Hunger Games is a dystopian novel about life in what used to be North America. The heroine of the story is 16 year old Katniss Everdeen; she and her family live in District 12, a coal mining district. The districts are under the strict control of The Capital, and every year, in order to demonstrate the subservience of the districts to The Capital, one boy and one girl from each of the twelve districts are selected to compete in the Hunger Games. These games are horrific, and the competitors are fighting to the death to be the victor. The twenty-four contestants fight each other until only one is left.
Katniss and her fellow District 12 contestant Peeta, are underdogs, and we read the story to see how and if Katniss manages to survive. This book works because the characters are so well drawn. I really cared about Katniss and Peeta. When Peeta declares his love for Katniss, it adds a new dimension to the story; if only one can survive, what happens to to the love story? This story is much, much more believable than that of say, Edward and Bella. These are characters that you really can relate to. Although the book is set sometime in the future, the reality of the poverty that Katniss lives with, her struggles to keep her family together, her struggle to survive in the horrific world of the Hunger Games, it is all very real.
Are there elements of fantasy? Of course there are; it is fiction, after all, but because of the strength of the characters, it blends really well. I think people looking for a gripping story with well-developed characters will love this story.
I will update you when I have finished the third book.
