There is a good reason why Suzanne Collins called this book The Hunger Games because the second you pick it up and get done reading it, you will be starving for some more. I have to say that I am hooked right now just like Peeta is for Katniss. Right from the start of this book, the narrator is able to portray the power that the Capitol yields and how the other twelve districts are at their command. For goodness sake, there were thirteen districts but because District 13 rebelled, all the other districts had to undergo the formation of the Hunger Games and send one boy and girl from their represented districts, where out of the twenty-four competitors, only one would come out alive and the victor. The protagonist of the story, Katniss, provides a great perspective and undergoes a transformation from the start of the book from being the family provider/hunter for her mother and younger sister to a woman understanding her beauty, who is returning as the seventy-fourth Hunger Games and first co-champion with Peeta to District 12. I have to say that I love the way that the author was able to construct the book so that each chapter ended in such a climactic way, that you just have to keep on turning the pages to find out what happens next.
Katniss Everdeen was just a great protagonist and it was exciting to see how she was able to use her Robin Hood-like bow and arrow skills and her hunting capabilities, to perceiver. She is the definition of what a big sister should be to a younger sibling when they called out young Prim’s name at the reaping and Katniss volunteered to take her place without hesitation, when others could not and would not muster up the courage to take a twelve year olds place. Another element that showed progression throughout the story was the make believe friendship/bond that Katniss and Peeta have for one another. With the help of their mentor and only previous winner of the Hunger Games from District 12, Haymitch, Katniss and Peeta are able to keep the rouse going as two lovers to the point that there is a rule change and two people from the same district can come out as champions of the games but Peeta has been in love with Katniss since he was five. I love reading a book that has so much action and mystery entangled so creatively, and that is exactly what this book by Suzanne Collins does. Reading is something that should be fun and I can’t wait when I have the time to read the next two books in this trilogy to feed my hunger, and find out what decision Katniss makes regarding Peeta and her best friend, Gale.
