The Hunger Games

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins; Part 1/3

Several weeks after the reading-blog project was assigned, my partner and I still couldn't find a book we could agree on reading. In a state of panic, we decided to look at the "Recommended Reading" list where Mrs. Huss' English classes discussed good books to read. At first, it seemed a little silly to choose a book from the list because we were picking it from other people's opinions.

But after reading several chapters, I figured that The Hunger Games was probably one of the most fascinating novels I've read in years. Now, I recommend that others should also look through the list that Mrs. Huss put lots of effort in making because it actually is quite a useful resource.

In an undated future, North America is destroyed in a cataclysm of natural disasters. Out of chaos, a nation known as Panem rose from the ruins. Separated into 13 districts, Panem was ran by an all-powerful and rich city, Capitol, located within the Rocky Mountains. Authoritarian in nature, the Capitol enforced strict rules and harsh regulations over the poorer districts, which resulted in a rebellion between the districts and the Capitol. Abruptly, the war ended with the Capitol's victory and the obliteration of District 13. To prevent the districts from ever rebelling again, the Capitol set up a ritualistic fight-to-the-death, known as the Hunger Games.

The Hunger Games are an annual event where one girl and boy aged 12-18 from each of the 12 districts are to kill each other in an arena while surviving through harsh environment. The last survivor of the event would be declared winner and their represented district would be given an abundance of food and supplies. The Capitol created the Hunger Games as a way to threaten the districts, giving a clear impression that the Capitol could easily do away with any of them just as they did to District 13. As a way to punish the districts even further, the Capitol mandates them to watch the games and celebrate it like a holiday.

In Panem's poorest district, a teenage girl named Katniss Everdeen lived in poverty while trying to support her family by hunting and gathering outside of District 12's borders. Although hunting was illegal, Katniss was able to evade the law because even law enforcers were desperately in need of the foods she collected. When Primrose, Katniss' sister, became 12 years old, she was mandated to participate in Reaping Day (which Katniss has already participated in for years). Reaping Day was the time of every year where each district was to draw the names of a boy and girl to participate in the deadly hunger games. Out of extremely small odds and chances, Prim was picked to become the district's "tribute" for the games. And out of protection and dismay, Katniss rushed in voluntarily replace Prim with herself.

Once Katniss was transported away on a train to the Capitol, she met Peeta, the boy tribute of the district. As Katniss was prepared for the Hunger Games, she noticed how bizarre it was that the Capitol citizens viewed the Hunger Games more-or-less as sensational entertainment. Katniss believed that Peeta is only attempting to act nice to her only so she would be weaker for his advantage in the games. But in a televised interview just before the beginning of the event, Peeta revealed that he had feelings of affection toward Katniss, leaving her in total disbelief and confusion.

To be continued... in Chapter 10, Part 2.

Suzanne Collins, known for writing the acclaimed The Underland Chronicles wrote the impressive first novel of the Hunger Games trilogy in a similar dark tone of oppression and death. Panem's Hunger Games resemble one of the darker parts of America's past, the Vietnam War drafts. I believe that she was mocking America's government through the "Capitol" in the her novel by having the Capitol be so unrealistically bizarre, but still make it seem so similar to Washington DC. She is extremely good at providing imagery to parts of the book where she intentionally wants to bring out the most, while still making it understandable for a broad range of young adults.

And although I haven't read through the entire novel yet, I'm determined to read the entire series (already bought the sequels, haha) and urge Honors English class students to do the same. The Hunger Games to me was not just a science-fiction novel, but a tool to help readers delve deeper into understanding human nature and understaning why people have made such questionable decisions in history. The interesting action-packed hooks of the novel are also tough enough to keep me stuck reading the book for long periods of time.

Read the book!