Review by: Kennedy Krumrei
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins is set in an unknown time in the future. All that remains of the dystopian world is a country by the name of Panem, split into the wealthy Capitol and 12 districts varying in poverty. The story plays out through the eyes of 16-year-old protagonist Katniss Everdeen, who explains that as a punishment for the districts rebelling against the Capitol, they are subjected to yearly submitting 24 kids (two from each district) into a kill-or-be-killed competition. Katniss and a boy her age named Peeta are mentored by the only living victor from their district, a drunkard named Haymitch Abernathy. The two, along with the other competitors, or “tributes”, from the districts, are interviewed and evaluated before the Games. Peeta confesses his love for Katniss while interviewed, and a facade of “star-crossed lovers” is created. The Games start, and about half of the tributes are killed off trying to acquire supplies from the Cornucopia (a giant, cone-like structure that houses food, supplies, and weapons to support tributes in the competition). Katniss flees into the woods to hide, but eventually runs into Peeta and “the Careers”, the tributes from the districts most favored by the Capitol. Rue, a young tribute from District 11, alerts Katniss of a tracker-jacker nest (tracker-jackers are basically engineered and overpowered wasps that can create hallucinations), and Katniss, Peeta, and the Careers are all stung. Katniss later teams up with Rue, and the two make a plan to burn the rest of the Cornucopia supplies, which the Careers have in their possession. The supplies are burned up, but Rue ends up being killed by one of the Careers. Grief-stricken, Katniss decides to bury Rue in flowers and sing her to “sleep” as an act of defiance against the Capitol. In gratitude, Katniss is sent a small loaf from District 11. A new rule is created, which allows both tributes from a single district to be double victors. Despite an increased risk of danger, Katniss decides to ally with a wounded Peeta, who was badly injured by Cato one of the Careers from District 2. Katniss decides to fake being in love with Peeta in order to win sponsors. When the Gamemakers (the people controlling the Hunger Games) send what each of the remaining tributes from each district needs, Katniss runs to get the medicine for Peeta. She acquires it and saves Peeta’s life, who was too upset and worried to let Katniss go on her own. Katniss and Peeta are the last two tributes to survive, but the Gamemakers change the rules to one victor to try and form a dramatic and intriguing finale. Katniss and Peeta threaten to take poisonous berries that will kill them both, and the Gamemakers give up, letting the duo win. The pair returns home, and Peeta learns that Katniss was using her “love” for him as part of a survival tactic, and he is heartbroken. Katniss, on the other hand, is unsure of how she feels and what is yet to come.
For the most part, I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. I liked seeing a female main character who was strong and independent go through an overwhelming amount of obstacles! The characters were also very fleshed out, which was something nice to see. However, I found it a bit difficult to read when Katniss decided to manipulate Peeta in a “star-crossed-lovers” act. I know this was a move for survival, but I found it annoying and cruel that Katniss decided to play that move. These actions made me like Katniss a bit less than I would have liked.
If I were to rate this book, I would give it a 4 out of 5. The book was generally enjoyable, but there were some minor issues that made me hesitate on giving the book a 5 out of 5.
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