Three Reasons Why The Hunger Games is a great book - Amalia Bollero

I recently read The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. This dystopian novel is set in the world of Panem (in what used to be North America) where there are 12 districts, each with different occupations, whether it is fishing, agriculture, etc. Katniss Everdeen, the protagonist, lives in District 12, the worst district that is overrun by poverty. Their focus is coal, and since you have to be 18 in order to work in the coal mines, Katniss and her best friend Gale take to illegal hunting in the woods. This book follows the journey that Katniss Everdeen must take as she is her district’s female tribute for their annual Hunger Games. The Hunger Games are an annual occurrence to remind the citizens of Panem that they have control over any rebellions to their society. At the end of the Hunger Games, only one tribute will be left, as the others are killed off by each other and other forces in the arena. Katniss must fight for her life in the arena in order to save herself. As the story progresses you are able to learn more about Katniss’s past, her relationships, and the secrets of the Capitol. 

Here are the 3 reasons why you should read The Hunger Games,

1. Suspense. This book does a great job of building suspense from when Katniss is in District 12, all the way until after the Hunger Games are over. In the beginning, you feel anxious to find out who will be chosen as Tributes for each District. Once Katniss is chosen in an unusual manner, you then must find out who will be the male tribute for District 12. You soon learn how the main characters are connected with one another, and how bonds must be formed in order to survive. Each chapter leaves you with a little more information about the characters, that will impact their journey together, and also jeep you wanting to learn more. You want to keep turning the pages up until the very end to find out who will win the Hunger Games. Since the entire point of the Hunger Games, is to be left with a final tribute, there is also that suspense looming over, as you must finish the book in order to find out who will be left in the end.  

2. A good balance of violence. Although the entire point of the Hunger Games is to kill off everyone else in the arena, somehow the author does a great job of toning down the gruesome and disturbing element of the plot. For several of the less important characters, there is little detail about how they died. The book also makes sure to have Katniss talk about how it doesn’t feel normal to kill people as well as honoring those who she developed a connection with once they had been killed. There are also many discussions about how horrible the concept of the Hunger Games is in the first place, which allows the reader to focus on character building and other aspects of the plot rather than how horrible it is to kill people on purpose. Katniss describes how the faces of those she killed still haunt her nightmares, which again helps remind readers that this book is not encouraging war or aggressive behavior. 

3. Female heroine. This book is a great example of strong women, as Katniss Everdeen shows everyone in Panem how strong she is. Not only is she able to think critically and make smart decisions in the arena, and she is also willing to sacrifice her life for those she loves. She is extremely skilled with a bow and arrow and also knows the difference between edible and poisonous plants. I feel like in many books when there is a strong female character they often only possess one strong skill, such as being really smart with books or being strong, but rarely are they both. Instead, the Hunger Games portrays a strong and multi-talented female protagonist who is able to withstand both physical challenges but also physiological ones. Katniss must learn who she can trust in the arena if that is even possible. Katniss Everdeen is a role model for young girls who are reading this book, as well as anyone who is inspired by strong women.