The Hunger Games: Hunger Games 1

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Average customer rating 4.9 (43 comments)

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I had wanted to read these books ever since watching the first show. Ms. Collins did not disappoint. A very good story with strong characters and a style that makes you want to keep turning pages. The book also fills in more subtle detail which is often not available in a feature film. I'm looking forward to the next two books!

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Well this book lived up to a lot of the hype that surrounds it. While the name and cover still do not grab my attention the story, once started, did. This book is written in first perspective, from the heroine's aspect. Her name is Katniss Everdeen. She starts off in her home, a simple, poor area of the land. She is the provider for her mother and sister with her hunting skills. To protect her younger sister, she is sent to the capitol, along with local boy Peeta, to 'participate' in the annual Hunger Games. These 'games' are fights to the death, aired and shown to the capitol and all 12 districts under its control, in a survival arena of sorts. The book shows, throughout the story, a somewhat futuristic dystopia society. The tributes (Katniss, Peeta and others in the game) are given basic weapons (bows, spears, clubs) and the district where Katniss is from uses herbs and eats basic foods (squirrel, wild turkey, etc) but the capitol has voice command room service, automatic hair dryers, and a camera/screen set that tracks and shows the tributes (no matter where they go) to the viewers. It is an interesting combination. There is a 'romantic' setting as well. Katniss and Peeta are to appear as a united team to the people. Peeta even admits to liking her during his interview. So a setting for 'star-crossed lovers' is created. However, Katniss has various feelings toward Peeta throughout the book and its very realistic and understandable, especially when there is possibly another guy back home. Yet while there are time I can relate to her, at the same time several of her thoughts want to make my roll my eyes or drop my head onto a desk. While she is survival smart, she is not people smart. She can't socialize and cannot read people worth a darn. While it is annoying at times, it is also endearing and has created a unique character. Overall, very good book. 4 1/2 stars is my official opinion, but I will give it 5 since I can't do halves. Its a constant pace of survival, and action with just the right touch of romantic possibilities. I look forward to the next book. -Jamie @ Vailia's Page Turner

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Amazing, I couldn't put it down. The entire trilogy was so riveting - this is on the top of my list of favorites that's for sure!

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This book is awesome, I simply could not put it down, today, my class mates and I sat around all lunch and talked about this amazing series. I couldn't believe how addicting this book was.

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After my ma sent this book, it sat on my shelf for weeks. Only after promising a student that he could read it (my half-hearted endorsement coming from my reading the back cover), I picked it up so I would know what words he would not understand (English is his third language). Immediately, I was swept away by Suzanne's writing style, her ability to paint a believable dystopia, and her character development. I read the whole thing straight through in a matter of hours. Unfortunately, for my student, he still is waiting for this book - I have passed it on to every Peace Corps Volunteer in my group! I can hardly wait for Book 2 & 3 to arrive at my post office!

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Imagine you just had your name pulled by lottery over thousands of people. Usually this means you have won something and you should be happy, but not in this case. Instead you basically just had your name pulled to die in The Hunger Games. The Hunger Games, By Suzanne Collins is a breath taking novel about a girl in District 12. She is just a poor citizen that works hard to take care of her family- until an unfortunate thing happens that changes her life forever. I absolutely LOVED this book from the very beginning to the end. Author, Suzanne Collins, is known for her precise detail and enthusiastic writing, and she displays this and more in this book. Just reading this book got me "worked up". I suggest this book to teens/ preteens because it has some violent battles and gore in it.

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The Hunger Games was an amazing book. The book is full of action, adventure, and some romance/drama. Also this book is full of themes and plots. For example when Katniss took her sister's place in the tournament. That theme was doing something good you will receive something good. Another theme was that the media controls a lot of things. For example the capital made everyone watch the hunger games. I would suggest this book to teenagers because the book is a challenging enough read and is interesting enough also. Those are just two themes in the book. This book would be great read for a long weekend or on a long trip.

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So much plot, so swiftly moving--it's a fantastic read, and the third of the series is coming out at the end of August. I think it's time for you to read it. The book is just provocative enough on the subject of information control and entertainment AS information control to make it an interesting one to talk about, and enough plot and character switchbacks to keep you turning the pages. Just finished the sequel, and I'm looking forward to reading back to Suzanne Collins's previous work as well. Start it. Unless it's really not for you (you'll figure it out in the first 15 pages), you won't regret it a bit.

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This book caught my interest from the beginning to the very end. I am not exaggerating when I say I only put it down to go to work or to sleep. I have suggested this book to many of my friends and they all love this series. I can't wait for the third to come out!

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FANTASTIC!

