(Written April 3rd, 2024) 

By now, you’ve probably heard of the Hunger Games. If you haven’t heard about the Hunger Games, where have you been the last 16 years?? The Hunger Games is a series of YA novels written by Suzanne Collins, the first book being published in 2008. What are the books about? Well, today we’re mainly going to be focusing on the first book/film. I have yet to read the book but I recently checked it out after watching the film yesterday. According to QEDastioria, “In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. 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,’ a fight to the death on live TV. Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives alone with her mother and younger sister, regards it as a death sentence when she is forced to represent her district in the Games. The terrain, rules, and level of audience participation may change but one thing is constant: kill or be killed.” One thing they got wrong was the fact that Katniss was “forced” to participate. She wasn’t forced, she volunteered in the place of her sister, Prim. Anyway, the movie is fast-paced, action-packed, and absolutely compelling. I’ve got to say, while watching the movie when I say I went through the five stages of grief all at once each second of the movie, I mean it. Definitely not suitable for people on the younger side, but if you’re 13 and over, you’re all good. The characters were very well cast (in my opinion), with Jennifer Laurence as Katniss Everdeen, and Josh Hutcherson (yes, him) as Peeta Mellark. It has action, emotion, suspense, romance, grief, and victory, all wrapped up in a dystopian and futuristic film. All Hunger Games movies are available on Netflix (excluding the Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes) and all movies are available to rent on Prime Video, Apple TV, and YouTube. As for the book, I’ve heard great things about it as well and if the movie is great, the book has to be even better. Overall, I totally recommend reading the Hunger Games books and watching the films (in that order). I will tell you, The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, isn’t really about Katniss, but about one of her predecessors, Lucy Gray Baird. In my opinion, the whole franchise seems pretty interesting, don’t you? Who knows, you might love it or you might hate it, but you’ll never know if you don’t try. I’m glad I could help to broaden your horizons. Now go out and continue your ever-expanding journey of literature and film!