“I clasp the flask between my hands even though the warmth from the tea has long since leached into the frozen air.”

From Suzanne Collins’ The Hunger Games: Catching Fire.

This is the second book in the dystopian trilogy that follows young Katniss Everdeen and her struggle to save the people she loves no matter the cost. When this book starts, Katniss has already done the impossible. She lived through the 74th. Hunger Games and she managed to keep Peeta (her District 12 companion who she pretended to love as a survival tactic) alive as well. Now she is back home with her family and friends trying to get past the horrors that she endured in the Games and get back to normal. Katniss and Peeta’s final act in the Hunger Games (the berry fake-out) saved their lives, but also started something all across Panem: rebellion. When the Capitol carts Katniss and Peeta across the various districts to reinsert power over the people, it only causes the rebellion to grow. President Snow threatens Katniss and tells her that she must bring the unrest to an end or face terrible consequences; she is unable to stop the rebellion from growing and Snow delivers a horrible blow in return: for the 75th. Hunger Games, it will be a Games fought only by those who have won before. Katniss and Peeta soon find themselves preparing to fight in another Hunger Games competition, against brilliant, strong, and ruthless tributes. Some enemies are introduced and some alliances are made before the Games begin and we are introduced to the memorable characters of Finnick, Johanna, Beetee, and many others.

The second book in the series follows the same writing style as the first; it is well-written and captivating. The reader follows Katniss as she struggles to leave the horrors of the Games behind only to be forced back in again. And just because she is faced with this unspeakable evil, she still finds herself struggling with issues of a normal 17-year-old; does she love Peeta or Gale, how can she protect her family, and what is she going to do with her life? The story is captivating, both before Katniss is sentenced to another round in the arena and her second fight to survive, the reader easily feels the pain, heartache, and confusion that Katniss feels. Every character, trap in the Games, and setting is developed perfectly to carry the story seamlessly. If you enjoyed the Catching Fire movie, you will love the book, and if you didn’t go crazy for the movie, then the book will give a more raw look into Katniss’ growth and  struggles. The Hunger Games: Catching Fire is definitely not a book to be missed.