Hunger Games

    Since I entered library school, I kept hearing people talk about .The Hunger Games  by Suzanne Collins. This book is about a post apocalyptic society called Panem. Panem rules its twelve districts with an iron hand. Many of the people are starving. Every year Panem has an event called the Hunger Games. Each child must submit their name into a lottery. They are required to more entries into the lottery as they get older. The more times they submit their names, the more food their family gets. Okay, so at this point I am sure you are saying "So what, that doesn't sound too bad." If you win the lottery, then you are selected to participate in a fight to death tournament with twenty three other children.
     The story revolves around Katniss Everdeen. She is a girl from District 12. District 12 is a coal mining district and is one of the poorest. She volunteers for the games so that her younger sister does not have to go. Katniss is the leader of her family. She endures a lot in her life. Katniss is very natural and real. She does not want to kill. She is just a victim just like every one else in the tournament.
     This is a very well written story; however, it is incredibly graphic. It is even horrifying in parts. For parents who are concerned about their children reading violent content, I would suggest they read the book first. Katniss is a very dominant and focused young woman. She would be a good character for girls to read about. She is definitely superior than most of the girls that are on any modern T.V. show.