The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

• ISBN: 978-0439023481
• Plot summary: Katniss Everdeen lives in the "Seam", that is, District 12 in Panem (what the United States becomes in the future). She hunts illegally to support and feed her family, but on the day of the "reaping", life as she knows it has come to a half. On the day of reaping, a boy and girl between the ages 12-18 will be sent to the Capitol to compete in the Hunger Games. In these games, the young people fight to the death until the last one stands. When her sister's name is drawn from the ball of names, Katniss volunteers to go instead. The young people endure extreme challenges and battle each other for the one spot to cherish for the rest of their lives--a win that ensures their prosperity in a country where nearly everyone starves and works themselves to the bone. In a frightening turn of events, Katniss must decide how to survive and grapple with killing those who try to stop her.
• Critical evaluation: An intensely exhilarating novel, readers experience The Hunger Games first hand through the eyes of Katniss Everdeen. An expert hunter herself, Katniss must deal with the physical realities of the Games as well as the psychological game of satisfying the needs of the Capitol media--that is, playing the part in what we would call "reality television", both fighting for her survival and for the attention the media dotes on interesting game players. The residents of Panem watch eagerly as their young people struggle to survive in the Games which were created for the drama of their deaths. Perhaps I am inexperienced with this type of fiction, but I found it absolutely thrilling and could not put it down.
• Reader's annotation: Katniss Everdeen must prove why she she should win The Hunger Games--that is, make it out alive.
• About the author: Suzanne Collins is a writer and veteran of television for children and young adults.
• Genre: Adventure/Science fiction
• Curriculum ties, if any: Politics/history
• Booktalking ideas:
• What would you do if you were singled out for a fight to the death? Would you go?
• How does being well-off factor into some of the participants success? How does this mirror real life?
• Reading level/interest age: 13+
• Challenge issues: Violence.
• Why was this item included? This item was highly rated among young adults on GoodReads.com