“May the odds be ever in your favour. Winning will make you famous. Losing means certain death. In a dark vision of the near future, twelve boys and twelve girls are forced to appear in a live TV show called the Hunger Games. There is only one rule: kill or be killed. When sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen steps forward to take her sister’s place in the games, she sees it as a death sentence. But Katniss has been close to death before. For her, survival is second nature.”
What is the book about?
In a dark vision of the near future, as a consequence of a failed revolution, twelve boys and twelve girls from ages 12-18, a boy and a girl from each district, are forced to compete in a live TV show called the Hunger Games. Only one can be crowned the winner. The contestants must either kill or be killed. Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen is from District 12, where winning is seen as almost impossible and being chosen is a death sentence. Other Districts have been preparing their children for years and they are more than willing to volunteer for a chance to be crowned the victor. When Katniss steps forward and volunteers to take her little sister Prim’s place in the games, she knows that she is likely never to come home again. But Katniss has been on the verge of death before and she has hope. She has been caring for herself for years now; to her, survival is second nature.
What were your initial thoughts on the book?
The Hunger Games has been a book that I have been curious about for quite a few years now. It is not just a popular book series, but also a many people have watched the movies. I have never had much of a need to read the books and haven’t really wanted to. This was because I have always hated horror and gory parts of books and movies, and that was the reason I always looked at The Hunger Games from a distance. However, starting this blog made me want to try out new books and read things that I would have never thought of reading and that’s how I came across The Hunger Games. My friend always likes throwing books at me so that she can talk about them with someone, so when I asked her for books to read, she was more than happy to come with The Hunger Games. As we both have similar taste, I was intrigued and very happy that I would finally get to read the books. I was a little concerned but as soon as I started reading, all of my worries disappeared and I just couldn’t stop reading. I finished the book in a day as I could literally not let go of it, it was amazing. I was pulled into the book from the very beginning and every page kept me on edge.
Who was your favourite character and why?
My favourite character was definitely Katniss because of her brave, selfless and kind qualities. Katniss really cared about her little sister Prim and wouldn’t let her sign up for any tesserae – a year’s supply of grain and oil – making sure that the chances she would get chosen were as low as possible, even though her own possibilities were getting higher and higher. Prim was the only person Katniss was sure she love and Katniss knew that she was worth saving. So she risked her life and sacrificed herself for her sister. I also liked Katniss because although she was sure that the chance she would make it back home was incredibly low, she never gave up and tried as hard as she could to make it back to her sister. She was brave and was able to go through many obstacles, persevering and making it further into the games. Even when she thought everything was over and she was close to death, she tried her best to not show her suffering to the audience, knowing Prim would be watching and trying to make things as easy as possible for her. Katniss was brave enough to overcome pain and always look to the future and imagine the happiness it would bring to her sister if she arrived home as the victor.
What was your favourite part of the book and why?
My favourite part was probably in the middle of the book when Katniss makes an alliance with Rue, a twelve-year-old tribute. This is the moment when Katniss stops feeling as though she is alone and starts to really believe that there a chance she might make it back to District 12. I really liked this part because at that moment Katniss finally felt truly confident that she was strong enough to win and that with teaming up with Rue they would both have a higher chance of beating the Career Tributes. Throughout the games, Katniss had felt lonely, especially without Peeta, and with Rue she felt she could overpower the worst tributes and she didn’t feel as alone anymore. Despite knowing that only one of them could survive, Rue and Katniss made a great team and this is the moment where I think the games really begin and start to get interesting.
What was your overall impression of the book?
Overall, the book was outstanding and was one of the best I have read. I loved every little thing about it and I believe that it as close to perfection as possible and definitely the most perfect adventure novel I have read so far. The chapters were always keeping me on the edge of my seat and I was constantly holding my breath waiting for the next death defying event. As I got further towards the end of the book I started to feel as though something huge was about to happen and I felt strong emotions that are very rare for me when reading a book. It felt like every chapter got more interesting and intense as the book went on and every single part pulled me further into the book. Even though the book ended on a cliff-hanger – something that always gets on my nerves – I was actually glad because I knew that there was no possible way to conclude the book properly without another book to continue the story, so I was happy that there would be more to read about Katniss and Peeta.
Would you recommend this book?
This book is one that every reader should love 100%. It is full of action, adventure, romance and is perfect for all sorts of readers. I would recommend it particularly for readers over 14 but I think that if you have read books similar to it, it is definitely a book to try even if you are a few years younger than my recommended age.
Summarise the book in one sentence. (Verdict)
A near death action-packed adventure full of suspense.
Reviewed by Jimena Gutierrez Reviriego
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