The Hunger Games

By: Håvard

The Hunger Games is a book written by Suzanne Collins where we get to read about a dystopian world. The action takes place in “Panem”, a country that rose from the ashes of North America. Panem has a very particular system. There is a government that is placed in the Capitol, and it has a strict regime they use to hold the “districts” in check. It is twelve districts, which each of them has a function to the Capitol. Each district produces something different for the Capitol. There used to be thirteen districts, but district 13 rebelled and was destroyed by their government. After this, the Capitol started The Hunger Games.

Each year, two of the children from each district is “reaped”. This means that they have to leave home and partake in a televised battle to the death with the kids from other districts. The protagonist of the book, Katniss Everdeen, volunteers for the Games when her little sisters name is pulled at the reaping in district 12. Now she and the boy from the district, Peeta Mellark, has to go to the Capitol and participate in The Hunger Games.

This book has many themes and values that teenagers can relate too. Some of them are love, friendship and the need to stand up against the authorities. When it comes to standing up to authorities, teenagers often feel that the “grown-ups” treat them unfairly and Katniss is a protagonist that stand up and fights. Love is also a big part of the story, where Peeta is in love with Katniss, but she does not answer this love. This is something many people can relate to, not just teens. The friendships Katniss forges inside the arena, especially with Rue, is something that can touch the readers as well. In addition, when she dies, it shows the reader the hardships of dealing with loss.

It is a book that can capture people’s interest and make them realize that reading books is not necessarily a boring activity.

Sources:

Collins Suzanne (2008) The Hunger Games, Scolastic Ink, Broadway, New York 

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