The Hunger Games
Book One of the Hunger Games Trilogy
Suzanne Collins

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 steps forward to take her sister's place in the Games. But Katniss has been close to dead before - and survival, for her, is second nature. Without really meaning to, she becomes a contender. But if she is to win, she will have to start making choices that weigh survival against humanity and life against love.

While this book might seem to start off slow for some, it didn't seem slow to me. But then again, that might be because I had an idea of what was to come and was excited to read this book.

This book is classified as Young Adult literature, but personally, I think the age range goes far beyond that. Like other Young Adult novels that have gained popularity, this one is also something an adult can read without feeling odd. Many of the themes in this (and the other two books of the series) are very adult. In fact, if it weren't for the age of the main characters, Katniss and Peeta, I think it would be more apt to classify this as post apocalyptic sci-fi.

The real action is during the Hunger Games for which the book is named, though as soon as Katniss arrived in the Capitol I was completely sucked in to this book. The book is riveting and I spent many nights staying up a bit too late because I just wanted to read one more chapter. Once things get rolling, it's a hard book to put down and once the Games begin, you'll want to read it until the very end.

Speaking of which, the ending is excellent. Both the Games and the ending make this book well worth reading. What seems like a sweet ending in reality is what will cause a tailspin for the characters and lead to the next books. What seems to be done out of love and concern for a friend is viewed as rebellion by the Capitol and many of the citizens. The ending opens more doors than it closes.

I would recommend this book and I really enjoyed it. It's truly refreshing to have a piece of work that is original in its concept and story and doesn't seem to be a rip off of something else.

Let's hope the up and coming film isn't a disappointment.

My rating: Five out of five snails.