The Hunger Games Trilogy

Suzanne Collins' engaging narrative, while not entirely original, has garnered millions of fans across the globe, proving that The Hunger Games Trilogy has something for adults and children alike. On a superficial level, this trilogy boasts an engaging and blood-pumping plot, a courageous and independent protagonist, a futuristic alternative world and a both heart-breaking and heart-warming love story. However, on a deeper level, Collins presents the reader with an opportunity to question the human morality of this alternate universe, where people watch a 'gameshow' where young children fight each other to the death in a secured arena. Using her dystopian society, which features a geographic class system, Collins poses important questions about humanity's tendency to become selectively outraged by moral issues. The protagonist, Katniss Everdeen, is the heroine of the story, characterized as a brave, fearless, strong and selfless young woman who inspires a rebellion across the broken and divided country of Panem. Despite instances of clunky writing, Collins excels at writing emotional scenes, cleverly drawing parallels between the brutal slaughter of the 'Hunger Games' and the gluttony of other citizens.   While the second and third books of this series have been heavily criticized, it is the first novel, The Hunger Games, that has brought this series to its startling popularity. The narrative voice and steady pacing of the novel completely draws the reader into the world of Katniss, allowing them to be immersed in her struggles and her victories. Some of the imagery can be quite graphic, especially considering that most of the series is comprised of children killing each other in brutal and horrific ways. Nevetheless, if you can stomach the violence, you'll find that Collins' story of violence, love, corruption and bravery is one of the most powerful fantasy series in recent years.