Book Review: The Hunger Games

In a future world, North America as we know it has been destroyed and the continent is now divided into 12 regions. The capital of this new nation is called "Panem". Katniss lives in District 12. The closer you are to the Capital, the better off your district is. District 12 is in charge of mining coal and as the last district they are exceedingly poor. Starvation is a way of life and ever since Katniss’ father died in a mining accident, she has been in charge of caring for her mother and 12 year old sister, Prim.

The capital is bent on reminding the districts who is boss and does this by withholding food, supplies, and other necessities. Their trump card is the annual Hunger Games, which are held to ensure that no district makes an attempt at a rebellion or uprising.

Each district is required to supply one male and one female child between the ages of 12 and 18 for the annual event. Only the survivor wins.

I was completely absorbed into the world of The Hunger Games. I couldn't put the book down. It made me two things:

1. Anti-government. I want my freedom. I don't want larger government running my life.

2. Realize what it must be like to be in the military, knowing at any minute you could die. (How do that do that?)

I loved The Hunger Games and quickly went on to the next book "Catching Fire".

Katniss has returned to her family and her longtime friend, Gale. Katniss should be relieved, even happy, yet nothing is the way Katniss wishes it to be. Gale holds her at an icy distance. Peeta has truned his back on her completely. And there are whispers of a rebellion that Katniss and Peeta may have helped create.

Much to her shock, Katniss has fueled an unrest she's afraid she cannot stop. And what scares her more is that she's not entirely convinced she should try. As time draws near for Katniss to visit the districts on the Capitol's cruel Victory Tour, the stakes are higher than ever.

Oh my goodness!!! Spell bounding... I couldn't believe what was happening in this book. It totally sucked me into the world. It is shocking the control a government can have over the lives of their people. Scary!!

This book ends in a cliff hanger. No end... What??? I couldn't believe it ended like that. The next book doesn't come out until the end of August 2010. That is a long wait to find out what comes next. I wasn't ready to leave the world created in the book. My thoughts and feelings were completely caught up with the characters. For days I craved for more - but I finished reading it and was sad it was finished.

I love these books. I love to completely lose myself in a good book and this is a book I totally lost myself in.