Welcome to the future of our world, Panem. The nation otherwise known as the setting of Suzanne Collins’s The Hunger Games. This fiction of the young adult genre has made it impossible for one to escape the world that Collins has created until the very last word of the very last page has been read.
The setting, the nation of Panem, is made up of twelve districts, where citizens are forced to work like slaves in their designated lifestyles. The rulers of these districts live in the center of the nation, the Capitol, in which the wealthy elite live in luxury and materialistic abundance, while the districts struggle to survive.
However, all thoughts of change and reform are repressed as a previous attempt at rebellion results in an annual punishment and reminder of warning, an event called the hunger games. This annual event held by the Capitol calls for the selection of one boy and one girl between the ages of 12 and 18 out of a lottery. All selected participants or “tributes” are brought to a treacherous arena where, for the amusement of those in the Capitol, they are forced to battle to the death in a game of survival.
This is where we find the the protagonist of the story, the female tribute of District 12, Katniss Everdeen. When her younger sister is selected for the games, Katniss volunteers to take her place.
The games begin in a whirlwind of adrenaline and tension as each contestant must leave behind any traces of guilt or hesitance in order to survive. Katniss must struggle with the daunting task of survival, the watchful eyes of the audience, as well as the thought of committing murder for the amusement of the Capitol. The result, well, is of unexpected surprise and brilliance.
Throughout the book, I was constantly impressed by Collins’s ability to grow and develop the characters. All characters proved to be multi- dimensional in personality and to possess an intricate web of emotions that reveals the growth of their forced maturity as they face challenges that children should never meet.
Furthermore, the plot line had no holes or discrepancies and was woven in and out seamlessly. The intensity of the story was evident throughout, with graphic details and images that added to the tension. However, despite the constant anxiety and strain of the story, the creativity truly characterized the story as refreshing and enthralling.
Overall, all aspects of The Hunger Games proved it a completely worthy read. All three books of the trilogy have been published and the story has been completed. I recommend readers to obtain all three books before starting because once you start the games, you will have no choice but to finish them.
