But I just have so many books I haven't read and it's hard to balance it right but finally I've decided to read them again!

The book is rich in discussion points not only about governments, personal freedom, and sacrifice but also about what it means to be yourself and not submit to society’s expectations. And a great idea for a story. Collins does all this in the context of an all-out action-thriller told in straight-ahead yet subtle prose with a carefully calibrated level of edgy violence that never goes over the line. One adult is an alcoholic and constantly drinking. The Hunger Games is a compelling novel focusing on life in an authoritarian society in which young people must compete to the death in the annual Hunger Games. Having a victor is important to a district — extra food and a few luxuries will be granted to the winner's district. I'm going straight onto the next one, Catching Fire, as you can't resist reading them all as quickly as possible as soon as you've started! Disclosure: A review copy was provided by the publisher. But who will it be? Common Sense Media, a nonprofit organization, earns a small affiliate fee from Amazon or iTunes when you use our links to make a purchase. Your privacy is important to us. It was published in 2008 and has sold millions of copies. This is where two children, one boy and one girl from each district from the ages of twelve to eighteen, have to leave their families and compete in The Hunger Games, a live event that is aired on TV's all over Panem. Everyone’s name goes in the lottery from the time they reach the age of 12 until they turn 18. The main character, Katniss, begins to realize how important maintaining her own humanity is as she's used as a pawn by the Capitol both in the arena and by a manipulative media machine. This book shows the media at its manipulative worst, using contestants as pawns to both shock and entertain. In its place is Panem, in which the city of Capitol, somewhere in the Rockies, rules over 12 rebellious districts.

The 384-page book contains violence and strong emotions so younger tweens may find it disturbing. But she makes it her own, and The Hunger Games avoids feeling derivative through her complex and poignant characterizations of both major and secondary characters, and the bewildering interplay of personal feelings and political machinations.

Readers also learn a bit about how to survive in the wilderness. Mention that a leg had to be amputated. Fun, provoking start to dystopian series for teens. How Technology Is Reshaping Democracy and Our Lives, Participate in DigCit Week with your kid by using curated activities from Wide Open School, Online Playdates, Game Nights, and Other Ways to Socialize at a Distance, Keeping Kids Motivated for Online Learning, Set limits for violence and more with Plus. What Are the Chinese Names for Grandfather?

Peacekeepers and a local government are instituted in each district, but the rulers in the Capitol have strict control over everything and everyone in each district. Even though many teen characters die -- by spear, rock, arrow, knife, fire, animal stings, poisoning, and more -- there are few truly gory moments. Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

By using LiveAbout, you accept our, Panem: the World of the Hunger Games Trilogy, Book Review: A Child Called "It" by Dave Pelzer, Year of the Monkey Horoscopes for All Chinese Zodiac Signs, Top 16 Kids' Movies Based on Books for Ages 6-12, What Happens Between 'Return of the Jedi' and 'The Force Awakens'. It's really different from lots of the other stuff I read.

Each citizen is required to watch the Games until their conclusion, which may take hours or days. It makes you happy to be alive and happy to know that you are not going to be entered in a competition where you are to fight to your death every year.

Exciting, provocative tale of lethal reality show. With this second series, Collins shows that she's a major voice in children's and young adult literature.

Families can talk about the popularity of the Hunger Games. Reading The Hunger Games can lead to interesting discussions about our own world and how reality shows, threats of war, authoritarian governments and obsession with fashion trends influence us daily. Suzanne Collins also wrote the screenplay for the movie adaptations of The Hunger Games. Each year, the twelve districts must send two representatives, a girl and a boy, to participate in the Hunger Games. But it's a great story! The Hunger Games is a compelling novel focusing on life in an authoritarian society in which young people must compete to the death in the annual Hunger Games. © Common Sense Media. The Capitol may be using her as a pawn and a symbol, but they don't own her spirit and can't crush it. Only it isn’t her name that is called -- it is her sister’s. Why are dystopian novels so popular? Wondering if The Hunger Games, Book 1 is OK for your kids?

Read 172,015 reviews from the world's largest community for readers. And her tendency to inadvertently create problems can spark many conversations about whether she was right or wrong and whether she stayed true to who she is. Add your ratingSee all 208 parent reviews. LiveAbout uses cookies to provide you with a great user experience. The writing is excellent and the plot propels the reader through the book at a rapid rate. It is the first book for young readers to sell a million electronic books and you can buy it in 26 different languages. For a story about 24 teens forced to kill each other, the gore level is lower than expected -- but there is some. For more information, please see our Ethics Policy. If I could but I can't, so I will rate a very well earned five stars! For information on challenges to the book, see The Hunger Games Trilogy. The Historical Background to 'Les Miserables', The Secret Universe of Bret Easton Ellis Novels. Her struggles with her divided affections between two boys are realistically portrayed but not overwrought. And it's a good book to take you somewhere else; I could really get into The Hunger Game and I've been able to get into it reading it the second time round. When Prim’s name is called, Katniss immediately volunteers to take her place as a tribute from District 12 to the Hunger Games.

