Every year, one girl and one boy between the ages of 12 and 18 from each of the twelve districts of Panem is selected by a lottery system to take part in the Hunger Games. They are organised as a punishment for a previous rebellion of the citizens against the Capitol. This televised event includes the tributes fighting until only one of them remains alive.

Katniss Everdeen is a hunter. Left to provide for her mother and younger sister after the father’s death, she has the basic survival skills but is it enough to win after she volunteers to take her sister’s place in the games.

Happy Hunger Games! And may the odds be ever in your favor.

The Hunger Games is a reassuring story to young adults, showing the horrors of war and injustice but also the importance of hope and unity. These topics are not widely described in this genre and I was happy to see it included. Having only read this novel for the first time at the age of 25, I have not found it to be too much in any sense of the word or graphic for that matter, however, I feel as I have no notion to speak how younger readers could react to it.

For the first time in a while, I did not relate to the main character, Katniss. I have found her to be selfish and unlikeable to an extent, however realistic. Her background explains her personality well and whether you like her or not, it is hard to argue that she develops into a complex character who does not fit in exactly into any of the boxes. Many times, I have found myself wishing I could take Katniss by the shoulders and shake some sense into her, but it was one of the writing attributes that made me heavily engaged as a reader.

For there to be betrayal, there would have to have been trust first.

The general idea of the storyline, the one in which a certain amount and type of people fight it off in an arena for the amusement and internal agenda of stronger establishment, is not a unique one. Yet, Suzanne Collins managed to make it her own.

One of my favourite things with regards to this novel is that, the deeper you dive into it, the more you find. If you want it to be a shallow novel for teenagers, you will find just that, with its silly problems and love triangles. If you are looking for something of more insight, however, it will be there too, and resonate with you even after you are finished reading it.

I have enjoyed it tremendously and jumped right into reading the second installment. Have you read this series, if so, what did you think? Let me know down in the comment section.

Thank you for reading this review and until next time, Dream on, Dreamers