The Verdict
With a new Hunger Games movie in theaters next month, today I’m giving you my honest take on where it all started: The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins.
My verdict: read it, at any age. It’s one of the most gripping young adult books ever written, and it’s smarter than its reputation. The love triangle hasn’t aged perfectly, and the middle of the arena sags a little. I give it four and a half out of five, with no spoilers.
The Setup
North America is gone. In its place is Panem: a rich, glittering Capitol, and twelve poor districts that serve it. Decades ago, the districts rebelled and lost.
As punishment, every year each district must send one boy and one girl, aged twelve to eighteen, to fight to the death on live television. Twenty four go in. One comes out.
Katniss
Katniss Everdeen is sixteen. She lives in District Twelve, the coal mining district, and she’s kept her mother and her little sister, Prim, alive by illegally hunting in the woods with her best friend, Gale.
Then, at the reaping, Prim’s name is drawn. And Katniss volunteers to take her place.
The Capitol
Katniss is taken to the Capitol with the boy from her district, Peeta Mellark, the baker’s son, who once saved her life with a loaf of bread.
Their mentor is Haymitch, a drunk who won the Games years ago. Their stylist, Cinna, sets them literally on fire for the opening ceremony. And before the Games, they have to win over sponsors on TV.
The Arena
The second half is the arena itself: a forest, a lake, and twenty three other kids, some of them trained killers from the richer districts.
I won’t spoil anything that happens in there. But there are alliances, betrayals, and a girl named Rue you will never forget.
What Works
First, Katniss. She’s practical, guarded, and not very nice, which makes her feel real. The first person voice keeps you right inside her head, counting every risk.
Second, the satire. The Capitol watches children die as entertainment, with fashion, interviews and sponsors. It reads more like reality TV every year.
Third, the pace. The chapters end on cliffhangers, and the book is almost impossible to put down.
What Doesn’t
Now the honest part. First, the love triangle. Gale barely appears, and the romance with Peeta can feel more like plot than feeling, though that’s partly the point.
Second, the middle of the arena has a slow stretch, mostly hiding, hunger and healing.
Third, the world building is thin in places. You’ll have questions about how Panem actually works.
Content Notes
This is a young adult book, but it’s violent. Children are killed, sometimes on the page, and there’s starvation, injury and grief.
The Scorecard
My scores. Katniss, five out of five. Pacing, four and a half. Themes, five. World building, four. Romance, three and a half. That averages to about four and a half.
Who It’s For
Read it if you like survival stories, dystopias, or strong heroines, or if you’ve only seen the movies. The book is tighter and darker.
Skip it if violence involving children is a hard no for you.
Where To Go Next
I’ve also made an ending explained, a full series guide with every book and movie in order, and a list of books to read next. They’re linked below. Tell me in the comments: team Peeta or team Gale?
