The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

REVIEWED BY RICHARD ROTSTEIN

Bloodthirsty, Blinding, Bewildering - so storms the novel, ‘The Hunger Games’ through the ramparts of your imagination. From the moment you espy the blood stained letters on the cover and the fraught girl staring hypnotically into your eyes, as if daring you to open the book and experience the horror of The Hunger Games, your mind is captured by a sense of fear.
The author, Suzanne Collins has constructed an amazing tale of science fiction set in the futuristic country of Panem. The protagonist, Katniss Everdeen is forced to represent her district with another boy named Peeta Melark in a battle to the death. There is only one rule, to stay alive. Twenty-four children aged from eleven to eighteen representing twelve districts compete for the glory of winning The Hunger Games. The entire bloodbath is televised to the world for their entertainment. Suzanne Collins forces us to follow the vicissitudes of various child gladiators as they kill, or are killed.
Katniss Everdeen is a typical post-modern hero in our book. She is only a teenager but is forced to put food on her family’s table. With a fiery spirit and a non-conformist attitude, she defies the Capitol throughout the book. She has an altruistic nature, volunteering to fight in the Hunger Games in the place of her younger sister, Prim.
Peeta Melark, the boy who is chosen to represent the same district as Katniss, confesses his love for Katniss in a pre-game interview, live on national television, which raises confusing emotions in the arena when they team up. Even more problematic, Katniss and Peeta both know that if they make it to the end, they will eventually have to kill each other.
The ethical dilemmas raised by the plot confront the reader’s sense of morality and create a gripping air of excitement.
The novel ends in a nail biting climax with a brilliant twist which leaves readers blown away. I would recommend this to all teenagers as a novel with important messages that could influence the way that teenagers think and could ultimately reduce violence.
Hunger Games warns us about the dangers of some current trends. They describe the consequences of political authoritarianism and the thoughtless pursuit of selfish pleasures. There is a pressing moral perspective to the story – hedonistic, authoritarian regimes that remain unchallenged can lead to disaster. It may be necessary to bring the existing state to ruins in order to create a better life for all.