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The Hunger Games
by Suzanne CollinsSeries: The Hunger Games #1
Published by Scholastic Press on September 14th 2008
SubGenres: Young Adult
Format: eBook
Pages: 374
Source: Purchased
Audience: Teen & Young Adult/13+
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Winning will make you famous. Losing means certain death.
The nation of Panem, formed from a post-apocalyptic North America, is a country that consists of a wealthy Capitol region surrounded by 12 poorer districts. Early in its history, a rebellion led by a 13th district against the Capitol resulted in its destruction and the creation of an annual televised event known as the Hunger Games. In punishment, and as a reminder of the power and grace of the Capitol, each district must yield one boy and one girl between the ages of 12 and 18 through a lottery system to participate in the games. The 'tributes' are chosen during the annual Reaping and are forced to fight to the death, leaving only one survivor to claim victory.
When 16-year-old Katniss's young sister, Prim, is selected as District 12's female representative, Katniss volunteers to take her place. She and her male counterpart Peeta, are pitted against bigger, stronger representatives, some of whom have trained for this their whole lives. , she sees it as a death sentence. But Katniss has been close to death before. For her, survival is second nature.
(ReRead 2026) I thought it was time to reread The Hunger Games. I first read this book in 2012 and have been meaning to finish the trilogy and read the prequels for a while. I’m making time this year, especially since another movie is coming out. I prefer reading the books before watching the movies because adaptations often leave out or change a lot from the books.
After reading this book a second time and refreshing myself with the story, I can’t wait to read the second book very soon. My original rating of five stars and review of The Hunger Games still stand from 2012.
(Review Below from 2012 edited)
I’m behind the curve, I know. The truth is, I never thought I would read The Hunger Games. When I heard the movie was coming out, I still didn’t want to read the book or see the film. The main reason was kids unaliving each other. That’s a deal breaker for me since I have two girls.
Nope, this book wasn’t of interest to me, but the reader in me had to know the hype around this book and series. I told myself and my non-reading friends (who tried to get me to see the movie first) that it was a goal to read the book before watching the movie. I’m not one of those movie buffs who wait in line at midnight. Heck no! I’m already sleep-deprived from college coursework, having an infant again, and reading at night since it’s my only time to myself sometimes.
What did I think of the book? I won’t summarize it because the movie previews and book description do that well.
My honest opinion is I loved this book. The mother in me wanted to throw the book and ask why a few times. How could you watch kids unalive each other to the end? That is wild. I adore the characters though. I loved Katniss. I had never read a strong young female character like her before in a Young Adult series, especially with what she was put through in this book. I’ve never read a male character like Peeta (and Josh Hutcherson played him perfectly in the movie).
I was in tears at the start when Katniss volunteers to take her sister’s spot. I cried whenever Katniss had to be strong. I was bawling when Peeta expressed his feelings, even though Katniss was clueless about his feelings, when it was obvious throughout the book he wasn’t lying. It was worse when another tribute was killed that Katniss had befriended. I don’t think I’ve ever cried so hard. I cried even harder when the Gamekeepers changed the rules twice during the Games. Unbelievable! But I knew it was for the drama.
I’ve never read a book that had me bawling like a baby. Maybe it was due to my hormones who knew? Thank goodness I read it when my family was in bed because they would have kept asking why I was crying over a book.
The entire time I read this book, I know for a fact I would have been the mom who rebelled against the Capitol to save my daughters. No way would I allow my child to be thrown into a situation like that. I would fight back.
However, it’s mentioned in this book how they did fight back in the past, and it didn’t end well, which is why they were forced to participate in the Hunger Games. This book sets the story to what is to come, and I can’t wait to finally sit and read the second book.
This book is told solely via Katniss’s POV, so you will end up feeling her anger and sadness, amongst other feelings.
Overall, I give this book 5 stars, and I’m so glad I read this book and glad I decided to reread it too (2026).
Would I recommend this book? Yes, most definitely. If you enjoy reading dystopian reads, this is a must-read.
About Suzanne Collins
Since 1991, Suzanne Collins has been busy writing for children’s television. She has worked on the staffs of several Nickelodeon shows, including the Emmy-nominated hit Clarissa Explains it All and The Mystery Files of Shelby Woo. For preschool viewers, she penned multiple stories for the Emmy-nominated Little Bear and Oswald. She also co-wrote the critically acclaimed Rankin/Bass Christmas special, Santa, Baby! Most recently she was the Head Writer for Scholastic Entertainment’s Clifford’s Puppy Days.
While working on a Kids WB show called Generation O! she met children’s author James Proimos, who talked her into giving children’s books a try.
Thinking one day about Alice in Wonderland, she was struck by how pastoral the setting must seem to kids who, like her own, lived in urban surroundings. In New York City, you’re much more likely to fall down a manhole than a rabbit hole and, if you do, you’re not going to find a tea party. What you might find...? Well, that’s the story of Gregor the Overlander, the first book in her five-part series, The Underland Chronicles. Suzanne also has a rhyming picture book illustrated by Mike Lester entitled When Charlie McButton Lost Power.
She currently lives in Connecticut with her family and a pair of feral kittens they adopted from their backyard.
The books she is most successful for in teenage eyes are The Hunger Games, Catching Fire and Mockingjay. These books have won several awards, including the GA Peach Award.
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