TITLE: The Hunger Games (The Hunger Games, #1)
AUTHOR: Suzanne Collins
GENRE: Dystopia/Sci-fi
AGE RANGE: YASYNOPSIS:
In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve 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 twelve and eighteen to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV. Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives alone with her mother and younger sister, regards it as a death sentence when she is forced to represent her district in the Games.
“And may the odds be ever in your favor.”
A huge part of me is tempted not to even review this book because it’s been read and reviewed by so many people, and doubtlessly has a cornucopia (ha) of reviews that are far more eloquent than anything I can say here. That aside, it’s easily one of the most formative, important, and beloved books of my life thus far, and I’ve read it so many times that it feels like a crime not to put a little something down in words.
District 12: Where you can starve to death in safety.
The Hunger Games felt like the dawning of an era; it was my introduction to dystopian sci-fi and was the first book, in my teens, that made me legitimately reconsider the things I’d always been taught about the US government, politics, and society at large. I’d grown up in a solidly sheltered, religious, and politically conservative home, and had never questioned much of what I’d been told up to that point. I’ll never forget reading this book for the first time, and that moment of wondering if this could all become a reality, and weighing my own mortality a little more heavily than I had before.
“You’re not leaving me here alone,” I say. Because if he dies, I’ll never go home, not really.
Doom and gloom aside, this is one of my favorite books of all time and it has not lost an ounce of its spark for me. To this day, I think Katniss is one of the most courageous, sensible, and inspiring protagonists I’ve ever seen. I’m still more than a little in love with Cinna, I’ll never fix the crack in my heart from sweet Rue, and I’ll always root for the boy with the bread. As an adult and a mother, everything in me hurts so much more for these poor, broken tributes — even the vicious, bloodthirsty ones who don’t know anything else — and I’m endlessly amazed by the world that Suzanne Collins created in Panem.
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Ivy @ Raine Reads
April 18, 2019Honestly this is such a refreshing review! I don’t think I’d ever be able to form coherent thoughts about this series because I wouldn’t be able to stop gushing ? The Hunger Games desires all of the love (and I’m a little more than slightly in love with Cinna)
Destiny @ Howling Libraries
April 19, 2019Thank you! Hahaha I wasn’t sure I’d be able to do it justice because I honestly just wanted to write down endless pages of my love for this book and these characters ??
Chana @ Paper Procrastinators
April 18, 2019Great review! Confession time though, I never finished the Hunger Games Trilogy ? I read the first two books before the series blew up, but when it got super popular I was never able to take it out from the library. I guess it is about time to get to that though ?
Destiny @ Howling Libraries
April 19, 2019Thank you! I’m sorry you never got the chance to finish it – I highly recommend it if you can. 😀 I know a lot of people felt like the third book was a little bit of a letdown, but I adored it, so hopefully you’ll like it, too! <3
thepaperbackpiano
April 19, 2019I remember reading this entire trilogy in two days and being absolutely blown away. I’ve never revisited it, but I’d be interested to see if it still holds its magic for me.
Destiny @ Howling Libraries
April 19, 2019It’s such a good series! I’ve definitely binge reread it a few times. 🙂
Kelly | Another Book in the Wall
April 20, 2019Awesome review, Destiny! It’s great to hear that you still enjoy this one so much, even after all these years! The Hunger Games has a special little place in my heart, since it was the first YA book I ever read, and a re-read it’s certainly long overdue! <3
Destiny @ Howling Libraries
June 21, 2019Sorry for the late reply, but thank you so much, Kelly! <3 I love that THG was the first YA book you ever read. That's awesome!