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A review by robotnik
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
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.
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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death