Okay...all I can say is....Kids are reading this? These books are what people are saying are going to change the face of Young Adult Lit? I don't hate it. I am not saying that all. I think that I really liked the second book, but man the third book was just entirely too painful. I don't know if the writing was rushed, but it was like I was reading one thing and then all the sudden, I entered a
Halo game while reading a book. I don't think Katniss had a journey. I think she was a great heroine, and then all the sudden, she just kind of gave up on life. I thought it was very interesting, but I am still in shock. So, here goes my review of the
Hunger Games trilogy:
Title: The Hunger Games
Author: Suzanne Collins
ISBN Number: 0439023521
Synposis: In the distant future and in an dystopian society, The United States of America no longer exist. Instead, because of turmoil and hunger, it was stated that America would be divided into 13 districts and they all lived peaceful and in harmony while they provided goods for the illustrious Capitol. However, then, one day District 13 rebelled and it was blown to bits by the capitol. In order to keep turmoil at bay, the Hunger Games (a la a Gladiator type of competition) was born. In order to remember the horror that District 13 caused, for the people of the Capitol's entertainment, two tributes (one boy and one girl) would be chosen to these terrific hunger games. Only one victor can survive and they must stop at nothing to live. Katniss Everdeen lives in District 12. Her mother has basically been useless since her father's death and it falls to Katniss to take care of her sister. Katniss hunts illegally for food and trades in the illegal Hob to keep her family alive. Each year, there is something called a reaping where people are chosen to compete in the Hunger Games. If a person enters their name more than once, they are given more tessarae. Katniss and her friend Gale have been submitted more than once, but they do not get called. Primrose Everdeen does. Katniss volunteers to keep her sister alive and she is whisked off to the capitol to be beautified before she is submitted to an arena full of death. Her other companion, Peeta, the male District 12 tribute admits his undying love for her, and now Katniss most battle with both life, love, and death in order to keep herself alive and return to her family.
What do I think: I think that for an adult, this book would be great. It's exciting, thrilling, and keeps readers enthralled. I think that Katniss is an interesting character, however, people told me that these books are the best thing to ever happen to YA lit and that they are better than Harry Potter. I cannot back up that statement at all. I don't mind Katniss, I like that she's brash and is willing to make decisions and thinks on her feet, which is a great role model for young kids to follow. However, the book is filled with shocking violence and graphic death scenes. I do not think that we should shelter kids from this from any means, but I think these books are incredibly violent. Maybe I just have not really fallen in love with the dystopian future yet, however, I just did not really seem to really fall in love with any characters except for Cinna, but he plays a relatively minor part. I do not know if its Suzanne Collins' portrayal of the main character that bothers me, however, you will see in my review of the other two books that I have a much bigger problem with her writing, however, overall, I liked it.
Subject/Themes: Death, Suffering, Dystopian
IF you like this, then: Matched, Divergent
Title: Catching Fire
Author: Suzanne Collins
ISBN Number: 0439023491
Synopsis: In Hunger Games, one of the very last scenes of the book is that President Show, bequeather of the capitol, Katniss instead of adhereing to the capitol's wishes of Peeta and Katniss killing each other, Katniss palms poisonous berries and they each are both going to die, when they are stopped. President Snow is an uproar and when Catching Fire begins, he threatens Katniss with her family and friends. He knows that Katniss is a threat and so, he is trying to make sure that Katniss does not encourage rebellion, and instead on her "victory" tour to the districts, tries to instruct her to not do or say anything acts that would incite revolts or inspire rebellion. President Snow declares that during the 75th Anniversary of the Hunger Games entitled the Quarter Quell. President Snow's mastermind plan to have all living tributes from each capitol to fight against each other. Katniss and Peeta create a strategy in which they say Katniss is pregnant so that it cements their love for the Capitol. The tributes banned together to fight President Snow and the Capitol and the book ends in an thrilling cliff hanger.
What do I think: I really enjoyed reading the second novel in the trilogy. I thought that it was well written. I think my number one problem with Katniss' is that her lack of depth. I think I struggle with her being a warrior for her family, but she's not open to any other goal or distraction. I don't mind her being a warrior straight, but part of the fun of reading and watching female heroines is there penchant for change and evolution. Katniss does not evolve, I feel. I think that this book is really interesting with the political intrigue and how all the Tributes bind together to save Katniss, who is the heroine of the revolution. However, I feel that Suzanne Collins' portray Katniss as unlovable which I just do not understand at all.
Subject/Themes: Depression, Political Intrigue, Romance, Decisions, Hardship,
If you like this, then: Starters, Divergent
Title: Mockingjay
Author: Suzanne Collins
ISBN Number: 0439023513
What's it About: The third book in The Hunger Games Trilogy opens up a whole new world. District 13, which the Capitol informed all the members of the various Districts that District 13 was blown up due to the rebellion, we find out that this was in fact a lie. District 13 is flourishing in a very communist way but it is well living. Katniss, who was dramatically snatched out of the Quarter Quell in a distraction against the Capitol, but leaving Peeta to be tortured and reprogrammed by the Capitol to fight against Katniss, his one true love. Katniss has shut down and stopped fighting. District 13 is very much a communist type environment, each moment planned and each individual given a strict schedule and allotted a certain amount of food each day. As the story goes on, Katniss is declared as the symbol of the rebellion and she is reinvigorated with teh thought of saving Peeta and trains herself to become a new warrior. However, every few chapters Katniss' blacks out or becomes ill. Katniss felt that she finally escaped the dictatorship of President Snow, however, District 13 is ruled by Amy Coin, an evil person who views Katniss as another threat. Katniss sacrifices herself to save the individuals of all the Capitols, however, in a less than exciting climax of the story, Katniss' journey just tapers off with useless deaths and terrible decisions on her part.
What I disliked about it: Honestly, everything. I honestly feel that Suzanne Collins just grew tired of writing and gave up. I really enjoy reading series, but I feel that Katniss' journey just stopped. She did not evolve or change or grow at all. She stayed just one person. I also felt that the whole point of Katniss starting out and volunteering for The Hunger Games was to save her sister Prim. However, in Mockingjay, Primm dies uselessly. A plot devised by President Coin. The ending is even more awful. Katniss is scarred and still just miserable, even as a mother. I hated this book more strongly then I have ever disliked a book and that is including The Giver.
What's similar: Divergent, Matched.
