The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

I am not one for writing reviews, because I think I am horrible at them. I cannot seem to properly express how I feel about a book . I am afraid that I am doing a terrible injustice when I try to channel my emotions and put them into words.

Yet, I will try this time and see how things go. I am doing this because I think that this book is amazing and even though it has been weeks since I finished it...I am still thinking about it. Because of that fact I think that it merits some words of praise on my behalf. So here goes.

I believe that this book should have a disclaimer: "Warning: This book is not for the weak of heart."

The premise for this book is based on a dystopian society set in the lands that were once the United States. The author cleverly avoids the questions of how and why things have changed, and one does not ponder this fact because this story engages you from the very first page. It pulls you in and makes you gasp for breath, it makes you cry and it really makes you think. How far would you really go to survive?

16-year-old Katniss lives in District 12 of Panem and volunteers to represent her district in place of her younger sister, in the Hunger Games, a televised reality show where two representatives from the 12 districts, ages 12-18, fight to the death. These games were the surrender terms that were set by capitol when the districts were defeated after waging a war on them. BRUTAL!

For being targeted at a YA audience, this book is surprisingly brutal, but in a good way. There is violence, murder, betrayal, and everything else inherent in a gladiatorial fight to the death. That said, "The Hunger Games" was absolutely riveting. Collins does not pull any punches in saving beloved characters from horror and pain, and she also occasionally pulls the rug out from under your feet. Plus, there is a twisting romance that pulls your heart in different directions. In true series preparation the ending ends on a cliffhanger, making me yearn for book number two, and you know this will lead to something big for Katniss does something that would never go unpunished in her world. There will definitely be repercussions...

This book is just amazing, plain and simple. Read it.

Win a copy of Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

I found this blurb on my friend Christine's blog and it intriged me to go and check out Cheryl Rainfield's blog and read her review of this amazing book. I was instantly hooked and new that I had to get my hands on it soon.

I love to read YA books. At first, I would read them to screen them out for my godchild whom is 13. Now, I think I read them for myself as much as for her. LOL!

I went to the author's site and here is the book blurb that she has posted:

Katniss is a 16-year-old girl living with her mother and younger sister in the poorest district of Panem, the remains of what used be the United States. 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." The terrain, rules, and level of audience participation may change but one thing is constant: kill or be killed. When her sister is chosen by lottery, Katniss steps up to go in her place.

WOW!!! now tell me how could you not want to read this book. If your interested in entering the contest just go to her website and comment on her blog and you'll be entered to win. If you decided to post it on your blog than that will get you another entry. Good Luck...LET THE GAMES BEGIN...