Katniss Everdeen, a teenager from the poverty-stricken District 12 is chosen, along with Peeta Mellark, to compete in the 74th Hunger Games. These annual games are organised to quell future rebellions by forcing 24 children, two from each of the twelve districts, to fight until a lone victor remains. That person gains celebrity status, bringing decadence to their district that usually only the upper class and out-of-touch Capitol enjoys.
Suzanne Collins’ tale is non-stop. The writing balanced perfectly with description, action and character development. While the first half of the second in the trilogy, Catching Fire, does drag, the second half makes up for it, throttling readers with its ferocity and prepping them for the emotional onslaught that is Mockingjay.
What elevates The Hunger Games from other stories is that Katniss, played by a hardened Jennifer Lawrence in the film, is a complex female character. There is a love triangle, though this is not what defines her. She is flawed, often making the wrong choices, and she feels the effects that her actions have on the dystopian world of Panem.
Every death, whether caused directly or indirectly by her, holds weight. And when she is finally overcome, we see something so rarely attempted in any medium – a mental breakdown. Katniss feels real. You might not always agree with her choices, but you know her reasons.
The other major characters are also flawed and realistic. Peeta, a fellow tribute, must face his probable death. Their mentor Haymitch deals with alcoholism after becoming a victor. And Gale is made to watch as his best friend gets tormented.
There is a reason that The Hunger Games is catching fire. It trusts teenagers. It delves into themes rarely seen in teen fiction; from isolation to deprivation, from governmental control to alcoholism and drug-abuse, from rebellion to politics and war.
The fluid writing style enshrines these themes, presenting them as simply as possible without dilution. Deaths are described in excruciating detail that on several occasions left me (and Katniss) feeling rather sick.
The Hunger Games is a dark story that pushes boundaries. It offers hope in the darkness and mars success with dire reality. The novels and the first film exceed on multiple levels. They are addictive, faultlessly plotted, well acted and directed, and show harsh parallels to our life. Its status as a phenomenon is truly deserved.