Let me just preface this by saying, yes, if you read the headline. And if you read the byline, yes also. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins is one of my first ‘big-girl’ books I’ve ever read. I’m glad it was because it raised my standards by miles for any book I’d read in the future. It’s action-packed with dynamic characters, plot twists, and romance, all on the stakes of life or death. Let’s be honest, if you haven’t read this book, are you even from this century?
Katniss Everdeen grew up in District 12, known for coal mining. District 12 was also known for being the poorest and smallest of all 13 districts. She had to learn to fend for herself, to hunt and provide for her sister and mother (her mother was a bit of a nut job who didn’t help much with the providing part). Around her 16th year, everything seemed to be moving along; they were surviving. Until the Reaping came. Of course, the Reaping came every year, but this year her little sister’s name would be added to the draw. The Reaping was an annual event that led to the games where two tributes, one boy and one girl, fight to the death in an arena for the rich people to watch.
Katniss was worried, but her sister only had one piece of paper in that draw. There’s no way that, out of all of those papers, she would be chosen. Until she was chosen…
Then Katniss volunteers as tribute, saving her sister from the trials. I don’t know if I would even think to volunteer, but good on her because she met Peeta.
Peeta Mallark was a baker in District 12, and he was eventually chosen as the male tribute. When they were younger, Peeta gave Katniss a loaf of bread while she was starving, so they knew each other briefly. Peeta was her support system as he was mostly calm and thought rationally. Katniss kept her distance, though, considering one of them would probably end up killing the other if they didn’t get killed by other tributes. Personally I would be getting close to him. (Ignore me; I had a huge crush on Peeta when I was younger as I’m sure most of us did 😉 )
Anyways, this book is honestly entertaining, and I think it definitely deserves all of the hype it gets. I can imagine it being one of the ‘classics’ in a hundred years or so. I mean, as long as we don’t get our own President Snow, where he would outlaw it. Ultimately, if you haven’t read it, BUY IT!
