The Hunger Games

Title: The Hunger Games
Author: Suzanne Collins
Pages: 384

(POSSIBLE SPOILERS BELOW)

It is the future and all 12 districts must participate in the Reaping and the Hunger Games put on by the Capitol of Panem. At the age of 12 every girl and every boys name goes into the Reaping, a lottery to pick the contestants in the Hunger Games. At age 12 every name is entered once, at thirteen every name is entered twice, and so on until you reach the age of 18, the last year a person is eligible. At age 18 a person's name goes into the reaping 7 times. But there is a catch. Each person can opt to add their name more times in exchange for a "tesserae", or a ration of grain and oil. And that is how we meet our main character Katniss Everdeen, who at 16 years old is entered into the reaping 20 times. But as the districts all assemble for the reaping, it is little Prim, Katniss's 12 year old sister, who is picked. Katniss knows she can not let tiny Prim enter the Hunger Games, so she rushes forward and volunteers to take her place. So Katniss and Peeta are chosen from district 12 to enter into the games. The Hunger Games takes all 24 contestants puts them into an arena and then all 24 must kill or stay alive to become the last person standing. On the way into the games Peeta declares his love for Katniss in front of all of Panem. This declaration throws Katniss for a loop. Does Peeta really love her? If so, how can she kill him in the arena if it comes to just the two of them? Is Peeta just using love as a ploy to gain the favor of the televised audience? What is the truth? And how will Katniss survive the Hunger Games?

4 out of 5 stars.