Christina's Review: Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Synopsis from School Library Journal: In a not-too-distant future, the United States of America has collapsed, weakened by drought, fire, famine, and war, to be replaced by Panem, a country divided into the Capitol and 12 districts. Each year, two young representatives from each district are selected by lottery to participate in The Hunger Games. Part entertainment, part brutal intimidation of the subjugated districts, the televised games are broadcasted throughout Panem as the 24 participants are forced to eliminate their competitors, literally, with all citizens required to watch. When 16-year-old KatnissÆs young sister, Prim, is selected as the mining districtÆs female representative, Katniss volunteers to take her place. She and her male counterpart, Peeta, the son of the town baker who seems to have all the fighting skills of a lump of bread dough, will be pitted against bigger, stronger representatives who have trained for this their whole lives.

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I want to write like Suzanne Collins. This lady took an issue of which she is adamantly passionate (child violence) and wrote an amazing science fiction novel that reaches into your soul and twists around until you feel vehemently against war and famine. Written in first person, the story follows the journey of a young girl who-for the love of her little sister-decides to fight against 23 other teens in a battle to the death (chance of survival= 4%).

THE BAD

Hmmmmm, I don't like the ending. But don't worry, this isn't a spoiler; all I'm saying is that she shouldn't have left us not only dangling but gripping the rock at the top of a cliff with only our index and middle fingers still holding on and sliding precariously further down. I honestly can't think of anything else that bothered me in this book, although my brother complained that the writing was choppy and especially hated the first person present voice (which I thought intriguing).

THE GOOD

Everything. I loved the heroine, cleverly written with depth, personality, a good dose of bravery, and a girly love for nice clothes (but not enough to make us want to toss a dirty t-shirt at her). I loved Peeta, the guy that liked/didn't like? her throughout the book; whenever he started going flat, the author instantly threw another story into the mix to update his personality with a new flaw or endearing characteristic. And the story itself? Brilliant, deep, intense, thought provoking.

THE VERDICT: AWESOMENESS

Any book that makes me cry AND tremble with excitement within the FIRST CHAPTER deserves my highest rating; so for Suzanne Collin's Hunger Games, I hereby bestow a 5 out of 5 in hopes that a little of her brilliance will rub off on my own writings in the future. Thank you, Suzanne, for a wonderful read.