The Hunger Games is a trilogy of books created by Suzanne Collins. The first of the three books is called "The Hunger Games", followed by "Catching Fire" and "Mockingjay". The novels have been developed into films and soundtracks. The first book was released in 2008, the second book was released in 2009 and the third was released in 2010.
The Hunger Games is set in Panem, a made up country, consisting of a wealthy capital and twelve districts in varying states of poverty. Each year two children from each district are chosen to participate in a compulsory annual death match called "The Hunger Games".
The Hunger Games started with thirteen districts. District thirteen attempted to start a revolution against the capital, the capital won, district thirteen was destroyed and as a punishment and deterrent the annual games were started. A televised death match where one female and one male from each district between the ages of 12-18 are chosen randomly in a reaping. Children may volunteer instead of selection by ballot, the chosen children are taken to an arena and fight until only one survives.
Book One: Katniss was 16 years old and volunteered for the 74th Hunger Games after Primrose her younger sister was chosen from a ballot. Halfway through the 74th Hunger Games a new rule was set that both tributes from each district could become victors and work together. Katniss and Peeta searched for each other and killed the rest of the tributes, however instead of being announced victors the rule was revoked and only one winner allowed. Katniss decided that they should eat poisonous night lock berries, killing themselves and leaving no winner. As a result Seneca Crane, a game maker, hastily ended the games and declared both Katniss and Peeta victors.
Book Two: In the second book quarter quell is announced, this means a girl and a boy are chosen from the previous victors and are made to fight all over again. Both Katniss and Peeta are chosen and after surviving various plots to kill them involving acid rain, electrocution and giant waves, Peeta was also captured and brain washed into believing Katniss was bad. Katniss gets taken to back to district 13 after her own district was destroyed.
Book Three: After surviving the Hunger Games twice Katniss is still not safe. The Capitol is angry and wants revenge and they believe that Katniss is to blame for the unrest and rebellion. President Snow has made it clear that Katniss and everyone else is unsafe from the revenge, including her family, friends and all of district 12. Katniss and Peeta along with a few others set on a mission to kill Snow and take over the Capitol. They triumph and kill Snow and take control of the Capitol. As an epilogue we see that Katniss and Peeta marry and have two children.
Katniss Everdeen: Katniss is 16 years old at the beginning of the book. She is quiet, independent and fierce. She has long dark hair, olive skin and grey eyes. Katniss lives with her mum and sister Primrose in district 12, a coal-mining district and one of the poorer districts of Panem. She was a tribute in the 74th and 75th Hunger Games, after her sister had been picked initially and Katniss then volunteered to save her sister. Katniss' father died in an mining accident and she helped the family to survive by hunting for food.
Peeta Mellark: Peeta is the male tribute from district 12, in both the 74th and 75th Hunger games. He is 16 years old in the first book and a son of a baker and has a passion for art. Peeta lives with his father, mother and two brothers. Sadly all of his family died in the second book Catching Fire. He is quite charismatic, which helps him in the Hunger Games.
Primrose Everdeen: Primrose is an innocent character, nicknamed Prim. She is Katniss' sister and she is 12 years old in the first book. Like her mother she has blond hair and blue eyes. She is thoughtful and sweet and a skilled healer, having been taught by her mother. Unfortunately she dies in the last book.
I like the Hunger Games because of the way the author used descriptive vocabulary to describe what's happening. The author's descriptive style encouraged me to carry on reading and made me want to know what was going to happen next. I like the way the story continued over three books, it flows easily from one book to another. If I ever had a chance to meet the author Suzanne Collins, I would love to ask her how she came up with the idea of the Hunger Games and how she developed that idea into three books.
