By Suzanne Collins
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The Hunger Games transports readers into a wretched society where humanity is often overlooked, making a striking, dramatic comparison to where we stand in our world today.
Genre: Science Fiction
Recommended Age Level: 14+
Trilogy
Rating: 4.5/5
Synopsis
Winning means fame and fortune. Losing means certain death. The Hunger Games have begun. . . .
In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. The Capitol is harsh and cruel and keeps the districts in line by forcing them all to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV. Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen regards it as a death sentence when she steps forward to take her sister's place in the Games. But Katniss has been close to dead before – and survival, for her, is second nature. Without really meaning to, she becomes a contender. But if she is to win, she will have to start making choices that weigh survival against humanity and life against love.
A Review
This was a wild ride. It's a rather intense book and is not for the faint of heart, but it is a fascinating read. This book takes a corrupt government and high society and shows the horrors that occur when their power is not kept in check. While this is a story of the horrors of corruption and power being abused, it becomes a story of the power each and every person holds and how much impact one person can have. It is a story of mercy, of kindness, of the humanity of the few saving the lives of the many. I highly recommend continuing with the series once you've started because this book provides little to no closure. Definitely give this a try if you are looking for a more mature, dystopian read!
Similar Recommendations
Catching Fire, Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins (the rest of the trilogy)
Divergent by Veronica Roth
The Maze Runner by James Dashner