American Author

The Hunger Games

Release Date: September 14, 2008.

99,750 words/374 pages

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Things have gotten really tough in the future, after the end of the world. Hunting at the age of sixteen, Katniss battles starvation and hardship daily, doing all it takes to provide for her mother, who is barely conscious, and her helpless younger sister. Up until that one terrible day, life is tough, but not impossible. As a kind of entertainment, the Capitol of Panem hosts the “Hunger Games” once a year. In this event, a small number of delegates from each district face off against each other in a huge arena. The winner takes home the trophy. Tragically, Katniss must battle for the survival of her hungry family in addition to her own well-being.

I LOVE this book. This was a big part of my childhood and when I developed my love of reading. I reread this series at least once a year. Though it has become a filler book when I am in a slump. It usually pulls me out of my slump and each book isn’t that long so it is quick and just overall fantastic.

Catching Fire

Release Date: September 1, 2009.

101,564 words/391 pages

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Living the life of a victor in District 12 is all about peacefulness, popularity, and well-being after narrowly surviving the horrific Hunger Games. Being the new star of Panem brings a lot of attention, and the worst kind of attention—so new problems quickly arise. A rebellion starts to emerge after the challenge in the last tournament goes overlooked. Even the strongest among the strong—the victors—are not safe from the Capitol’s watchful scrutiny. If Katniss and Peeta don’t attempt to quell the social unrest and demonstrate their allegiance to the government, they risk losing loved ones, their district, and possibly even Panem itself.

Is perfection unbeatable? What I can say is that this is, in my opinion, one of the rare instances where the possibility is clearly demonstrated. This was equally as wonderful as the first book, if not better; it kept my attention from beginning to end and I couldn’t put it down. Even though it had some clone-like qualities, I didn’t mind because it was excellent. Exciting and well-paced. Elevated to an all new level of awesomeness. Everything from the Capitol visit to the arena to the events in District 12 to the tour of Panem was fascinating and captivating. Everyone is genuine, distinct, and special in their own way; the cast has grown substantially to include both beloved and despised individuals. The character development in this novel is really mind-blowing, especially when you consider the sheer number of people. A masterpiece that ranks among the greatest works of dystopian fiction I’ve ever read, if not the best of all time. I would strongly suggest it.

Mockingjay

Release Date: August 24, 2010.

100,269 words/390 pages

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My heart is racing with emotion. The second time I read this book, it devastated me even more. Actually, I believe it was considerably more painful. My comprehension of Katniss’s goals and her overwhelming grief in the end has been enhanced. Compared to what my younger self had expected when I originally read this, I now fully grasped the finale and found her life choices to be more grounded in reality. I have heard some hate over the final ending, but there should not be. Katniss loved kids, and now she feels safe enough to have them. Peeta has an even deeper love for her then he did, because now he sees her with her flaws and still loves her. Her ending line, chefs kiss. 

I will always hold this series in high regard; it is, without a question, among the best instances of YA literature that successfully combines elements of satire, science fiction, and fantasy. The girl who is on fire will always live in my heart rent-free. Also, I dream of having a bread boy of my own. 

Prequels

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes

Release Date: May 19, 2020

157,872 words/517 pages

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It was always a risk to follow Snow as the protagonist. Because he is so unlikable and has no redeeming qualities, I fear that many viewers will be turned off by him. In general, he doesn’t care about anyone unless he can gain anything from a relationship with them, be it power, money, or social advancement; he is haughty, ambitious, and self-centered. It takes some time for the destructive nature of their relationship to sink in, but at first, his obsession with Lucy Grey is shocking. Because his view of love is so warped, he thinks he owns Lucy. If she does well in the games, he will solely benefit from her success and treat her like his property. In reality, he is opposed to her being free.

It was a treat for me to learn about the past and go back to some of the iconic locations from the Hunger Games. The narrative does a good job of developing and expanding upon the lore, which in turn inherently ties the previous episodes together. Mockingjays, a creature that Snow immediately despises for their blatant disruption of the Capitol dream, Lucy’s melodies, and the tree beside the forest all serve as manifestations of Katniss and Peeta’s spirits throughout the narrative. Beyond simply dropping a group of kids into a deserted arena armed, it was fascinating to learn about the games’ history, goals, and evolution. By getting the Capitol’s residents invested in the event and exploring its psychological underpinnings, you legitimize the bloodshed and ensure its perpetuation. The inclusion of mutts to kill your tributes in exciting and colorful ways is especially problematic when the games’ concept is combined with a leader who is obviously a psychopath (looking at you, Dr. Gaul).

I know it won’t appeal to everyone, but I really enjoyed it. I think it will be most enjoyable for someone who is quite familiar with the original books. I was really looking forward to this because of all the allusions and references to the original books! Additionally, I found it quite fascinating to experience the world of Panem via Snow’s eyes, since it provided us with a wealth of information. This book was incredibly educational. To sum it up, I had a great time reading it and finished it in record time since I couldn’t put it down.

Sunrise on the Reaping is set to release on March 18, 2025

Huge fan of this series and already have my copy preordered.