2. INFORMATION
• The Hunger Games is a series of three adventure novels written by the American novelist
Suzanne Collins. The series is set in The Hunger Games universe, and follows young
characters Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark.
• Published: 2008–2010
• Genre: Adventure, science fiction, drama, action.
3. REVIEW
• Takes place in an unspecified future time, in the dystopian,
post-apocalyptic nation of Panem, located in the ruins of North
America. The country consists of the wealthy Capitol, located in
the Rocky Mountains, and 12 (formerly 13) poorer districts ruled
by the Capitol. The Capitol is lavishly rich and technologically
advanced, but the 12 districts are in varying states of poverty.
• As punishment for a past rebellion against the Capitol (called
the "Dark Days"), wherein 12 of the districts were defeated, and
the 13th was supposedly destroyed, one boy and one girl from
each of the 12 districts, between the ages of 12 and 18, are
selected by lottery to compete in the Hunger Games on an
annual basis. The Games are a televised event in which the
participants, called "tributes", are forced to fight to the death in
a dangerous public arena. The winning tribute and his/her home
district are then rewarded with food, supplies, and riches. The
purposes of the Hunger Games are to provide entertainment for
the Capitol and to remind the districts of the Capitol's power
and lack of remorse.
4. • Follows 16-year-old Katniss Everdeen, a girl from District 12 who volunteers for the 74th
Hunger Games in place of her younger sister Primrose Everdeen. Also participating from
District 12 is Peeta Mellark, a boy who has developed a secret crush on Katniss. They are
mentored by District 12's only living victor, Haymitch Abernathy, who won the Games 24 years
earlier and has since assumed a solitary life of alcoholism. Peeta confesses his love for Katniss
in a television interview prior to the Games, leading the Capitol to portray Katniss and Peeta as
"star-crossed lovers". This revelation surprises Katniss, who harbors feelings for Gale
Hawthorne, her friend and hunting partner. Haymitch advises Katniss to play along and feign
feelings for Peeta in order to gain wealthy sponsors who can gift them crucial supplies during
the Games. In the arena, Katniss develops an alliance with Rue, a young tribute from District 11
who reminds Katniss of her kid sister, and Katniss is emotionally scarred when Rue is killed.
Katniss devises a memorial for Rue by placing flowers over her body as an act of defiance
toward the Capitol. More than halfway through The Games, the remaining tributes are alerted to
a rule change that allows both tributes from the same district to be declared victors if they are
the final two standing. After learning of the change, Katniss and Peeta begin to work as a team.
When all of the other tributes are dead, and they appear to win the Games together, the rule
change is revoked. Katniss leads Peeta in a double suicide attempt to eat poisonous berries
known as nightlock, hoping that the latest change will be reinstated, and that they will both be
victorious. Their ruse is successful, and both tributes return home victorious. During and after
the Games, Katniss develops genuine feelings for Peeta and struggles to balance them with the
connection she feels with Gale. When it becomes clear that the Capitol is upset with Katniss'
defiance, Haymitch encourages her to maintain the "star-crossed lovers" act, without telling
Peeta.
