Annotated Book Log: the Hunger Games

Summary: We travel towards the future in the Post-Apocalyptic nation Panem which is the remains of the old United States of America. Our main character and heroine Katniss Everdeen lives with her younger sister Primrose and widowed mother. The nation is divided into 12 districts, a severed District 13, and a capitol which hold Panem’s tyrants. Katniss lives in District 12 known for it’s mining, and despite going to high school , Katniss and her old guy-friend Gale Hawthorne hunt illegally to supply for their families and the black market. The 74th Annual Hunger Games has approached and a male and female between the ages of 12 and 18 to participate in the Capitol’s Game in remembering the great war when all the districts defied them. To show they are still superior over them, the Capitol has placed an all-out war zone for everyone’s entertainment each year. On the day of the drawing for tributes, Effie Trinket pulls the name Primrose despite their being hundreds of names in the drawing, Katniss however sacrifices herself in her sister’s place along with Peeta Melark who was chosen to represent the guys. As they board the train to the Capitol, Katniss and Peeta meet and learn from their half-drunken mentor Haymitch Abernathy, coordinator Effie Trinket, and later.

When Katniss finally reaches the Capitol, Peeta admits an unrequitted love for during the introductory show for all the tributes. This stirs up some tension and strife making the couple “Star-Crossed Lovers”. Finally we get into the battleground where swords, knieves, and arrows are flying everwhere! Katniss hides in trees constantly, almost gets blown up, and almost burned to death. She eventually find Peeta who is disguised in Mud hiding from the other tributes since he had hurt his leg from saving Katniss from Cato(a large/muscular/big District 2 tribute). Since the whole arena is televised, Katniss keeps up her lover “act”(even though Peeta secretly loves her for real).

Katniss also allies herself with District 10, 12 year old Rue who eventually dies due to being stabbed in the torso by a male tribute from District 1(who is killed by Katniss). In the very end, everyone becomes eliminated, “Foxface coming in 4th but dying from eating poisonous berries, Cato dying from savage human-anthro mutants, while Katniss and Peeta “defy” the Capitol by being the last two survivors and threatening suicide unless they both become victors. The capitol agrees and President Corilanus Snow(President of Panem) despises her for her rebellion. Our story comes to it’s last words when Peeta and Katniss return home and Peeta learns Katniss was faking their “love” the entire which leaves him obviously hurt.

Review: I actually read this before the movie came out and everything, the book is definitely action filled and more for 13 year olds. The violent events (depnding on imagination) may scare younger kids out of their seats and too-descriptive scenes. I really loved it overall, I’m currently working on the 2nd book Catching Fire. I recommend this everyone who likes action, romance, and “futuristic” elements.