Survivor girl
January 6th, 2009 Molly - Central
How far away is our society from televising survival games that culminate in the last man standing? Watch a little cable TV, and you’ll quickly realize that depravity and debauchery abounds and that sanctioned killing (voluntary of course, just sign here on the dotted line) can’t be far off. Suzanne Collins’ new novel The Hunger Games takes this premise and cuts a little deeper.
To celebrate reaping day, the twelve districts that comprise what was formerly North America must each submit a boy and girl tribute to participate in the Hunger Games, a televised survival game in which children fight to the death. Kat’s little sister’s name is drawn in the lottery and Kat volunteers to take her place in the games. At sixteen, she has been caring for her family for years, hunting game, gathering food and developing some pretty savvy survival girl skills in the forbidden woods outside the Seam, the mining district where she lives.
Kat can hold her own, but what about the boy tribute from her district? Peeta is the son of the baker and completely and secretly in love with Kat. Will this help him or hurt him? Does he have any useful skills? And what does it mean for Kat?
All I can say is, “wow.” This book is beyond beyond. The Hunger Games are outrageous. Parades, interviews, professional stylists and sponsors are involved. The contestants range from trained child soldiers to starving children from the poorest districts. Add to that multiple love stories woven into a setting where children fight to the death? You will not be able to put this book down. Absolutely, this was my favorite book of 2008. How about you?
Entry Filed under: Science Fiction, Thriller, Young Adult
6 Comments Add your own
1. Luke | January 7th, 2009 at 6:01 am
Sounds like Battle Royale to me.
2. Molly | January 7th, 2009 at 1:35 pm
Definitely a lot of similarities to Battle Royale, the TV show Survivor and Lord of the Flies, too. A couple of big differences from Battle Royale, I think, are that the kids from the Hunger Games don’t know each other and range in age from 12-18 (aren’t the kids from Battle Royale all from the same 9th grade class?) and none of the tributes from the Hunger Games are given any kind of weapons or food or water to start. They have to earn everything throughout the game and this involves lots of twists.
3. Fantasy Books | January 7th, 2009 at 4:50 pm
When I first started reading your review I thought “this sounds somewhat similar to The Lottery by Shirley Jackson” but it sounds like it’s much more of an intricate and suspenseful story.
4. Molly | January 8th, 2009 at 8:41 am
I was on the edge of my seat for the whole book. In addition to the suspense/terror of the games, the relationships that developed between the tributes and their trainers, their viewing audience and their home districts really tore at me.
5. Kylee | February 25th, 2009 at 4:53 pm
Thanks so much for recommending this book! I just finished it, and it was fantastic! I can’t wait for the sequel - it’ll be out in September, which just isn’t soon enough.
6. Molly | February 26th, 2009 at 8:18 am
I can’t wait for the sequel, either. I need to know more about certain characters - especially the Avox girl. And I nearly died during the exchange between districts during the game - it tore my heart right out.
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