But this is a different kind of close to death; this Katniss doesn't know if she can survive. Adults drink, and one is a falling-down drunk. Movie Tie-In: Producers often use a book as a springboard for a movie idea or to earn a specific rating. A good book to sit down with on a horrible rain day! Frequently Challenged Books for Kids and Teens. The Hunger Games was DEFINITELY the best series I read last year!

The other mature content is fairly mild by comparison. Our ratings are based on child development best practices. How can you tell? Peeta Mellark, the baker’s son, is a boy that Katniss owes a favor because of a kindness that he showed her when she was most desperate and her family’s survival was at stake. Good job Suzanne Collins! Katniss doesn't believe she's coming out alive - but she's not going down without a fight. I came to the Hunger Games series late in its popularity. One of my favourite series of book ever! Beginning with elements of the Theseus myth, Collins mixes in a large dollop of Battle Royale by Koushun Takami, elements of Shirley Jackson's The Lottery, reality TV shows Survivor, American Gladiators, and Project Runway, and an extrapolation of contemporary political and social trends. There are stories about the daily hardships and violence experienced by everyone outside the Capitol, including how Katniss' father died in a mining explosion. Will her feelings get the better of her? She and Peeta are to be mentored by Haymitch, the only tribute that District 12 has had who was a winner of the Games.

A reminder to beware of sensationalized media. Katniss knows that it is not only her own life on the line in the games, but that others will benefit as well if she is the victor and her skills as a hunter will give her an edge in the Games. I'm going to write this from an educators point of view, but not as a parents. There are also many mentions of how Katniss' father died in a mining explosion and how her family almost starved afterward. Join now. Shocking sci-fi gives teens plenty to get wound up about. Way late.

We're updating our reviews to better highlight authentic stories and accurate, diverse representations. Beginning with elements of the Theseus myth, she mixes in a large dollop of Battle Royale by Koushun Takami, elements of Shirley Jackson's The Lottery, reality TV shows Survivor, American Gladiators, and Project Runway, and an extrapolation of current political and social trends. There's talk of past games and what happened with the story of one boy trying to eat the bodies of those he killed. She just wants to survive and get home to her family so she can go back to providing for them. The Hunger Games are an annual tradition directed by the Capitol rulers, not only to amuse the citizens but also to preserve control over the districts by demonstrating the Capitol's dominance. How do they play along? I would read anything by her without batting an eyelid!

Every year because this very rich City, known as The Capitol, is so rich and likes to think they control all the Districts - which they do - there is something known as The Hunger Games! Want to tell the world about a book you've read? Love of family and loyalty to friends. It's one of the books I wish I had written myself! To maintain an iron grip, the Capitol holds an annual televised reality show, a lethal form of Survivor to which each district must send one boy and one girl. The Hunger Games is a book by the American author Suzanne Collins. This is the second time I have read The Hunger Games! But Haymitch is a reluctant and seemingly inadequate mentor, so Katniss realizes she must rely on her own strengths in order to survive. Exciting, provocative dystopian novel will make teens think. Satire with a nice bite -- for mature teens. Katniss, age 16, tries wine, doesn't like the fuzzy feeling it gives her, and switches back to water. In The Hunger Games, author Suzanne Collins has created a fascinating dystopian world. The main character, 16-year-old Katniss Everdeen, volunteers for the Hunger Games to keep her younger sister from being required to participate and her experiences and fight to survive are the heart of the book. Are there any reality shows you watch that have moments that ring false to you? THE HUNGER GAMES is set In the future, after the United States is gone. We display the minimum age for which content is developmentally appropriate.

Suggest an update to this review. Less than a month's time to the release of the highly anticipated film adaptation (an adaptation written in part by Suzanne Collins herself, one of the credited writers of the script) and I've known about the series less than a year, and having only read the series a few months prior to this review.

Each district has its own specialty that benefits the Capitol, such as coal mining, agriculture, seafood, etc. When Katniss Everdeen, aged sixteen from District 12, has to volunteer to take the place of her twelve-year-old sister Prim after Prim's name is called forth to become the 23rd member to compete in The 74th Hunger Games, she promises to Prim that she will win! Because District 12 is so poor, Katniss has been close to death many times from starvation but she's made it through it. Will she let someone else win so they don't have to die? 'I imagined it completely differently to how they did it in the film - and I liked my version better'. Due to the darkness of the story, it is best suited for teens and adults rather than tweens, although many younger kids have read the book or seen the movie or both.

Parents need to know that The Hunger Games is a story about a reality show where 24 teens must kill one another until only one survives.