The Hunger Games (The Hunger Games #1)

I was pulled into the excitement of this book, could not put it down, although I am usually turned off by violence. I immediately went out and bought books two and three, but by the end of the third book I was bored and disgusted.

I can finally say that I have left my rock and joined the “in-crowd.” I finally read The Hunger Games. It’s true that these books have been sitting on my shelves gathering dust for at least a year, maybe longer. I have no excuse to offer for why I haven’t read these books until now. I knew they were great (I’ve heard it constantly). I’ve been threatened by my friends to read the books “or else”—but they always seems to forgive me. =) But, alas, I can finally say I have read them… and boy am I glad I did!




While I was talking with one my friends yesterday, I asked if she had read this series. She said no, but she had the books in her classroom. I snickered. (out loud) I told her I finally read these books and she needed to do it pronto. Then I explained why…





First, the characters. I loved how different Peeta and Katniss were. You truly get the sense that Peeta is a genuine “nice guy” that you can’t help but like. He doesn’t seem weak or annoying. In fact, he warms my heart and made me smile. Katniss, on the other hand, is a little rough around the edges. She’s not unlikeable by any means. I really liked her. I am a sucker for books with strong female characters! (Not the typical whiny, boy crazy, hormonal nightmares that you normally read about.) The relationship between Prim and Katniss captivated me. For someone to volunteer for such horror to protect another… wow. Oh, and then there was Haymitch. Heh. He was grouchy, ornery, and an absolute riot. Maybe I wasn’t supposed to like him as much as I did, but I couldn’t help it.




I don’t think there is much to say about this book since just about everyone I know has read it already. I can only offer my insights into the book that has been given so much hype. I was fascinated by the games. Since there are three books, I already knew how the games would eventually end. That wasn’t a surprise, which I think took away from my experience. Somehow knowing that the two main characters survive took part of the thrill away. Of course, there were a few surprising twists to keep it interesting until the end.




I think it’s safe to say I am pleased that I finally read this book. Did it get a 5 star rating from me? No, and that’s probably because I knew too much about the book going in. This is a solid 4 (maybe a 4.5?), however. I devoured it in a day and instantly started on the second book. I can’t wait to see the movie now and see how the unique characters and settings are brought to life.

This was a good read. I had a lot of expectations but was a little disappointed that I couldn't get into the book as much as I would have like to. The characters were well portrayed and I did like the budding romance between Katniss and Peeta, I just couldn't connect with them. They didn't fly off the page enough. The preparation for the Hunger Games took up most of the book, and I fet as though that slowed the pace a bit. It was a good read just not a great one.

This book is literary crack. I couldn't put it down. The world is at once familiar and incredibly strange. So fascinating. The stakes are unbelievably high! I was captivated instantly and couldn't turn the pages fast enough. The only drawback, in my opinion, is the fact that the characters feel two-dimensional in many ways. Katniss is an unreliable narrator because she is a survivor, first and foremost. She only notices what she needs to know to survive, so the secondary characters come across as undeveloped in many ways. Also, I was disappointed that the author took the hardest decisions away from Katniss. The only contestants she had to kill were the "bad" contestants. The things we were truly dreading (How would she kill Rue????) never happened. That made it feel like Katniss never had to really push herself to her limits until the end. However, the book demands instant consumption, so these small complaints are barely noticeable. I've recommended this book to countless people. So good.

Reader reviewed by Striker42795

The Hunger Games takes place in the future where North America is destroyed. Now the nation is known as Panem. The nation is surrounded by twelve districts. Katniss, the main character in the story, belongs to district twelve. She is fifteen years old and is experienced in hunting, which she learns from her father. She keeps her family alive that way by bringing in food. In her family are her mother, her father, and her little sister Prim. Her father died from a coal mine explosion. Now she has the responsibility to take care of her mother and her younger sister, since, her mother is too weak and sick to take care of them. As punishment for a previous rebellion against the Capitol, every year one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen from each district are selected at random and are forced to participate in the Hunger Games, which is an event that is seen on television, where participants kill each other until only one remains alive.

Since Prim was chosen, Katniss volunteers to replace her and represent District Twelve. During her training at the Hunger Games, she met a boy, who is from the same district, and was encouraged to make an alliance with him.

What really makes this book interesting is the way in which Katniss has so much knowledge of how to survive. She is very grown-up and knows how to take care of her family. The way the author describes Katnisss personality is very interesting to me because readers cant predict what Katniss will do next, which makes the story more exciting to read. The idea of the Hunger Games is also catching the readers attention. I like how the author came up with the idea of survival by having young teens fight each other to the death. I like how Katniss, the main character, thinks like a hunter, not the one being hunted. The characters in the story were amazingly interesting and different from normal people.

