rue is so cute, I think that's why it hurt so much when it ends.

Spoiler Alert!

Part 3 - The Victor. My absolute favorite part of the book, let me tell you why!

Game changer! Two tribute can win if they are from the same district and guess which two are still alive from the same district.
Even on the verge of death, Peeta is still flirting with Katniss, super cute.

Their time together while Peeta is healing, is the whole book for me.

I love how Katniss and Peeta friendship develop. It not an instant love type of relationship, its slow building. It a good foundation, to a story that it building up to something big.

Even though their friendship ended so coldly you can tell by how the author wrote the ending that something is going to happen in the next book. That will test their relationship, to see what really there.