Book Review – “The Hunger Games”

Five Stars out of Five

This was yet another book I had put off reviewing, mainly because it’s hard to know where to begin and simply saying it’s good isn’t enough. But I’ll say it anyway – The Hunger Games is so good! This is one of those books that hits every high note a good book should strike: compelling characters; intriguing plot; solid pacing; believable world-building; and a strong underlying message that is embedded in the story’s fibers, not preached openly like a sermon.

First, concerning the characters, Katniss Everdeen (the chief protagonist and narrator) is easily one of the best YA heroines to come around in recent years. She is resilient and strong but she can still be vulnerable and feminine. Thankfully, all of her trials and tribulations have not hardened her to the point where she possesses a heart of stone. Far from it. Her reluctance to start killing in the Games is one of many admirable traits in her favor (though the odds may not always be). Katniss really is a model YA character and writers in the same vein would do themselves a valuable service by studying her.

Like many YA fiction, this novel contains a love triangle but thankfully there is no insta-love or mushy moments. Katniss’ relationships with Gale and Peeta feel organic and, at least in this first novel, it’s easy to see how she could go either way between them (though, yes, I have read the trilogy and know who she ultimately picks). Likewise, I appreciated the fact that Gale and Peeta were good contrasts: Gale is the outspoken rebel who has been hardened by life while Peeta is softer-spoken and retains a heart but is by no means a wimp. All in all, the male leads were strongly portrayed and set a good stage for the type of characters they become.

The supporting cast is also great and it’s easy to have favorites even among the background figures such as Cinna, Haymitch, and Effie. There are no stock characters here and each person seems carefully crafted to possess his or her own unique personality, no matter how large or small of a role he or she plays in the story.

The plot itself hinges on the events inside the arena where the chosen tributes must fight to the death and survive a hostile environment. While some of the novel’s middle portions could have sagged, their efficient pacing keeps them afloat. This was one of those few books I didn’t want to put down because each chapter ends with a cliffhanger, whether big and dramatic or small and subtle. This novel really has some of the best pacing I’ve seen in a long time.

The world-building is equally solid as Panem is a futuristic North America, yet the fact it doesn’t call attention to specific locations (such as states or cities) makes it vague enough to stand alone as its own fictional realm. The operations of its tyrannical government were also believable within the story’s confines, and it’s easy to stand by Katniss’ side as she prepares to face down the very law of the land.

This also brings up good questions regarding how much power a government should have and at what point is it considered acceptable to rebel. Likewise, it ponders how much “reality” we really get when we engage the media. I appreciated Collins’ ability here to raise provocative questions, provide responses, and yet prevent her novel from becoming a socio-political soapbox sermon. As a writer myself who tries to implant edifying messages in her own works, I admire her restraint and respect her willingness to tackle some touchy topics.

Overall, The Hunger Games is a fantastic dystopian work that raises good questions under the guise of a great story with believable characters and a realistic world that isn’t so far removed from our own. It remains one of my favorite books and I would recommend to any and all readers looking for a meaty, engaging read to sink their literary teeth into. By the end, you really will be left hungry for its sequels.

Content:
Language – Essentially none. Any profanities used are PG-rated fare.

Violence – Probably the biggest sticking point for some readers will be the violence, which, to be fair, is not described in graphic, gory detail nor does it occur on every page. But since the premise of the Hunger Games is to be the last man or woman standing, then death and dismemberment are part of the “show.” Again, some readers might be turned off by the fact that these are kids and teens slaughtering each other but Collins shows restraint so you’re more disturbed by the nature of what these children and teens are forced to do as opposed to how they kill and/or die. She leaves the details up to the reader’s imagination, so it’s up to you as far as how graphic or “clean” you imagine the violent acts to be.

Sexual Content – None. Some characters kiss modestly or flirt but it leads to nothing further. Elsewhere, Katniss undresses so her style team can preen and prep her, but nothing even remotely inappropriate occurs.