The Hunger Games - Collins

I've said it before and will repeat myself... I am not at all a fan of series! 

I see them as obvious efforts to increase sales off of one idea (*no respect*!!). Can you imagine if Margaret Mitchell had made Gone With The Wind a five book series to pad her pockets?! This, of course, excludes series which are written for smaller children, who truly have limited abilities, where each book includes its own separate story line - such as Nancy Drew, Hardy Boys, etc. I avoid most recent "off the shelf" series (Twilight, not gonna happen). Sometimes I will consider reading the first book, but usually never read further.  

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins did catch my eye though. You'll note, however, I did not run right out and buy the trilogy (as I am sure Scholastic was hoping), but I did add it to my TBR list. This past week, I was at the library collecting some CDs and discovered a paperback copy. I checked it out and read it in two days.

Just about everyone knows the story by now... Post-apocalyptic North America has become the state of Panem, which is divided into 12 districts and a Capitol (where the rich rulers reside). Every year the Capital holds a festival of sorts, which brings together two "tributes" from each district - children aged twelve to eighteen - and forces them to participate in "The Hunger Games", a vicious fight to the death, in order to maintain control and superiority over the land and its inhabitants.

Katniss Everdeen, a District 12 teen, was forced to take responsibility for her mother and younger sister when her father died in a mining accident. When Katniss's younger sister, Primrose, is chosen as tribute for the Hunger Games, Katniss volunteers to take her place in order to keep her alive. Katniss must use her skills and cunning to survive The Hunger Games and return to her family.

I won't ruin the story for the one or two persons in North America who might not have read this book yet...but since there are two more books in the series, it's safe to say that Katniss lives.

Series issues aside, I really, really enjoyed this book! I'm not much for action-adventure stories, but Collins' writing asks questions of its readers that many young adult books do not. The Capitol's use of children in these "games" for entertainment, as well as their efforts to publicize and reap financial benefit from the event, make you question their humanity. But what about Katniss and the other contestants? 

I enjoyed this book enough so that...I might, maybe, possibly consider reading the next one. 

But maybe not.

5/5- Excellent. Keep it, treasure it, reread it.