The Hunger Games

I thought I'd do a book review  this time since I love books as almost as much as I love music. Since this book was really exciting, and since I was surprised I got to read it, I thought I'd do a book review for The Hunger Games, written by Suzanne Collins.

Book description: Could you survive on your own, in the wild, with every one out to make sure you don't live to see the morning?

In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. Long ago the districts waged war on the Capitol and were defeated. As part of the surrender terms, each district agreed to send one boy and one girl to appear in an annual televised event called, "The Hunger Games," a fight to the death on live TV. Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives alone with her mother and younger sister, regards it as a death sentence when she is forced to represent her district in the Games. The terrain, rules, and level of audience participation may change but one thing is constant: kill or be killed.

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Good points: I liked the book, mainly because of how exciting it was. First of all, at the beginning of the book, Katniss steps in for her younger sister, the one she cares for the most, when she is chosen. That is an amazing Christ-like example. It reminds me of the Colosseum, how innocent people will just killed for entertainment. Peeta, the boy selected to represent District 12 in the Hunger Games, is also a good example of a Christ-like character. He repeatedly risks his life to save Katniss, even though he is supposed to be killing her, and even though she is not very nice to him at all. He is also a very good example to Katniss. Though she doesn't understand at first, he tells her, concerning the cruel government. "I want to die as myself. I don't want them to change me in there. Turn me into some monster I'm not.... Only a keep wishing to show the Capitol they don't own me. That I'm more than just a piece in their game." In the end, not only Peeta proves this, but Katniss does as well.

During the Hunger Games, Katniss alleys with a young girl named Rue. Her experience with Rue shows Katniss how wrong the Hunger Games are. Rue inspires her to go against the Capitol's wrong doings.

Since her father is dead, and her mother doesn't work, Katniss risks her safety by illegally hunting in order to feed her family. Also, she protects Peeta when he is ill, risking her life again.

Concerns: They are two main concerns in this book.
1. Violence. They is a lot of violence in this book. Many people are mercilessly killed by people or other things. In the Hunger Games, a group of the tributes team up to try to kill all the others. Many characters in this book, at times, including Katniss, are very bloodthirsty. Her best friend, Gale, advises her to compare killling people to killing animals when she hunt. "How different can it be?" he asks. 'The awful thing is that if I can forget that they're people, it will be no different at all', she thinks.

2. Romance. Though the romance of Katniss and Peeta is mysterious, it gets into detail, not explicit detail, but detail. They kiss a lot. To keep warm, they sleep in their only sleeping back together. They spend a lot of time together while Katniss takes care of him while he is sick. They don't do sex, but the whole kissing thing gets a little out of hand.

Other Concerns: Though this book brings down the government who underestimates of the value of life, it underestimates the value of life while doing that. People are killed without guilt and often. Some of it is just, some of it is not.

In order to get something Peeta needs, she tricks him by giving him sleeping syrup.
'h----' is used once or twice. The word 'sexy' is also mentioned a few times.

Conclusion: As you call tell, Collins presents a violent and cruel world. Katniss had no choice but to kill. There different views when it comes to killing for your protection. Concerning me, I probably wouldn't kill because I don't think I could do it, but if my family was involved I'd try harder. It just depends how much you trust God. Killing by means of revenge, which is what Katniss is leading up to, is definitely wrong. "Vengeance is mine, says the Lord." Therefore, killing is usually wrong. Though Katniss starts out as a angry, unforgiving character, her heart is definitely softened by the end of the book. Overall, the book was good and it makes you thankful that though your government might be unfair, it is not as cruel as the government present in this book.
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars. Definitely asks your parents' permission before reading.