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the Hunger Games (The Hunger Games #1) by Suzanne Collins

“In punishment for rebelling, the Districts of Panem are forced to send two Tributes to the Capitol every year, to fight in the Hunger Games. Katniss has managed to avoid being chosen for 4 years but now, the odds are not in her favor and her life, along with everyone elses, will be changed forever. An incredible, intricate, dark and deeply moving read." 

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Pros: An absolutely terrifying premise but Collins has built her world well. It is true Dystopian fiction/Peeta, I have always loved Peeta as a character because he is a genuinely good person, Rue as well.  

Cons: Oh the convoluted and confused fumblings of awkward, teenage hormones/The Gale/Peeta/Katniss love triangle, I abhor love triangles. 

Full Review:

Katniss lives with her sister Prim and her mother on the Seam. It's the border of Ditsrict 12, the last District in the grand nation of Panem. District 12's chief export and payment to the Capitol is coal. So it's a dark and dreary place to live. 

Life gets decidedly more complicated when Katniss' father dies in a mine explosion and she's left to try and keep her family alive. She's managed to do so by hunting illegally on the borders with her best friend Gale and trading with others in the District in exchange for food/goods etc. 

Of course, all of her hard work could be for nothing, especially today. 

Reaping Day. It's a day to remember, to be reminded, to be punished for the sins of the past. 

Panem was formed in the ashes of a failed Rebellion. The Districts (1-13) rose up against the Capitol. District 13 was completely obliterated and now the other Districts must suffer through Reaping Day and The Hunger Games. In punishment for their disobedience, the Districts must offer two tributes, one boy and one girl, between the ages of 12-18 to compete in the Hunger Games. 

Essentially, they'll be thrown into an arena and forced to fight to the death. Limited weapons, food and shelter are given so the Tributes must do what they can to survive.  

The only person to ever win the Hunger Games from District 12 is Haymitch Abernathy, a surly, stumbling drunk who's no good to anyone. When the Reaping begins, Katniss tries to remain calm but she's especially nervous because Prim is 12. This is the first year that Prim's name could be chosen. 

As Effie Trinket, the bubbly representative from the Capitol proclaims as she takes the first name out of the Reaping Ball, "May the odds be ever in your favor." 

Only, the odds are so not in their favor and in a moment of blind panic, Katniss volunteers as Tribute. That one single act will put her on a crash course with violence, pain, misery and death. Along with the boy tribute, Peeta Mellark, she's whisked away from her friends, family and home and sent to the Capitol to prepare for the Hunger Games. 

Collins slams her foot down on the gas pedal and never, ever lets up, at any point. There are so many good parts of this novel that, honestly, it's just one of those books you have to read to understand the hype. And it was even better the second time around. 

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