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Twenty-four children: twelve boys, twelve girls; tributes selected by random lottery every year and sent to the capitol city of Panem to compete in a brutal, bloodthirsty fight for survival, with the last participant standing declared champion. Welcome the the Hunger Games, a grim reminder to those living in the twelve districts comprising what was once the United States, of their place as virtual slave to the gleaming Capitol at their center. Sixteen year old Katniss Everdeen is this years female representative for District 12, having volunteered to take her younger sister Prim's place. Sent to the arena with the baker's son and classmate, Peeta Mellark--a boy who, several years prior, saved Kat and her family from the ravages of starvation after her father's death in a coal mining accident--neither competitor from the final district seem to be contenders. But Peeta's good nature and Kat's small stature belie the former's cunning intelligence and the latter's experience as a hunter; while a revelation from Peeta during the introductory ceremonies sends Katniss into the first day of competition more than a little off-kilter. The stage is set, the tributes have arrived, and the cameras are watching...let the games begin. It is no exaggeration to call THE HUNGER GAMES a pulse-pounding, page-turner. Collins grabbed me from the first page and didn't let go. While Katniss isn't always a the most likable character (in fact, there were plenty of times I much preferred the affable Peeta, or even sweet, birdlike little Ruth), she is always compelling thanks to her rational approach to every challenge and dogged determination. While HUNGER GAMES is a plot driven novel, the characters and their relationships are the heart of the story. Ms. Collins has created a dystopian tale of Orwellian caliber for young adults, giving any reader plenty to churn their minds between now and the next installment of this trilogy. My only complaint is having to wait.

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This Book is my favorite book ever it is amazing i would recomend it to teens

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This book was simply amazing. I could not put it down. I love love love it. The set up of this book is so unique - a world we can picture from our own experiences, but a plot that hopefully would never take place in real life. Add in some romance, action, and characters that you get emotionally attached to and you've got a winner of a book.

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This is one of the best books I have read in a very long time. Granted it is marketed as a YA book, but every adult I have introduced to it has loved it as well.

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I loved this book. It was full of excitement and adventure. The characters were rich in personality. All parts of the story were full of description. So much that I forgot where I was in the real world.

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This book was exciting, heart warming, and suspenseful. Collins displays a colorful picture of what goes on in this type of world. It's a fast read, you will not put it down until you're finished!

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This book was enthralling. A bit tough to take at times but so engrossing that I hated to put it down. Went on to immediately reading the sequel and am waiting very impatiently for book 3.

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AMAZING!!!!

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The best book i read this year.Non stop action from the first to the last page,couldn't put it down!

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I'm a high school librarian, and I can't keep this title on the shelf. Its premise of a teenage fight-to-the-death on reality TV is an easy sale to high school students.

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This is the best book I have read in a long time. It has lots of suspense and very well developed characters. Collins writes about the hardship of Katniss' life and the struggle to simply live. At the end, this book leaves you craving more and on the edge of your seat for the rest of the series.

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Hands down the best book I have read in years, maybe ever. If you think it's just for kids, think again. Compelling characters, gripping action, and pitch-perfect dialogue combine to make this well-plotted book the best of the decade.

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"Hunger Games", the first of a trilogy (book two entitled "Catching Fire", and book three due out August 2010) was by far my favorite book of the decade. I don't normally plow through a book in one evening, but this one I did (same goes for it's sequal). Suitable for mature 12-year-olds and up, Katniss Everdeen is what I consider to be an interesting new take on a female role model. She struggles with what any human would go through to fight for survival and the welfare of her loved ones. I highly recommend this trilogy to anyone and everyone!

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I couldn't put this book down. A dystopian novel of a future I hope we never see, it was delicious, subversive--the kind of young adult novel that adult readers cut their teeth on. It made me, a middle-aged reader, think. It surprised me at every turn, and I devoured the sequel as soon as I could get my hands on it. I can hardly wait for the third book. And I'm going to make sure my younger relatives also get hold of it.

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Love, love, love this book!

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Another terrific young adult F&SF novel from Scholastic. This one, the first in a trilogy, introduces Katniss, a strong adolescent female protagonist living in a what appears to be the Appalachia of a dystopian future. To underscore their ongoing servitude, the Districts must send randomly-chosen tributes each year to battle each other to the death. It's the logical extension of reality television, so when Katniss is sent to the games, she is also groomed to be more attractive to sponsors. Throughout the novel Katniss is pulled into deeper deception and intrigue, though she really just wants to be left alone. For other young adult fantasy where the protagonist must compete in very serious "games," compare MacHale's The Quillan Games and John Christopher's classic Tripods series, beginning with The White Mountains. Or, really, many episodes of Star Trek: The Original Series.

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I could not tear myself away from this book. I read it on a cross country plane trip during which I'm usually counting the minutes until landing. However, with this book my uncomfortable surroundings disappeared and I didn't want to move until I was finished. I greatly enjoy young adult fiction and this is one of the finest novels I've ever read. It should be on required reading lists everywhere.

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This book controlled my life for twenty four hours; it was painful to put it aside and do daily tasks. Collins presents a fantastical future society reminiscent of a Brave New World or 1984, in which democracy is thrown aside to put control into the hands of a few. Unlike these other two novels, the Hunger Games track the gruesome trials of teens pitted against each other, and takes a look at how personality alters in animalistic struggles for survival. The pages are captivating and the main character is well-explored and complex. I can't wait to read the sequel!

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I read this book almost a year ago now and the moment I started it, I knew it was going to be wonderful. You never know what's going to happen next and it keeps you on your toes. There's just something about the book that just makes you want to keep reading and reading and reading. Even when I had finished, I knew it was going to be a hard year before I got to read the second book. I would recommend this book to pretty much anyone that loves a good story.