What I do not like from the book is the fact that the author has to put in a fake love story or connection with Katniss and another boy. The fact that bringing love and action together seems to kill the intense atmosphere the reader or readers feel. Also, I do not praise the author for her non-realistic events that sometimes happens throughout the story. To me, when there is a love story in an action typed genre, I sometimes put the book down and never read it. I think love stories should be with love stories and action stories should be with action stories.

In the end, I would recommend this book to teens that are looking for action and a little touch of romance in it. For those who want pure action and violence, you might be interested in this book, but then again the fake love story will have you put down. The book. For romance lovers, I highly do not recommend this book because of the violence and gory images that the book describes. This book is boring in the beginning, but gets interesting and better towards the end.

Reader reviewed by Tsai

The Hunger Games takes place in the future where North America is destroyed. Now the nation is known as Panem. The nation is surrounded by twelve districts. Katniss, the main character in the story, belongs to district twelve. She is fifteen years old and is  experienced in hunting, which she learns from her father. She keeps her family alive that way by bringing in food. In her family are her mother, her father, and her little sister Prim. Her father died from a coal mine explosion. Now she has the responsibility to take care of her mother and her younger sister, since, her mother is too weak and sick to take care of them. As punishment for a previous rebellion against the Capitol, every year one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen from each district are selected at random and are forced to participate in the Hunger Games, which is an event that is seen on television, where participants kill each other until only one remains alive.

Since Prim was chosen, Katniss volunteers to replace her and represent District Twelve. During her training at the Hunger Games, she met a boy, who is from the same district, and was encouraged to make an alliance with him.

            What really makes this book interesting is the way in which Katniss has so much knowledge of how to survive. She is very grown-up and knows how to take care of her family. The way the author describes Katnisss personality is very interesting to me because readers cant predict what Katniss will do next, which makes the story more exciting to read. The idea of the Hunger Games is also catching the readers attention. I like how the author came up with the idea of survival by having young teens fight each other to the death. I like how Katniss, the main character, thinks like a hunter, not the one being hunted. The characters in the story were amazingly interesting and different from normal people.

            What I do not like from the book is the fact that the author has to put in a fake love story or connection with Katniss and another boy. The fact that bringing love and action together seems to kill the intense atmosphere the reader or readers feel. Also, I do not praise the author for her non-realistic events that sometimes happens throughout the story. To me, when there is a love story in an action typed genre, I sometimes put the book down and never read it. I think love stories should be with love stories and action stories should be with action stories.

            In the end, I would recommend this book to teens that are looking for action and a little touch of romance in it. For those who want pure action and violence, you might be interested in this book, but then again the fake love story will have you put down. The book. For romance lovers, I highly do not recommend this book because of the violence and gory images that the book describes. This book is boring in the beginning, but gets interesting and better towards the end.

Reader reviewed by kileyrue

i liked this book because for once there's a strong, smart girl who's the main character of the book. its also interesting because of the picture it paints of a world where you have to hunt for your daily food and there are no longer the "comforts" of home that we live with every day now.  I can't wait to read the second in the series

Reader reviewed by Carmen

Katniss is only 16 years old and about to march to her death. The Hunger Games is a televised event throughout the twisted Capitol and the oppressed twelve districts. Living with her troubled mother and little sister Prim, Katniss does her best to hunt for food outside the boundaries of her district. Katniss is a brave, strong, refreshing heroine. She volunteers to go in her sister's place when, at the reaping, little Prim is selected to battle in the brutal games. With only Peeta, a boy she barely knows, and their drunk mentor, Haymith, Katniss discovers the true nature of the Capitol and basic human nature. Will she make it out alive? Or will she land herself in even deeper danger? 

Reader reviewed by Katniss

Hi evrey one!!! The Hunger Games is a book about 24 tributes that are put in a huge arena to all kill each other. When Katniss Everdeen volenteers for her younger sister evrey thing go's wrong!!! I think the best part of this book is the main cherecter has the same name as me!!!!!! Over all I think this book was FABULAS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So evrey one who reads this YOU MUST READ THE HUNGER GAMES!!!!!!!!!!

Reader reviewed by Max

When Katniss's younger sister's name is drawn to be in the Hunger Games - a fight to the death between twenty-four teenagers - Katniss volunteers to step in for her sister. Another contestant in the Games is one of her friends who she's romantically interested in, and who's romantically interested in her. Katniss has to decide who to trust to survive, and making a statement about the cruelty of the system.

The Hunger Games is definitely a page turner. It's not light either - Katniss's voice is serious, and the book can be at times dark. However, it's not so dark that I was at all uncomfortable reading it. It had a perfect amount of suspense. I loved The Hunger Games, and I can't wait for the next one to come out.