The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Hunger Games has been flying off my local library's shelf. I finally managed to get a hold of a copy to read. The story is the first of a trilogy that takes place in a post-apocalyptic North America. The central government is now located in the west with about 12 outlying colonies or districts. Each district is given an assignment to support the central government ranging from farming to manufacturing. Every year each district sends two representatives to participate in the Hunger Games. The games are symbolic of the last great battle and serve as a reminder to the colonies of who is in charge. The tributes are between the ages of 12-18 and are randomly selected in a drawing. The games have a sinister aspect as the games are a type of celebrity death match in which young teens are primped and then told to fight to the death.

In the first book, Katniss and Peeta are selected from the underdog District 11, which has never won the Hunger Games. The contestants are pitted against each other and at other times they must work together. Will Katniss and Peeta survive with their pretend romance attracting viewers and ratings? You'll have to read it to find out.

The book is a young adult story suggested for Grade 7 and up. I would recommend this for much older teens and adults only. The story is very violent. Think of putting the gladiator matches of ancient Rome on reality tv and you'll know how violent it is. And this is kids killing kids and, in some cases, enjoying it. It makes the one death in Lord of the Flies look like the Disney channel.

Having said that, I did read the entire thing and it made me want to read the rest of the series, which has been flying off the shelves of the library too.