“The Hunger Games” Book Review

Title: The Hunger Games

Author: Suzanne Collins

Number of Pages: 358

Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆

Why this book has value:

The Hunger Games written by Suzanne Collins takes the perspective of Katniss Everdeen, a 16-year-old girl in District 12 of Panem. The book starts off on the day of The Reaping, a day that 1 boy and 1 girl from the ages 12-18 from each district are chosen to fight in the Hunger Games. The Hunger Games happen once every year where the contestants chose must fight to the death till there is only one person remaining. Katniss’s sister, Primrose, has her name drawn, and Katniss volunteers to take her place. 

Development of Characters

The characters that formed bonds throughout the book, helped push the characters to begin thinking or behaving a new way. The most important and noticeable bond I believe is Peeta and Katniss. We can see the change in Peeta’s behavior in these two quotes. “He hasn’t accepted his death. He is already fighting hard to stay alive. Which also means that kind Peeta Mellark, the boy who gave me the bread, is fighting hard to kill me.” (pg 56) is the realization that Katniss comes to when they begin their training together. “Listen,” he says pulling me to my feet. “We both know they have to have a victor. It can only be one of us. Please, take it. For me.” And he goes on about how he loves me, what life would be without me” (pg 329). I believe that these two quotes show the drastic change of how the bond that he and Katniss have changed Peeta. 

Effectively Targets a Very Specific Audience Group

Suzanne Collins targeted the audience of teens and young adults because she wanted to extend her opinions to a more impressionable group that might be going through these issues. One of those beliefs could be considered anti-establishment based on how she takes the offensive what writing about the government in "The Hunger Games” book. “Gale’s voice is in my head. His ravings against the Capitol no longer pointless, no longer to be ignored.” (pg224) Another belief might be anti-rich based on how she writes about the Capitol citizens. “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.” (pg56) These quotes show the distaste that the author has for people in power or in a place where they don’t really have to worry about what others suffer through based on the lack of money they have. 

Universal Human Experiences

This book connects to the universal experience of survival. The book is all about surviving these horrific games and being able to make it back home to their families. At the end of the day, all humans are tasked with surviving day-to-day and the book reflects that, but through a dystopian filter. 

Connection to Contemporary or "Real World" Issues

This book connects to the real-world problem of starvation and world hunger. Hunger is one of the most prominent issues in the book. Katniss has to work hard to feed her family once her father passes away in an accident and in a flashback recalls when she almost died due to starvation. “It was too much. I was too sick and weak and tired, oh, so tired. Let them call the Peacekeepers and take us to the community home, I thought. Or better yet, let me die right here in the rain.” (pg28) This connects to real life because people all across the world die from starvation or suffer from hunger.