The Hunger Games

Synopsis (Taken from Amazon.ca)

In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. The Capitol is harsh and cruel and keeps the other districts in line by forcing them to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight-to-the-death on live TV. One boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and sixteen are selected by lottery to play. The winner brings riches and favor tohis or her district. But that is nothing compared to what the Capitol wins: one more year of fearful compliance with its rule. Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives alone with her mother and younger sister, regards it as a death sentence when she is forced to represent her impoverished district in the Games. But Katniss has been close to dead before—and survival, for her, is second nature. Without really meaning to, she becomes a contender. But if she is to win, she will have to start making choices that weigh survival against humanity and life against love. Acclaimed writer Suzanne Collins, author of the New York Times bestselling Underland Chronicles, delivers equal parts suspense and philosophy, adventure and romance, in this stunning novel set in a future with unsettling parallels to our present.

So I'm just going to start off by saying this is one, if not possible the, number one favorite book of mine. I LOVED this book. The Hunger Games is one of those books that keeps you awake at night AFTER you've finished it. I couldn't sleep days after finishing it wondering what the characters would be doing in the next book and how their lives would play out. The concept of this book is pretty startling; to think about killing other teenagers to stay alive. However it has my favorite things in books, which is a strong and independent female lead character.

My one negative thing about this book, is i can't imagine how this could be classified as a YA novel. Although the key characters are young, their actions are not.

Suzanne Collins paints a very addictive, heartbreaking, and beautiful novel about a teenager girl living in hard times that loves unconditionally dispute her dire situation.

This book is a must read! I recommend it to anyone who loves a book with romance, a great plot, and a heart-clenching ending.