This book review was written by Victoria Koretsky of Richard Montgomery High School
The Hunger Games is an ominous dystopian book series that has dominated the markets since its first release in 2008. It is often regarded as one of the most popular series in recent years, known for its intense plot and captivating characters. As a kid, all I knew about it was its dystopian setting, which was incidentally enough for me to pick it up. I ended up getting really into the plot and characters, and read the entire three book series within a weekend.
But as much as I liked the series, I was never able to reread it because of the sheer intensity. This summer, though, I finally brought myself to sit down and read it again this year, and despite reading it before, it seemed brand new to me. This year more than ever, it hit me how real it was.
The Hunger Games follows Katniss Everdeen, a 16-year-old girl who grew up in District 12 of Panem, a fictional country that grew out of North America’s ceaseless conflicts. She and her family barely lived on subsistence level, but were almost happy. But when Katniss is chosen as a participant for the annual Hunger Games, where tributes from each District are pitted against each other into a battle to the death, she finds herself thrust into complex relationships, a life in the spotlight, and a brewing national revolution.
“Happy Hunger Games! And may the odds be ever in your favor.” -Effie Trinket, The Hunger Games (Suzanne Collins)
When I first read The Hunger Games, the characters were hands down my favorite part of the books. Every character has their own faults and redeeming traits, making it unclear who to root for. Since it is written from Katniss’s perspective, every character is a foe unless proven otherwise.
At the beginning of the series, for example, Effie Trinket is nothing more than a tool of the Capitol. She is sent to collect the tributes for the Hunger Games from District 12 every year, and seems to bask in the pain of the district as she whisks the tributes away. But with time, she warms up to Katniss, and vice versa. Of course, it helps that Effie feeds her and Katniss provides a spotlight of attention. But in the end, a mutual respect forms as they face death together.
“Although lacking in many departments, Effie Trinket has a certain determination I have to admire.” -Katniss Everdeen, The Hunger Games (Suzanne Collins)
In the second book, Catching Fire, Finnick Odair is introduced as a manipulative yet gorgeous competitor.
“What about you, girl on fire? Do you have any secrets worth my time?” -Finnick Odair, Catching Fire (Suzanne Collins)
However, despite her suspicions, Finnick later helps Katniss, and with it shattering her perception of him. She begins to realize that the people she’s met are not at all what they seem to be. And in some cases, this proves to be deadly.
“It takes ten times as long to put yourself back together as it does to fall apart.” - Finnick Odair, Mockingjay (Suzanne Collins)
Katniss herself is morally grey at times, as well. Although she is the face of the revolution, she constantly faces doubts and prioritizes her personal relationships. She considers running into the woods to protect her family at the expense of the country. However, she consistently sacrifices herself for others, and ultimately takes on the burden of a broken nation.
“At some point, you have to stop running and turn around and face whoever wants you dead. The hard thing is finding the courage to do it.” - Katniss Everdeen, Catching Fire (Suzanne Collins)
Once the characters are caught up in an elaborate political conspiracy, where the good and the bad are only thinly separated, the characters and relationships only get better. Even today, I love comparing my top three characters with my friends, because nobody ever has the same answer.
However, the plot itself really spoke to me this summer, above even the characters. Of course, on a basic level, my life is nothing like Katniss’s. I am fortunate enough to live comfortably and happily, and I have never had to hunt for my own dinner. But with a deeper look, we are all different sides of the same coin. Our country has become so politically polarized, and teenagers are being forced into the middle of it. With the rise of social media, political socialization has become more than just following our families’ beliefs. We are influencing each other more than ever, creating a powerful idea of a collective mindset. For the first time, a virtual revolution is not out of the question.
At first glance, it’s easy to see why The Hunger Games series was banned in many places. The series touts an unbelievable amount of violence, sexually implicit scenes and a perpetually drunk character. The plot of the entire series itself is disturbingly violent: pitting young teenagers against each other in a battle to death just to demonstrate power.
“Taking the kids from our districts, forcing them to kill one another while we watch – this is the Capitol’s way of reminding us how totally we are at their mercy. How little chance we would stand of surviving another rebellion.” - Katniss Everdeen, The Hunger Games (Suzanne Collins)
But this violence is precisely what makes the series so impactful. None of it is unnecessary. Every fight, every battle, every harsh or crude scene only contributes to the theme more. In reality, the dangers of these books are not the violence or inappropriate content. The danger is in its explicit and shameless critique of inequality in America.
“I can’t win...The competition will be far beyond my abilities. Kids from wealthier districts, where winning is a huge honor, who’ve been trained their whole lives for this...Oh, there’ll be people like me, too. People to weed out before the real fun begins.” - Katniss Everdeen, The Hunger Games (Suzanne Collins)
These books are arguably the most influential of our generation. They do not just provide mindless entertainment and a temporary enjoyment of reading. They mark a transition to a more mature fictional genre and way of thinking. They introduce the idea of moral responsibilities and to question power. Most importantly, they influence the psyche of an entire generation, one where teenagers carry the burden of fixing a world in tatters.
“Fire is catching! And if we burn, you burn with us!” - Katniss Everdeen, Mockingjay (Suzanne Collins)
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