Tag Archives: The Hunger Games

Book Review: The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

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Genre: Young-Adult, Dystopian, Science Fiction

In the not so distant future, in a place once called “North America” lies a not so distant country named Panem. Divided into 13 districts, with an uber rich Capitol, much of Panem lives in poverty and is there to serve only the uber rich. Every year the Capitol, where the country’s most rich and powerful people live, hosts a large, televised event called the Hunger Games: where 2 people from each district are chosen to fight to the death.

In District 12, Primrose Everdeen is chosen, until her sister, Katniss Everdeen volunteers to take her spot, along with a boy named Peeta. Once Katniss makes it to the Capitol, her eyes are opened to how the other side lives as everyone is well fed and healthy, showing her the unjust reality of life in the districts.

Once in the Hunger Games, Katniss must try and survive the harsh conditions of the environment while also trying to survive against her competitors who all also want to survive. From the twisting terrors that Katniss goes through, to the emotional challenges she faces, The Hunger Games is a truly enjoyable page turner.

Review:

I would give this book a 9/10 because it was a very interesting read that any teen or adult could enjoy. Here are some of my notes that though when I read this book:

  1. I really enjoyed this book because while it was interesting and mainly serious and dark, I liked how it was lightened with friendships and relationships that grew in the competition and throughout the book.
  1. I thought that the concept of this book was a very interesting one because, it sort of relates the past with the future as I thought that the games were similar to gladiator battles in Ancient Rome
  1. I thought that this book was a very captivating book that will make you never want to put it down until you finish it.

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.

Book Review: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins

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I’m sure a lot of people out there have read Suzanne Collins’ bestselling dystopian trilogy, which includes the novels The Hunger Games, Catching Fire, and Mockingjay. But what many don’t realize is that the story told in this trilogy is preceded by its spinoff, a prequel to the series.

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is set 64 years prior to The Hunger Games in a nation known as Panem and tells the story of the 10th hunger games and the events that surrounded it. Something that makes this novel especially intriguing is that it is not told by an ancestor of a protagonist in The Hunger Games, as one might expect. On the contrary, the story is narrated by young Coriolanus Snow, known as the cruel and calculating dictator President Snow in The Hunger Games.

Throughout the story, the history of Panem and the Hunger Games is unfolded, and connections can be drawn between this sequel and the narrative that follows it. I found The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes very interesting, because the reader is able to see into society in the Capitol, where life is perceived as perfect and easy. Light is shed on the history of the Hunger Games and earlier versions of the event, which explains a lot about how developed the event had become by the 74th Games (during which The Hunger Games took place).

Further, this novel shows how a dictator so brutal and merciless as President Snow came to be. Throughout the events of the novel, readers watch as young Snow, innocent and kind, grew into a power-hungry monster hated by all of Panem.

All in all, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is an amazing dystopian novel and a very well-written prequel/spin-off that gives much interesting background on the story of The Hunger Games, particularly a character perceived as a villain. If you are a fan of The Hunger Games, I would absolutely recommend this book!

-Lam T.

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

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*this review may contain spoilers*

This is actually my second time rereading this series but I felt inspired out of the blue to transfer myself into this dystopian world. The concept Collins portrays in this series is absolutely UNREAL.

Typically I don’t even like protagonists and usually root for the antagonist but in this case I enjoyed both Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark. The chemistry between the two was executed perfectly within the plot of the story of the “Hunger Games”.

Essentially, the dystopian world, Panem is divided into 12 districts with a capitol which acts as their government. Annually there are these “Hunger Games” where 12-18 year olds are entered into and 1 girl and 1 boy are chosen from each district. Amongst the chosen, they battle out til there is only one survivor.

For the most part dystopian novels aren’t my liking but as of lately I’ve been seeking interest in reading dystopian novels. I also just think that Collins makes an effort to establish each of her characters with enough description and background that I feel connected to them. Books where you feel more bonded with the characters always sparks interest and that’s exactly what Collins did by creating Katniss and Peeta.

I honestly don’t understand how people come up with concepts like this, so reading the Hunger Games makes me giddy. I would recommend this book to anyone even if Dystopian/Fiction is not your preferred choice of genre.

-Madison C.

Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.

Book vs. Movie Review: Mockingjay

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Mockingjay is the third (and final, if you don’t count the prequel!) book in The Hunger Games trilogy. It’s about the main character and heroine, of the novels, Katniss Everdeen, following her story as she fights the Capitol to end the vicious gladiatorial games called the Hunger Games. Her lover, Peeta Mellark, has been captured by the Capitol, and now they are holding him hostage, altering his memories of Katniss so he will think of her as a threat instead of an ally. This book has a wonderful blend of action, suspense, and romance (with just a little character rivalry thrown in for good measure), like any other Hunger Games novel, but that’s not all. Mockingjay also has, not one, but two movies to go along with it. Here are my thoughts on the book versus the movies.

#1: First of all, here are some things I think the producers of the movie did well. They did quite a good job sticking to the main plot and including what I think to be the most important parts. Yes, they did add in or change a couple of things, but, in my opinion, the overall feeling of the book was captured in the movie.

#2: Of course, there were some parts that I felt needed to be emphasized more in the movies. For example, the vote to hold another Hunger Games, but with the Capitol’s children, was treated as the big decision that it is in the book, but in the movies, they kind of glossed over that part. Also, the death of Katniss’ sister, Primrose, wasn’t as significant as I’d have liked it to be in the movies. It was like she died, and then everyone moved on really quickly, unlike in the book, where Katniss spends years recovering.

#3: The look of the characters was also changed in the movies. In the book, Katniss is supposed to have black hair and olive skin, while in the movies, the actress of Katniss is a blonde, Caucasian woman. Also, Peeta is supposed to have blue eyes and blond hair, but in the movies, his actor has black hair and brown eyes. However, this is just a minor difference and it doesn’t take away from the fact that the actors and actresses did an amazing job of portraying the characters’ emotions, which is what I think is the most important part.

In summary, I think the book Mockingjay is better than both of the movies, but it’s hard to beat the original. However, I wasn’t disappointed with the movies, because the main plot and feel of the book was conveyed on the screen. In my opinion, the books are usually better than the movies, unless the movie comes out first. What do you think?

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.