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This is the best book I have read all year. Even though the main points of the plot are totally predictable, the finer details are so carefully described that I couldn't get my head out of this book for two days after I read it, so I turned around and re-read it. And still had to wait a week to pick up another book. Eagerly awaiting the sequel.

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I think it's been a while since I've read a book in one sitting. I was sucked into this story so fiercely that I neglected an entire afternoon's worth of homework. The writing style is effortless and I was truly amazed by Collins' deft handling of such a despicable premise. In fact, I had originally been reluctant to read this book because of the premise. The idea of children killing each other was a little more than I thought I wanted to handle. Yet, Collins is able to draw out some very interesting analogies, albeit heartbreaking, for today's wars and powerful single minded regime style governing. It's actually very refreshing to read a book like this for young adults. Truly, the book is so good I think most adults would find pleasure in reading it. However, there is so much vapid story telling out there for the young adult audience (now, don't get me wrong here, I love that kind of stuff too - aka Twilight) that it's very nice to see such a well written and mindful story. The ending, while good, was anything but peaceful. I was somewhat disturbed by it, and in an equally disturbing way, I enjoyed it. Which for me is totally out of character. I won't reveal any spoilers here, but I think if you read the book you'll understand my meaning. Nevertheless, my hope is by the end of the series there is some kind of peace. Though I doubt it will be without a heavy and emotionally draining death toll. I'm very excited for the next book in the series.

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this was a good book i think the plot was predictable but it had a lot of action. i hope she ends the series well not like gregor series

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This is a great read. It reminded me of Takami's Battle Royale, in terms of content. It's considered a young adult novel and it is engaging throughout. I found myself rooting for the main character and was pleasantly surprised by the various plot twists. This is a hard one to put down. I also highly recommend the author's Gregor the Overlander series.

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I am wondering the other reviews, as I found Hunger Games quite shallow, plot being overly stretched and very predictable. The frames of the story are great, and it could have been an awesome book, so maybe I was just expecting more of it. While comparing Hunger Games to other books of the same genre (for example The Traveler - trilogy, Eoin Colfer's Supernaturalist or Neil Gaiman's books) the difference of quality becomes very obvious. I hope the sequel of Hunger Games proves me wrong.

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Didn't realize this was a "young adult" book. It gets & keeps your attention from the first page. The author is brilliant at developing the emotions and conflict of the young "heroine" as well as surprising you with the contrasts she presents. It has me looking for more of her work.

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The violence that comes out is balanced by love, a love that comes in all forms and sizes. This book will keep you reading till the very end. Then you'll ask for more:). I can't wait for the next book.

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Excellent. I couldn't put it down! It was very thoughtful and well written. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoyed The Giver by Lois Lowry or the Shadow Children series by Margaret Peterson Haddix.

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I read this on the recommendation of my teenage son, and I loved it. It's a post apocalyptic story of what used to be America. The country is separated into twelve districts (the thirteenth was destroyed by The Capital), each providing a commodity (coal, grain, etc.) to the rest of the country. Each year two Tributes, children, are chosen to fight to the death in an event that is mandatory viewing for all citizens. The Hunger Games allow The Capital to remind the citizens of what will happen should they attempt another uprising. Though the subject is difficult it is handled well and the violence is not gratuitous. This book is an excellent addition to the world of young adult literature.

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Goodness gracious-I just bought 3 different books yesterday for my 3 nieces-THE HUNGER GAMES is for Emily who is 12. I read it last pm, and it was enthralling, scary, and brought tears to my eyes with tribute from Rue's District. I think that Emily will understand and enjoy, and handle the starkness of the near-reality future, and I hope she and I will get the rest of the story when Ms. Collins gives us Books 2 and et c.

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I put no rating because nothing ever compares to this book it is amazingly brilliant and is action packed from beginning to end. The end left me hanging. Anyway if anybody knows if the author is going to make another one tell me. I highly recommend this book for anybody looking for something to read! PEACE OUT! P.S. Im 12 and I read it so it's not too violent.

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The Hunger Games completely took me by surprise. I had been looking for something new to read and this book was recommended. The story is about personal and physical sacrifice to protect one's family, but is set in such a cruel set of circumstances. It is unnerving to read as characters come to like and respect each other at the same time that they are trying to kill each other. The attention to detail, thought process and emotions are amazing and I fell in love with Katniss and Peta. I was so excited when I got to the end and discovered that The Hunger Games is only Book One in what I hope will be a long series. I can't wait for the next!

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The jury is still out on the exact age this book is appropriate for do to it's violent content, but the riveting story and keen social commentary will most likely make it popular regardless. Plus the main character Katniss is a work of art.

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I could not put this book down! The concept is horrific, using children in televised entertainment, watching them kill each other for enjoyment. This book should make us think about what is acceptable entertainment in our society. It should also make us, as a society, think about the socio-economic impact the war in Iraq has on our own kids. Who fights our battles? I bet it is kids like Katniss in the Hunger Games, someone struggling to keep their family's heads above water. Katniss shows us what strengh is, and the hardships of responsibility, also, the power of love.