The Hunger Games: Book Review The Hunger Games is a novel aimed at young adults first released in September 2008. It was first published in the United States of America. Suzanne Collins was the author of this amazing novel. She came up with the idea while channel surfing and watching real war footage and reality TV. It also came because of her dad’s involvement in the Vietnam War. It was then published by the group Scholastic, who have published many famous books such as the highly successful Harry Potter series, the now major motion picture, Diary of a Wimpy Kid and many others.
The Hunger Games storyline takes place in a rather self-contradicting Post Apocalypse setting in North America. We are introduced to the protagonist, Catkins Evergreen. We see her as the provider for her family. She takes on the role of her father, who died years ago in a mining accident. Catkins provides for her family which consists of her mother and sister Prim, by hunting illegally with her best friend Gale Hawthorn in the wood outside District 12, in which they live. There are a total of 12 districts in the first book. Each of them goes from best to worst in wealth and riches.
District 1 and 2 and all the other districts like 3,4 and 5, all have successful businesses and are all exceptionally wealthy. The reason we have all the districts is: After the apocalypse, North America collapsed and the country of Pane then took its place. Then a war ensued between the Capitol and the Districts. The Capitol won and as a reminder of their victory, every year they hold a “Hunger Games”. This tournament is designed to get 24 contestants from the 12 districts. A boy and a girl. They are randomly selected from a drawing by the Capitol.
They are trained before Ewing put in a simulated arena, with different environments to fight it out until there is a Victor who outlasts everyone else. The night of the drawing arrives. After all the pomp and show by Effie Trinket, a capitol representative, the drawing arrives . Much to the horror of Satanists family her little sister’s name Prim is drawn out. In an emotionally charged scene, we see Catkins volunteer to take Prism’s place in the games. Then the male tribute was called out, and was revealed to be PETA Mallard also known as “The Bakers BOY’.
Catkins then remembers how he saved her life. As there is a lack of food, she scavenges around for food scraps in places like the bakers bin. PETA sees this and purposely burns 2 loaves of bread, enduring slaps by his mother and throws them out to her. They are then introduced to their mentor. Hammiest. He was a previous winner, but all his past experiences have troubled him as he resorts to alcohol for everything and is hardly ever sober. After saying their goodbyes to family and friends they are escorted off to the Capitol for training and styling.
Many things happen before the start of the games, such as PETA declaring is unrequited love for her in a massive live interview, Catkins having the title of “The Girl who Was on Fire”, and many other events. In the opening days of the Games, 1 1 people are initially killed. Later on, much to Satanists chagrin she finds out that, PETA has formed an alliance with the tributes with District 1, 2 and 3. Catkins then takes it on to herself and forms an alliance with Rue. Then she tries to stay alive for the rest to the games, watching people seen loves die such as Rue . Then tater eve retying NAS happened, we reach the ultimatum.
PETA and Catkins are the only two tributes left. They have been told that if two tributes from the same district are the final two then they both win. After a few minutes and nothing showing that they have won, there is an announcement that, the rule had been revoked and there can only be one winner. They both feeling cheated, proceed to eat a poisonous berry and both commit suicide. As they are about to, the rule gets changed again saying they both win. But that simple act of rebellion against the Capitol, the way of saying mimeo don’t own us”, causes wildfire throughout the other districts.
The book ends with the winning refutes being awarded at a ceremony. Little do they know of the upheaval they have caused. This is basically the main plot of the book. Here is a brief description of the main characters. Catkins: Catkins Evergreen is an extremely strong willed; very mature and stubborn to some extent 16 year old who is very protective of her family. She takes on the role of what a father would usually do as her mother is in a deep sate of depression: Providing food, protecting her family and taking care of family business.
One of her most outstanding qualities would be her love for her family. Her love is Christ like, as he volunteers to take her place in the Hunger Games, putting others needs before hers. Throughout the story, we see her affections torn between “The Baker BOY’ or Gale, her long-time friend, and soul mate. Gale: Gale Hawthorn is one of the most likeable characters in the book. He is Satanists best friend as their circumstances are highly similar. They both provide their family, their fathers are both dead, killed in the same mining explosion.
Gale really loves Catkins, but he really struggles when he sees Catkins and PETA together doing the love publicity stunt. But he resigned to the fact that Catkins might not like him, the way he does. PETA: PETA is also a really likeable character. His kind heartiness and gentle spirit really is endearing. PETA always has other interests at heart. He saved Satanists life countless times and was always willing to sacrifice himself for her. He suffers serious, life threatening injuries Just to save Catkins. We do however have a limited insight into PETA, as all of the events are from Satanists view.
