The Hunger Games Trilogy Boxed Set
For the record, this isn't a series for everyone. You will be drained emotionally by its end. The Hunger Games is one of the grimmest dystopian worlds I've encountered in literature. A lot of characters die, and their deaths aren't pleasant. This series may not be for you. Then again, those who know me well would say it's not for me, either. I'm one of the most squeamish people you'll meet, and The Hunger Games more closesly resembles the movie Battle Royale than I thought it would when I started reading. I really enjoyed the series, though. There are scenes so poignant, they'll stick with me. Between this and Stieg Larsson's Millennium Trilogy, I've found that even squeamish ole me can still enjoy a disturbing book if it's thought-provoking and well-written.
Now that I've warned you about the contents, let's move on to the meat of this review. It's hard to go in-depth without giving a lot away, so I decided to focus on the trilogy as a whole instead of singling out Mockingjay and reviewing it on its own (though I do have a paragraph dedicated to it further down). A brief synopsis for the uninitiated:
The trilogy takes place in the future. The USA has been destroyed; in its place is Panem, which consists of thirteen districts and a Capitol city. Before the series begins, the districts revolt against the Capitol and are defeated; the thirteenth is completely obliterated. As retribution for their crimes, each district is now required to send a boy and girl, called tributes, to participate in the annual Hunger Games. The games are centered around survival; there can only be one winner (Luckily, most of the deaths occur off-page, so it makes it easier for the squeamish to read). The characters are very rich and detailed; some of their deaths hit incredibly hard and are forever memorable. In the second book, Catching Fire, there is a lot of unease in the districts, and a lot of anger when the year's Hunger Games take a twisted turn and past winners are forced to battle it out for survival. The final book, Mockingjay, consists of a full out rebellion; the districts are at war with the Capitol and it's do or die in a showdown so explosive, readers never see it coming.
Review
Praise for The Hunger Games series
#1 USA Today Bestseller
#1 New York Times Bestseller
#1 Wall Street Journal Bestseller
#1 Publishers Weekly Bestseller
A People magazine (Top 10) Best Book of 2009
A Time Magazine Best Fiction Book of 2009
A Best Book of 2009
A Kirkus Best Book of 2009
A 2009 BooklistEditors' Choice
"Whereas Katniss kills with finesse, Collins writes with raw power." —Time Magazine
"Collins has joined J. K. Rowling and Stephenie Meyer as a writer of children's books that adults are eager to read." —Bloomberg.com
"Perfect pacing and electrifying world-building." —Booklist, starred review
"A humdinger of a cliffhanger will leave readers clamoring for volume three." —Kirkus Reviews, starred review
"Forget Edward and Jacob... readers will be picking sides—Peeta or Gale?" —Publishers Weekly, starred review
"Leaves enough questions tantalizingly unanswered for readers to be desperate for the next installment." —School Library Journal, starred review
About the Author
Suzanne Collins is the author of the bestselling Underland Chronicles series, which started with Gregor the Overlander. In The Hunger Games trilogy, Suznne continues to explore the effects of war and violence on those coming of age. Suzanne lives with her family in Connecticut.
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