Hungry?

One of the most interesting books I read over the course of my Young Adult Literature class was Suzanne Collins' novel, The Hunger Games.

"Set in the far future, this book is about the nation of Panem, which is the remains of what was North America. In Panem there are 12 Districts forced to live in poverty. Each year each district must participate in what is called The Hunger Games. Two tributes (one boy and one girl between the ages of 12 and 18) are chosen to participate in the games and compete to the death. When her sister is chosen to be the tribute for District 12, Katniss volunteers to go in her place. As she uses her talents and wits to stay alive in the games she learns how to survive and, in the process, learns about herself."

This was my synopsis for the book. Overall, the book posed some interesting dilemmas. While Katniss proves her bravery by competing in the hunger games, she pays for it with the price of another child's life.

Scheduled to be released in the near future as a motion picture, The Hunger Games is going to cause quite a stir, I'm sure. Children being attacked by killer bees, falling in pits to their deaths, and most controversial--being murdered by other children.

Despite the bad vibe that this blog post is giving the book, it really was entertaining and not quite as gruesome as it sounds. Katniss is an adventurous girl with a good heart, and the book kept me on my toes.

The second book in the series has just been released, and I think I am just a little hungry for more Hunger Games.