Review: The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

(Blurb)
Twenty- four are forced to enter. Only the winner survives.
In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. Each year, the districts are forced by the Capitol to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the Hunger Games, a brutal and terrifying fight to the death – televised for all of Panem to see.
Survival is second nature for sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who struggles to feed her mother and younger sister by secretly hunting and gathering beyond the fences of District 12. When Katniss steps in to take the place of her sister in the Hunger Games, she knows it may be her death sentence. If she is to survive, she must weigh survival against humanity and life against love.


(Review) (Note: I left this book at school, if I misspell words I apologize.)
So, another review? Yes, another one, but for the great book called The Hunger Games. I got Tuesday in the school library and finished it last night. Katniss (Catnip) is 16 years old and dealing with life just like most of the other girls in her district. Except she has the rare skill of being brave and talented enough to hunt outside the districts limits. Of course this helps feed her family and get them money. She still has to enter her name for the Hunger Games. Her name is in there with thousands of others, but her name is also written on many slips. But who should be called other then Katniss sister Prim. On pure instinct, she decides to take her sisters place in the games. Saving her sister, but possibly killing herself.

You see, the Hunger Games are played once each year and one boy and one girl from each 12 districts is chosen to compete. (There was a 13Th district, but they were destroyed after trying to rebel.) So, the Hunger Games are televised for the whole country to see. The sport of killing is witnessed, by people of all ages and race. And the Capital looks at it as pure fun. But everyone knows, there is only one winner and 23 murders. All of which take place in the 'Arena.' You can be any age ranging from 12 to 18. Prim was 12 and would surely be the weakest if Katniss hadn't stepped in.

Still with in the first day of being in the Arena nearly half of the original 24 competitors are dead. Two people how survived are Peeta; the bakers son that came from the same district as Katniss. And Rue, a young girl that reminded Katniss so much of her own sister. Only to find that Rue is a great source of knowledge.

The Hunger Games will have your mouth watering for more, and by the end you realize you might not be able to wait another minute, let alone months for the next chapters. Highly engaging and a riveting read. This book literally had me reading all through the night into the early hours of 5PM. The story stays fresh with humor and love, twists and turn. And unfortunately in a game where only one can live, death. Descriptive and gritty, you will find yourself crying for the characters that seemed so helpless and so sad. The conflict against the districts and the Capital, will make you remember just how dangerous the government can be.

Warning: Although this book has no swear words, it is very descriptive once in the Arena where death is constant and described. Be at least twelve years old, or younger if you feel you can handle it and have a good grasp of fiction and non-fiction.