Happy Hunger Games!!

The Hunger Games - Suzanne Collins
4 STARS

Happy Hunger Games everyone! Today is a special day because the film came out today! I intend on seeing it tomorrow because I had a bunch of work to do last night for this morning. *cough* watching the Walking Dead while doing Japanese work *cough* ^u^ But, I thought today I should dedicate a post to a fantastic series.

In a post-apocalyptic North America, 13 Districts make up what remains of the country. Renamed Panem, the country is led by the totalitarian government - stationed in their main city: the Capitol. The Capitol is the snazziest of all the cities, located in the Rocky Mountains, and home to – dictator – President Coriolanus Snow and the wealthy. The people of the districts are desperate, starving, and living in poverty. Each district has a speciality: District 9 is the grain district, District 12 is the coal district, District 2 specializes in masonry and weaponry, District 3 is technology, and many others. They all support the Capitol and, indirectly, each other. The Capitol is in charge of the Panem annual event: the Hunger Games.

The Games originated as punishment for the "Dark Days" of Panem when the 13 Districts rebelled against the Capitol. District 13 was annihilated as the Capitol put out the uprising. Now, the remaining 12 Districts participate in the Games. Every year, there is what's called, "The Reaping." The Reaping is a lottery within each district. Anyone between the ages 12 and 18 must participate – their names are placed in the lottery by the Capitol. One boy and one girl are picked from each district to participate in the nationally televised event: the Hunger Games. The "tributes"– those selected to represent their District – are placed in an outdoor arena that is controlled by the Capitol. Audience members can send things to their favorite tributes in the arena, if they can afford to. The catch is... there can only be one winner of the Hunger Games. That winner will be rewarded with extra food for their District. Thus, the tributes fight, to the death, on national television because: "Only one can survive."

The story follows a 16 year-old girl, Katniss Everdeen, from District 12. As she frets about her younger sister, Primrose, getting picked on her first Reaping, Katniss also worries about the fate of her brash best friend, Gale Hawthorne – who is 18. Both Gale's father and Katniss' father died in a mine explosion, and now the two eldest siblings are the bread-winners for their respective families. If either of them were to get picked for the Games, their families would suffer without them. The Reaping passes, and District 12 have their two tributes.

What will the 74th Annual Hunger Games bring?

There are three books in this series: The Hunger Games, Catching Fire, and Mockingjay. I am not giving too much information on what happens in any of the books - barely the first even. I can't bring myself to do it. Suzanne Collins writes them so ... brilliantly! They really are fantastic! I shall add a "PS" at the end of this once I see the film. I will give my opinions on the adaption, then. I highly recommend this series for guys and gals alike. I suggest the youngest age to read it would be, maybe, 4th grade. Otherwise, the books are written for any age group. Honestly, they're just that good! Any Hunger Games fans out there? Leave a comment below!

May the odds be ever in your favor.

Happy Reading!
Citizen of District 9,
- Isabel