From what we see though, he has an artistic side and a philosophical side to him. Always asking the deeper questions and questioning everything. Hammiest: Hammiest is also a character who you are drawn to in a disgusting sort of ay. Under the layer of being a drunken sod, we see that he actually won a Hunger Games. We suspect he won, by cunning and guile, not through brute force and strength. He always has cunning tricks to give PETA and Catkins the upper hand in the Games. It is revealed that he is actually a very intelligent man, when he is sober.
The setting of the novel is a country called Pane. Pane rose up from the country to North America tater tallow. It was set in a Post-Apocalyptic setting, tater a tall out with the Districts and the Capitol, due to bad governments. We have no idea, on what ear it is set in, But I would hazard a guess and estimate around 2030- 2050. The Hunger Games is full of themes and lessons we can learn. Probably the most outstanding one is Inequality. We have districts with prime Jobs, prime farming lands and excessive amounts money to spare.
We see that Juxtaposed with District 12 for example, with next to no Job opportunities, except in the mining industry or black market. Most of them have to rely on illegal methods of obtaining food and supplies or scavenging from scraps to keep their families alive. Another example is of the Capitol. “The cameras haven’t lied about its grandeur. If anything, they have not quite captured the magnificence of the glistening buildings in a rainbow of hues that tower in the air, the shiny cars that roll down the wide paved streets, the oddly dressed people with bizarre hair and painted faces who have never missed a meal.
All the colors seem artificial, the pinks too deep, the greens to bright, the yellows painful to the eyes, like the flat round discs of hard candy we can never afford to buy at the tiny sweet shop in District 12″. Here we see Catkins admiring everything in the Capitol. There is so much unnecessary extravagance depicted in the quote. We see her look t people with hair that has been clouded and done up. Shining colorful buildings towering over wide pavements. The picture we see here is of utmost pride and money. Back in District 12, cars would have been unheard of.
While on the other hand, cars would be part of everyday life, without a second thought. It really paints a picture of how different her life is compared to theirs. Theirs is full of riches, fame, money wealth and color compared to hers of dullness, scavenging and no money. It shows how superficial the Capitol are, as they take so much care and pride in their outward appearance, but not in the inward. The rules are arbitrary, unfathomable, and subject to sudden change. A brutal social hierarchy prevails, with the rich, the good-looking, and the athletic lording their advantages over everyone else.
To survive you have to be totally fake. Adults don’t seem to understand how high the stakes are; your whole life could be over, and they act like it’s Just some “phase”! Everyone’s always watching you, scrutinizing your clothes or your friends and obsessing over whether you’re having sex or taking drugs or getting good enough grades, but no one cares who you really are or how you really feel about anything”. Laura Miller This quote really sums up the theme of inequality and social balancing. Another paramount theme is love.
We see Catkins and Gale, expressing their love to their family by risking their lives to go hunting in the woods to keep them happy and healthy. But this does not go unnoticed by her mother, as she also says how blessed she is to have a daughter like her. We read later on how Catkins volunteers herself, to be a tribute in the Hunger Games, taking her sister’s spot. People have compared this with Christ like love, in the same way he sacrificed himself for the atonement of ins for the elect. This shows how selfless he really is, as she is willing to die for her family, Just to save her beloved sister Prim.
Love is also heavily played upon by the Bakers Boy, PETA. He was also compared to Christ as he took on pain and suffering to save the life of the one he loved. In so many occasions, we see him doing things for other people, out of the goodness of his heart. He was always ready to die in order that Catkins would live on. This really nits none Witt me, as that would be a great character trait to have. As it says in the Bible in John 15:3 “Greater love has no one Han this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. “.
To sum things up, The Hunger Games is a great read for any young adult looking for an excellent book to read. It will keep you captivated for hours on end. I remember staying up till ridiculous hours in the morning reading this book. The characters are all really easy to relate to, and have great characters that you can learn from. Critics are having an extremely hard time faulting this excellent book. It has lots of violence for boys who would doubt the book. It has won numerous awards for being an excellent novel. I would definitely recommend this book from anyone from the age of 13 upwards.
It will keep you enthralled. Authors such as Stephanie Meyer and Rick Ordain have dubbed it as “The closest thing to a perfect adventure novel” and also ” I was so obsessed with this book, The Hunger Games are amazing”. It really shows what an amazing novel it is. Being only a mere 450 pages, it would not take much time to read. Bibliography http://en. Wisped. Org/wick/The_Hunger_Games http://en. Wisped. Org/wick/Gale_Hawthorne http://thaumaturgies. Waking. Com/wick/Gale_Hawthorne http://www. Sparseness. Com/lit/the-hunger-games/summary. HTML