Review of The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

SFFaudio Review

Science Fiction Audiobook - The Hunger Games by Suzanne CollinsThe Hunger Games
By Suzanne Collins; Read by Carolyn McCormick
Audible Download – 11 Hours [UNABRIDGED]
Publisher: Scholastic Audio
Published: 2009
Provider: Audible.com
Themes: / Science Fiction / Global Warming / Reality Television / Government / Oppression / Survival / YA /

In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by 12 outlying districts. The Capitol is harsh and cruel and keeps the districts in line by forcing them all to send one boy and one girl between the ages of 12 and 18 to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV.

The thing that impressed me the most about this book is how unpredictable it was. I have never listened to anything like it. Every time I expected a certain thing to happen it almost always happened the exact opposite.

The reader of The Hunger Games, Carolyn McCormick, was a very good reader, better than most I have listened to. Her ability to not only read the words, but put so much emotion into them was astounding.

The story is told from Katniss Everdeen’s point of view. Katniss lives in the twelfth district of a country which used to be North America, however due to multiple circumstances is now a country called Panem.

Long before Katniss was born, the districts rebelled against the capital, the capital eventually won. They subdued twelve of the districts and the thirteenth they completely obliterated. This is how the hunger games came about. The capital created the hunger games as a way to show the districts that they are still in control. To me this seems to be a kind of dictatorship.

When this story takes place Katniss is sixteen years old. She is fatherless and being the oldest, she provides food for her family. Since she and her family live on the very edge of District Twelve, which is called the Seam, she and her friend Gail regularly venture out into the wilderness to hunt for food. Katniss is excellent with a bow, and fairly handy with a knife.

To select the participants in each year’s Hunger Games, they have what is called The Reaping. The Reaping is when a representative from the capital comes to the district and calls two names, a boy and a girl. At this particular Reaping, Katniss’s little sister Prim, whom she loves above all else in the world, is called. Katniss volunteers to take Prim’s place, and is taken into the battle that is expected to cost her her life.

The author expertly wove action, tragedy, romance, and suspense all into one book. The book on many occasions had every one of my muscles tensing up because I was scared for Katniss, or it had me crying because of so many bad things happening. It called almost every emotion to come fourth while I listened.

The only thing that disappointed me about this book was the ending. It was a good ending, but it was a sort of cliffhanger. I wanted more, the spot that it left off was very unsatisfactory to me. However this does not damage my opinion of the book very much. I am hoping desperately for a sequel. Five stars all the way.

Posted by DanielsonKid (Age 14)

Scott D.

Reviews Editor, SFFaudio

4 thoughts to “Review of The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins”

  1. Nice review DanielsonKid!

    It sounds like author Suzanne Collins was somewhat inspired Ancient Greek history/mythology and in particular by the legendary Crete/Athens rivalry. After King Minos of Crete won a war against Athens he demanded tribute from the Athenians. At seven-year intervals 14 Athenian boys and girls were to be sent to Crete to be devoured by the Minotaur, a half-man, half-bull monster. This was to show the Athenians who was boss.

  2. Really enjoyed your review. I’ve been thinking about giving this book a listen and now you’ve convinced me! You’ll be glad to know the sequel, Catching Fire, comes out Sept. 1, 2009. I look forward to your next review.

  3. I finished this book this morning – it really is a great book. I liked the main character quite a bit (Katniss Everdeen). The book is definitely violent, but well written and thoughtful.

    More like “The Hunger Games”, fewer like “Twilight”, says I.

  4. i have a a lot of questions

    1. Who does katniss hunt with? what is their relationship?
    2. please explain what is reaping is and why the capitol created it.
    3. explain what tesserae is how it plays a role in the reaping.
    4. please decribe haymitch Abernathy. who is he. and how does he present himself?
    how dose katniss become a tribute.

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