We have been sharing some of our favourite reads this week and The Hunger Games trilogy is high on many of your lists. If you want to read more about the books take a look at the Scholastic site which has information about the author Suzanne Collins, an excerpt from the book and a discussion guide. I have added their introduction to The Hunger Games and comments from reviews.
In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capital surrounded by twelve outlying districts. The Capital is harsh and cruel and keeps the other districts in line by forcing them to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight-to-the death on live TV. One boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and sixteen are selected by lottery to play. The winner brings riches and favor to his or her district. But that is nothing compared to what the Capital wins: one more year of fearful compliance with its rules.
Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives alone with her mother and younger sister, regards it as a death sentence when she is forced to represent her impoverished district in the Games. But Katniss has been close to dead before – and survival, for her, is second nature. Without really meaning to, she becomes a contender. But if she is to win, she will have to start making choices that weigh survival against humanity and life against love.
“…riveting, powerful, well-executed romance. Read it, share it, and then count down the days until the sequel.” — Family Circle
“It’s a can’t put-it-down story…” — Newsweek
* “Collins hasn’t tied her future to a specific date, or weighted it down with too much finger wagging. Rather less 1984 and rather more Death Race 2000, hers is a gripping story…It’s a credit to Collins’s skill at characterization that Katniss, like a new Theseus, is cold, calculating and still likable…Readers will wait eagerly to learn more.” — Publishers Weekly, starred review
* “Each new plot twist ratchets up the tension, moving the story forward and keeping the reader on edge. Populated by three dimensional characters, this is a superb tale of physical adventure, political suspense, and romance.” — Booklist, starred review
* “The plot is front and center here-the twists and turns are addictive, particularly when the romantic subplot ups the ante-yet the Capitol’s oppression and exploitation of the districts always simmers just below the surface, waiting to be more fully explored in future volumes. Collins has written a compulsively readable blend of science fiction, survival story, unlikely romance, and social commentary.” — Horn Book, starred review
* “Collins’s characters are completely realistic and sympathetic as they form alliances and friendships in the face of overwhelming odds; the plot is tense, dramatic, and engrossing. This book will definitely resonate with the generation raised on reality shows like Survivor and American Gladiator.”— School Library Journal, starred review
“Collins has created a brilliantly imagined dystopia, where the Capitol is rich and the rest of the country is kept in abject poverty, where the poor battle to the death for the amusement of the rich. Impressive world-building, breathtaking action and clear philosophical concerns make this volume, the beginning of a planned trilogy, as good as The Giver and more exciting.” — Kirkus Reviews
english@cc 