The Hunger Games Review

Disclaimer: This is about the Hunger Games book series, not the film series. 

The Hunger Games is a series of dystopian novels written by Suzanne Collins. They are hailed as one of the most impactful novels in the 21st century. What makes it such a compelling read?  First of all, the plot itself is very inspiring. Set in the fictional world of Panem, the story is about Katniss Everdeen, a resilient young woman who is forced to compete in a brutal televised event with 24 children who fight to the death. The competition starts, and the plot starts to move fast. This pace is one of the reasons this book is as popular as it is. After you get past the first few chapters (which are as good) and get to the meat, it can be difficult to put down. The theme of sacrifice, survival and resistance really does grow on readers. Suzanne’s touch lies in the character building. Even though Katniss is the protagonist, the author explicitly shows flaws, which sometimes are improved and other times are not, making it a realistic character despite being in a very fictional world. 

It’s not a mere dystopian, well-written novel though. It critiques real world issues like media sensationalization, desensitized violence and inequality.  The idea of how elite people use their money and power to force cruel things on less fortunate people is portrayed beautifully and is really moving. In addition, Katniss’s character inspired a generation of readers, embodying the power of rebellion against injustice while maintaining empathy towards fellow humans. Overall, the Hunger Games is an extremely inspiring and thought-provoking book series that I would recommend to anyone and everyone.