Reviews with content warning for Child death - The Hunger Games

Reviews tagging 'Child death'

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

843 reviews

noodle_95's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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natashalg's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

I was on the edge of my seat throughout the entire story! I cannot get over how messed up the premise of this book is. It highlights the gruesome details of a government drunk on power by having children kill each other for sport, and it chills me to the bone. While the plot/world was excellent, towards the end of the book, I started disliking the main character. I understand her main thought was survival, but her lack of care for others/disregard how her actions might affect those around her bothered me.

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peter_wormtail's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional inspiring tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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uselesspirateraven's review against another edition

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dark emotional inspiring sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

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robotnik's review against another edition

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dark emotional tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Oh, The Hunger Games. There isn't a lot I can say about the Hunger Games that hasn't been said before. Unlike a lot of young adult novels that have come out in recent years, THG deserves its hype. It's not a perfect read, and it definitely has it flaws. However, unlike a lot of books, it has just as many, if not more, strengths to more than make up for it.

The plot moves at a good clip, never really dragging or moving so fast, you don't know what's going on. Normally, I'm not much of a fan of present tense stories, but this one does it well. It adds to the urgency of the Games as you follow Katniss through them rather than take you out of the story.

Katniss is a strong protagonist and a good central character to build a story around. She has a personality that stands out without it flexing randomly to fit her situation that she's in (like many other YA protags, who seem to develop random traits to get through whatever sticky situations they happen to land themselves even if it makes no sense). Katniss is flawed - actually flawed, so not in the typical "oh noes I'm clumsy" and occasionally trips over her own feet but only so the love interest can catch her and they stare lovingly into each other's eyes - and these flaws can and do land her in hot water. She develops and changes as a person as the story progresses. Yes, she has her moments where you probably want to punch her in the face, but she's also a sixteen year old girl tossed into a life threatening situation for the entertainment of others, so, yeah, she's going to make foolish decisions and have hateful those. I also enjoy how she's as charismatic as a wet blanket and need others to help her with that.

Peeta and Gale function as actual characters as oppose to satellite love interests. Sure, Peeta does a lot for his love for Katniss, but that's not his entire character. He's a person beyond that. And, Gale, well Gale's just sort of there for this book since he doesn't go to the Games with Katniss, but the little we do see of him still fleshes him out as a person.

The rest of the supporting cast is also fully realized that we get a good idea of them, no matter how minor they are. Normally, these are the people who are forgotten in a book, but they're made real enough that they feel like more than just a backdrop to Katniss' journey.

Like I said, I don't feel THG is a perfect read, but it's one of the closest YA novels in recent years to get to it. It's worth at least one read in your lifetime, just to see if it's your cup of tea. If the first book isn't, then it isn't, but if it is, you're in for a good story.

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