Title: The Hunger Games (The Hunger Games #1)

Author: Suzanne Collins

Publisher: Scholastic 2008

Genre: YA Dystopian

Pages: 375

Rating:   5 / 5 stars

Reading Challenges: Young Adult; Read Your Name - C; Mount TBR; Books2Movie - 2012 Release

In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. Long ago the districts waged war on the Capitol and were defeated. As part of the surrender terms, each district agreed to send one boy and one girl to appear in an annual televised event called, "The 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. The terrain, rules, and level of audience participation may change but one thing is constant: kill or be killed.

I am hooked.  I kept hearing all these great things about the books, but I didn't jump on the bandwagon.  And then, I finally decided that I wanted to read these.  I just finished this book and I am speechless.  I was right there with Katniss through the entire story.  I was so hopeful that she would survive.  I couldn't break away.  Suspense, action, quiet moments, romance... this just has everything.  I love Collins' style of writing.  We really get into the head of Katniss.  We feel everything she feels.  I love that the story is from her point of view.  We experience the Games right along with her.  And that ending...  Oh my!  Such a cliffhanger!  I can't wait to start the next one.  BTW I am Team Peeta all the way!

The Hunger Games:

1. The Hunger Games
2. Catching Fire
3. Mockingjay