Marissa

//The Hunger Games //  By Suzanne Collins

** About the Book: **

 * Published September 18th, 2008
 * Takes Place in a futuristic North America known as Panem
 * The citizens live in a district from District 1 through District 12
 * "The Hunger Games" are a tradition that the districts have been taking part in for the past 74 years. These games occur every year, one boy and one girl are chosen from each district to represent their district. The chosen kids are thrown into an arena and fight to try and be the last one alive.
 * The //Hunger Games// won Indies Choice-Best Young Adult Buzz Book in 2008
 * The //Hunger Games// was 2009 Children's Choice Book Award Teen Choice Book of the Year finalist

** About the Author: **

 * Suzanne Collins was born August 10, 1962 in Hartford Conneticut
 * She attended the Alabama School of Fine Arts for high school
 * Attended Indiana University for college with a double major in drama and telecommunications
 * Collins spent most of the 90's writing children's shows for Nickelodeon such as: //Clarissa Explains It All// (1993), and //The Mystery Files of Shelby Woo// (1997-1998)
 * Along with //The Hunger Games// all five books from Collins series, //The Underland Chronicle Series// became New York Times Bestsellers

[[image:http://mockingjay.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Suzanne+Collins+Premiere+Lionsgate+Hunger+SxDfj4lGyvPl.jpg?9d7bd4]]
= = = Interview with Suzanne Collins =

** Characters and Conflict: **
The Hunger Games starts off with the reaping in district twelve. The reaping is where everybody in the districts dresses nice gathers around in the center of the district and waits for the Capitol representatives to pick two names one boy and one girl. The Capitol is similar to the government of all 12 districts, they run everything and tell the people what to do including the running of “The Hunger Games”. Katniss Everdeen older sister to Prim Everdeen, volunteers to be the female representative for District 12 alongside the male representative, Peeta Mellark. Peeta and Katniss are torn apart from their families and sent to the capital to prepare and train for the games. Peeta and Katniss have an unforgettable entrance thanks to the help of their costume designer Cinna and have won the crowd from the start of the games. The main goal of Peeta and Katniss is to stay away from the careers, which are the group of kids that are predicted to win the games and have been training their entire lives. In order to stay away from the careers and win over the crowd, Katniss and Peeta play off a star crossed love story. Although they are not in love, the two must put on a very convincing act to stay alive in the arena and hopefully come out together.

Collins choice of a unique plot and setting in //The Hunger Games// forces her to have a unique sense of style. Throughout the book it is constantly switching with the dialogue, reality, and television. The kids in "The Hunger Games" are televised which sometimes forces them to act differently to make sure sponsors want to watch them. Katniss quickly learns how to get sponsors, "But because two can play at this game, I stand up on tiptoe and kiss his cheek. Right on his bruise"' (Collins, 124). Katniss Everdeen, the main protagonist in //The Hunger Games// says this while she is being televised in order to get sponsors. Having this switch of the characters actual thoughts and what they are being "forced" to do can sometimes be a change for the reader to experience. Peeta whom is supposedly in love with Katniss also knows how to receive sponors. "If he's telling the truth, He also may be faking his affection for her to gain sympathy from sponsors" (Blasingame, James). Throughout the whole book, especially when the games are taking place Collins uses her unique switch of characters actual thoughts, to what they are being forced to do on the television, to keep the readers thinking and set her book stylistically apart from similar novels.
 * Style Analysis: **

Collins also incorporates strong imagery and suspense in the novel to help the reader become connected to specific characters and follow their story throughout the novel. "It's a credit to Collin's skill at characterization that Katniss, like a new Theseur, is cold, calculating and still likable" (Turner, Megan Whalen). Collins creates a specific hardshell character for Katniss, not like most female characters but it does make readers interested in her throughout the story. Katniss is resistent to having a romance with Peeta on camera but when she finally accepts the idea, Collins does not make any understatements to what is taking place. “I can feel Peeta press his forehead into my temple and he asks, 'So now that you've got me, what are you going to do with me?' I turn into him. 'Put you somewhere you can't get hurt” (Collins, 164). Collins uses her strong sense of imagery especially focusing on the romance between Katniss and Peeta in order to get the readers connected with her excellent stylistically written novel.

** Theme: **
Although one may think that he/she has no control or power in certain situations, putting your mind to the test can create circumstances one may have never thought were possible.

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"//The Hunger Games// the first book in the New York Times bestselling series of adventure and romance. //The Hunger Games// has an unusual plot, the characters take part in a set of games known as “The Hunger Games”. This book is appropriate for all ages and can be enjoyed by boy and girls unlike most romance novels. //The Hunger Games// will keep you on your toes throughout the whole book and you will never want to put it down. Suzanne Collins throws in several unexpected turns making the reading always yearn for more! You will not be disappointed if you read the Suzanne Collins plot twisting novel //The Hunger Games//." -Marissa Carranza=====


 * Works Cited: **

Blasingame, James. “The Hunger Games.” Rev. of The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins. Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy 52.8 (2009): Literature

Resource Center. Web. 25 Apr. 2012. .

Collins, Suzanne. The Hunger Games. New York: Scholastic Press, 2008. Print.

“Myth Mates with reality TV” Rev. of The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins. Paste Magazine. Pastemagazine.com. 12 Oct. 2007. Web. 27 March. 2012.

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Turner, Megan Whalen.“The Hunger Games.” Rev. of The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins. Publishers Weekly 3 Nov. 2008: 58. Literature Resource Center.

Web. 25 Apr. 2012. .