The Hunger Games Trilogy

The Hunger Games Trilogy includes The Hunger Games, Catching Fire and Mockingjay (of which was released in August of 2010).  All three books come in right at 400 pages and are well written.

These are the first books I have read by Suzanne Collins and I did enjoy them.  I think I read all three in under a weeks time.  There are a lot of reviews out there about the under development of the characters but I think, based on the audience intended, that under development of characters and a better storyline are OK.

Breakdown of the story:

• Post apocalyptic America called Panem
• An over reaching government that controls 13 districts, all which cater to a different "profession" (mining, tailoring, farming and so on).
• 70+ years ago the districts stood up to the government and were pushed back and nearly wiped out.
• The Hunger Games is the punishment for this quell.  Every year a child is picked to represent each district in a fight to the death in the main capital.  The survivor and the survivors district reap the benefits of the win for one year (extra food, fuel, etc).   The survivor must then go on to train next years pick for the Hunger Games from his/her district.
• Katniss is the main character who stands up and takes the place of her younger sister when she is picked to be in the Hunger Games.

And this is where the fun starts.  As a reader you side with Katniss immediately and want her to succeed while always thinking there is no way out of this alive for any of them.  There are some quirky teen issues thrown in but for the most part the book is paced well and the story is well told.  This goes for all three books. 

 

The bad (but good) part is Collins gets you sucked into liking some of the other contestants.  As a reader you identify with them, get to know them, get to like them and all the time knowing...they are more than likely going to die.

The books are well worth the read and won't take up much of your time.  Yes there are other books out there with the same precedence such as The Running Man but I think I like the characters and the idea in these books much better.  Pick them up or get them at the library (if you can tear them from the tween who currently has it in his/her hand).