Vera couldn’t stop reading HUNGER GAMES by Suzanne Collins!

The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins, is an extremely popular trilogy series known all over the UK; it has been in motion picture since 2012 and currently has the second book-Catching Fire– out in cinemas.

The story is voiced by 16-year-old Katniss Everdeen and is based in Panem, the futuristic version of South America. Katniss lives in District 12 with her 12-year-old sister Prim and her widowed mother.

In Panem there is the Capitol, a governmental city surrounded by 13 districts (District 13 has been destroyed due to a rebellion). For the past 74 years, it has hosted the annual TV Hunger Games show.

In the Games, two children aged 12-18 from each district are chosen to fight to the death. The year’s tributes are selected at the Reaping, a lottery which determines the year’s ones. The 24 tributes are put into an open arena consisting of mountain ranges, forests, lakes and a golden cornucopia of supplies. To District 12, the Hunger Games is a chance of certain death.

Since the death of Katniss’ father, the sisters’ widowed mother has practically died with him. From the age of 12, Katniss has had to learn to serve her remaining family. Daily, she’d go out hunting illegally with her friend Gale on the outer bounds of District 12 . After a day of successful hunting, the couple trade their local black market, the Hob.

To help serve her family, Katniss takes a monthly tessera which provides a certain amount of grain and oli. Despite the positeves of a tessera, it increases your chances of being called to the games… On Reaping day no one expects a 12-year-old with one chance out of thousands to be called. But when Prim-small, sweet Prim- is called, the world stops, for Katniss at least. Prim is fragile, gentle and could easily be killed. Without a second thought, Katniss volunteers – a rare event in District 12.

Along with her comes Peeta Mellark, a butcher’s son who coincidentally grew up with her. This had to be my favorite part of the book as it really shows how Katniss sticks out for Prim, no matter what the consequences are.

I’ve really enjoyed the Hunger Games.

To be honest, that the actual games started around the tenth chapter, changed my opinions at first. But by the end I was totally addicted. I’m just itching to read more!

“Official” Critical Reception

“The Hunger Games is a violent, jarring, speed-rap of a novel that generates nearly constant suspense… I couldn’t stop reading.”—Stephen King, Entertainment Weekly“I was so obsessed with this book I had to take it with me out to dinner and hide it under the edge of the table so I wouldn’t have to stop reading. The story kept me up for several nights in a row, because even after I was finished, I just lay in bed wide awake thinking about it. …The Hunger Games is amazing.”—Stephenie Meyer, author of the Twilight Saga“Brilliantly plotted and perfectly paced.” — John Green, The New York Times Book Review