The Hunger Games

By Suzanne Collins
Scholastic, $12.99, 373 pages

The smash hit The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins is a book set in a world like and unlike our own. Panem is split into 12 districts, each of which specialize in manufacturing a particular product. Katniss Everdeen, our heroine, lives in District 12. Her father was killed in a coal mining accident, and her mother’s heart broke, leaving Katniss to raise her younger sister Prim. Every year the Capitol requires each district to offer up one boy and one girl as a “tribute,” to remind them of the cost of rebellion. When Prim is selected, Katniss volunteers to save her little sister. The story continues as Katniss enters a fight for her life.

This book is rich and full of detail. The story is riveting and will keep you turning pages. However, it also raises social questions and debates about topics such as hunger, poverty, and social class. These themes are prevalent throughout the book. In addition to a great story, it provides key talking points for discussion with those around you.

Reviewed by Rachel J. Richards

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