"The Hunger Games," by Suzzane Collins

The Revolutionary War was fought between the British forces and America’s 13 colonies over their independence. Historians say it’s almost a miracle America won the war considering the British had the biggest empire and strongest military out of any other country at the time. It took America’s best politicians, generals, and diplomats to lead the country to victory. Now imagine a similar revolution that was led by 12 starving, poor districts but instead under a totalitarian dictatorship and the face of that revolution was only a 17 year old girl. The book tells the story about 17 year old Katniss Everdeen and how she bravely defied her government through one of their most tried and true traditions: The Hunger Games. Suzzane Collins started her career in 1991 writing for children's shows such as: Clarissa Explains It All and The Mystery Files of Shelby Woo. Towards the end of her career writing children's books she co-wrote the Rankin/Bass Christmas special: Santa Baby! Afterwards she went on to write books like Gregor The Overlander andThe Underland Chronicles which became a New York Times best seller. Then she wrote The Hunger Games series which contain five best selling books that have been on top of the charts since their release dates. Today the series continues to be one of the most popular in the world as it has even been turned into multiple plays and movie adaptations.

The Hunger Games takes place 100 years into the future after the “Great War” which led to the total collapse of America, but a new nation has been born in its place: Panem. As punishment to the 12 districts for losing the Great War every year a boy and girl between the ages of 12-18 from each district is to be randomly selected then placed in The Hunger Games to fight to the death until there is one victor left standing. President Snow, the ruler of Panem and head of The Capitol does this to keep The Districts in check and provide entertainment for the country's richest citizens who live in The Capitol and are immune from the atrocities of the games. On the reaping of the 74th Hunger Games Katniss’s 12 year old sister Primrose is selected as the district 12 tribute, but Katniss heroically volunteers to take her place, knowing that being reaped as a 12 year old is pretty much a death sentence. Peeta Malark gets reaped next for district 12 which immediately complicates things for Katniss because this boy once saved her and her family from starvation. Now Katniss must go into the games indebted to Peeta with no plan or idea how she’s going to win. In the beginning the main conflict Katniss faces is trying to save her sister Primrose from participating in the games. Katniss does this by making the brave decision to offer herself up as a tribute in her place. As we get closer to the middle of the book Katniss’s main conflict changes to staying alive in The Hunger Games for her family. At this point Katniss has been projected to make it far in games based on her excellent performance during training. Capitol spectators watching the game see this and send her gifts that will help her during the games upping her chances of winning, however, her good training score makes her a target for other tributes. It also catches President Snow's attention because it’s rare for someone from the very poor district of 12 to make it this far. Towards the end of the book Katniss's main conflict is selling her and Peeta's love story to The Capitol. Katniss is determined to win off of the narrative that she and Peeta are star crossed lovers and can’t bear to see each other tragically die in the games. However, President Snow sees what they are doing and doesn’t like it one bit. Viewing their dramatic confession of love as an act to trick the spectators and a way for them to openly challenge the authority of The Capitol. Now it is Katniss and Peeta's job for the rest of their lives to pretend to be in love, or face the consequences of what happens when you defy The Capitol's authority. 

In the beginning of the book Katniss is characterized as pessimistic. A girl from district 12 winning the hunger games? Unheard of! We get to see how hopeless and lost Katniss really feels in the first couple of chapters trying to figure out how she’s going to survive. For example on page 36 Katniss is saying goodbye to her family before the games and says this “I can’t win. Prim must know that in her heart. The competition will be far beyond my abilities.” Katniss’s attitude however, towards winning changes in the middle of the book and she becomes more hopeful. Her prior knowledge about hunting and plants from living in district 12 help her a lot during the games and she is even able to find an ally! For example on page 197 Katniss is thinking about her chances of winning when only a few tributes left and she optimistically says this: “I know I have tough opponents left to face. But I am no longer merely prey that runs and hides or takes desperate measures.” Lastly in the end of the book Katniss’s mood shifts again and she is described as being shocked. At the end of the games Katniss realizes just how awful The Capitol is and that no matter what she does the games cannot be beaten. She will have to perform for The Capitol and President Snow the rest of her life, and this fact has been inevitable. That this is what the Capitol is good at: Instilling hope in people then taking it away forever. For example on page 342 Katniss prepares to leave the games when she comes to a devastating conclusion and says: “This has all been devised by the gamemakers to guarantee the most dramatic show down in history. And like a fool, I bought into it”. Her growth over the book represents the emotional roller coaster all tributes of The Hunger Games must go through. At a glance it just seems like a cruel and unusual form of torture. But in reality it’s a game of physiological warfare that exposes the unmerciful and oppressive system put in place by President Snow to repress any ideas.  

One of my favorite things about The Hunger Games is the symbolism. The first time you read The Hunger Games it's hard to identify, but the second or third read through you start to notice the symbolic meanings of even the tiniest details. Associating the mockingjay, a bird The Capitol failed to tame and control as a symbol for Katniss and her attempts to break the system is one of the many examples of Suzanne Collins impactful symbolism. Another reason I like The Hunger Games is it has a lot of themes everyone can relate to. It discusses multiple social justice issues like classism, racism, propaganda, and the consequences of power going unchecked. The diverse topics within The Hunger Games truly make it a book for everyone that sends a different but still effective message to every reader. I seriously recommend buying The Hunger Games because it is a beautifully written book that changed the way I saw the world after reading it. The book makes you a lot more concise of those around you and teaches us the importance of standing up for what you believe in. Also to never conform to society's standards because in Panem's 100 year history Katniss, a brave 17 year old girl, was the first to speak out against her corrupt government. If someone before Katniss spoke out sooner, thousands of children would have been saved from tragic deaths within the games showing how it only takes one person to make a change. Just like the citizens of Panem our society today deals with a lot of the same issues like racism, classism, propoganda, etc. Suzzane Collins wrote The Hunger Games as a way to inspire people to stand up and make a change in the world even if you have to use unconventional or radical ways to do it.