Life or Death

   

The Hunger Games
Collins, Suzanne
Adventure, Fiction
9/10 Rating
Warnings: Some nudity, intense action, and violence.

This novel is about a girl named Katniss who lives in the twelfth district of Panem. She explains how her family is poor, and how she hunts and struggles to keep them alive. On top of worrying about her family, is the Games. She tells how the Hunger Games is where the Capitol gathers one male, and one female from each district to compete in these last man standing type games. These games are held each year so that the Capitol can stay empowered by striking fear into the hearts of each district. Katniss also tells how her sister Prim was chosen randomly as a contestant and how Katniss volunteered as a tribute instead to protect her younger sister. While being a contestant she finds her male counter part named Peeta falling in love with her in the arena of the Games while she still struggles to kill off the other contestants so she can be the last one standing and see her friends and family again.

As Katniss goes through this deathly adventure, she realizes how important friends are. While she is fighting in the Games, she misses her sister Prim and her mother, along with her best friend Gale. She realizes how much she needs them in her life and how much she truly cares and loves them. She also discovers that the lessons learned from her parents such as hunting and healing are very invaluable. In the end she is forced into a tough situation and learns that it is important to do what is right regardless of the consequences.

The Hunger Games is an intense adventure that is told in first person and tells what Katniss is thinking. Though it is in first person, the way Collins writes is so descriptive that you feel as if you are there.It gives a perspective of what it might be like as a competitor in the Games. The way she writes is kind of unique by how she keeps you going. Collins ends the chapters at the exact right times. Just at the climax of the chapter or section she ends it. She writes so smoothly and knows how and when to make thinks tense and when to make them more mellow. Not a lot of authors have the talent to write this way. What also makes her writing so unique is that she gives small hints as to what might happen next. If you really pay attention and are able to put two and two together you might realize that through these little and yet descriptive details she hints a lot.

This novel is more of a high school aged novel. It requires a little bit more maturity to understand and read. It gives more  adult references. I believe that most would find this novel to be very good. I have not found anyone high school aged or above that has not fell in love with the story and plot. The author somehow finds a way to appeal to such a wide variety of people. Between the star crossed lovers and the action of every fight scene she keeps every one's eyes glued to the page no matter what gender you are.

I have never in my life found an actual book that I truly liked, until I read this one. The other books I have read this term have been some of the best books I have read in my life, but they don't come even close to this book. It has plenty of good qualities to go around. In fact, Publishers Weekly's says "Best Books of the Year". I never really found myself bored. I only found myself wanting to read more, and asleep once cause I stayed up reading it too late. 
I recommend this book because of the wonderful job Collins does at keeping you going. USA Today says "[A] plot-driven blend of suspense, science fiction, and romance." Collins really brings your imagination to life with this plot. Los Angeles Times said “...enthralling, imaginative and creepy...”. The author does a fine job at making you feel involved while telling of these district twelve nobodies trying to fight on against all odds. I would recommend this book to anyone who has good imagination and loves an intense adventure.