Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Title: Hunger Games
Author: Suzanne Collins
Genre: YA, Sci-Fi/Dystopia, Fantasy, Romance
Publish Date: September 14, 2008

Summary: The Hunger Games takes place in an unidentified future time period after the destruction of North America, in a nation known as Panem. Panem consists of a wealthy Capitol and twelve surrounding, poorer districts. District 12, where the book begins, is located in the coal-rich region that was formerly Appalachia.[7]
As punishment for a previous rebellion against the Capitol, every year one boy and one girl between the ages of 12 and 18 from each district are selected at random and forced to participate in the Hunger Games, a televised event in which the participants, or "tributes", must fight to the death in a dangerous outdoor arena until only one remains. The story follows fatherless 16-year-old Katniss Everdeen, a girl from District 12 who volunteers for the 74th Games in place of her younger sister, Primrose. Also participating from District 12 is Peeta Mellark, a boy whom Katniss knows from school and who once gave her bread when her family was starving.
Katniss and Peeta are taken to the Capitol, where they meet the other tributes and are publicly displayed to the Capitol audience. During this time, Peeta reveals on-air his long-time unrequited love for Katniss. Katniss believes this to be a ploy to gain audience support for the Games, which can be crucial for survival, as audience members are permitted to send gifts to favored tributes during the Games. The Games begin with eleven of the 24 tributes dying in the first day, while Katniss relies on her well-practiced hunting and outdoor skills to survive. As the games continue, the tribute death toll increases, but both Katniss and Peeta are able to evade death.
Supposedly due to Katniss and Peeta's beloved image in the minds of the audience as "star-crossed lovers", a rule change is announced midway through the games, stating that two tributes from the same district can win the Hunger Games as a pair. Upon hearing this, Katniss searches for Peeta and finds him wounded. She nurses him back to health and acts the part of a young girl falling in love to gain more favor with the audience and, consequently, gifts from her sponsors. When the couple are finally the last two tributes, the Gamemakers suddenly reverse the rule change and try to force them into a dramatic finale where one must kill the other to win.

Review: Suzanne Collins novel, The Hunger Games, is a fantastic read and grips you from the beginning. I did not want to put this down for a second! When Katniss takes the place of her younger sister, Prim (who is 12 to Katniss 16) she and Peeta take place in the annual Hunger Games. The republic of Panem (formally the United States of America) has 12 districts (once 13 but in the uprising district 13 was destroyed, thus forming The Hunger Games). Everyone in Panem is required to watch The Hunger Games on television as it plays out, reminding everyone once again that the Capital is in charge.
Peeta and Katniss start their training with their successor, Haymitch (who won the Hunger Games many years ago and has since become a drunk). Haymitch plots the "star crossed lovers" theme to the duo and wants them to play the part. To Katniss this is a no brainer but for Peeta, he's taking it seriously and is seriously in love with her. Katniss thinks it's an act... right? We'll see as the story plays out.
One by one the tributes die or are murdered. One in particular dies and I actually cried (Rue). Katniss provided her a solid burial and made sure the capital saw it take place. Again, I cried.
Between mutations, tracker jackers and the mockingjays the story is VERY well written and stays with you days/weeks/months after reading it.
Lionsgate has picked up the rights to this and will become a movie releasing on March 23, 2012. You can guarantee I'll be there for the midnight viewing!!

This is not a trailer for the movie but fan made and very well done. Please enjoy! The scene that takes place is right after Katniss destroyed the cornucopia and went searching for Rue.

Another fanmade trailer featuring the actual tributes (well done!):