“When I wake up, the other side of the bed is cold.”

From Suzanne Collins’ The Hunger Games.

Katniss Everdeen is like every other teenager in Panem’s District 12; she lost her father to an explosion in the mines, she spends time with her best friend Gale (illegally hunting outside the District fence), and purchasing small amounts of food by placing more entries for herself in the running to be District 12’s female tribute at the Hunger Games.  The Hunger Games is a elaborate annual event put on by Panem’s Capital that pits children from each district against each other in a fight to the death to remind the districts for their rebellion 74 years ago.  Even with the extra entries, Katniss has managed to not be picked for the last 4 years, but her young sister (Prim) is not so fortunate and is selected to fight at only 12 years old.  Without thinking, Katniss volunteers to take Prim’s place; the male tribute selected is Peeta Mellark (the 16 year-old baker’s son).  Partnered with a drunk mentor and boy she doesn’t know (trust), Katniss prepares for the Games as best as she can, but she begins to use her hatred for the evil of the Games and the love for her sister to fight against the Capital in unexpected ways.

Collins creates a captivating world of poverty, wealth, power, and courage.  Katniss is a simple character; she believes in doing the right thing and providing for family whatever way necessary.  The loss and destruction in her life has not broken her spirit, but instead made it stronger.  The evils of the Hunger Games are displayed in gruesome details at times, but it is mainly shown in the apathy and ignorance of the Capital citizens.  The first book in the trilogy begins on a strong foundation that flows very well into the next book in the series.  The Hunger Games uses solid dialog and characters to tell a story that is open and powerful; it is definitely a book worth reading.