The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins reviewed by Alejo Lujan

Suzanne Collins' The Hunger Games, is a spectacular book that will take interests of many people. It is the first of an interesting and adventurous trilogy. This book has a quality of an action pack thriller with an excited teen romance novel. The main character of this novel is Katniss Everdeen. Coming from district twelve and expected to return home after a promise to her mother and younger sister, she fights to stay alive in the games with cleverness and hunting skills. She is face with certain death with the capitol closely watching her exact movement. The Capitol is a dictating and cruel government enslaving the 12 districts. Their punishment for the rebellion is having children slaughter each other.

The games are traditional to district residents. Every year two tributes of the opposite sex are chosen to participate. They will compete for their lives against a total 24 opponents. Only one will succeed and return with a prize of wealth and fame to their districts. Katniss Everdeen replaces her younger sister Prim from facing her death. She is accompanied with allies she has made and finds unusual emotions for fellow tributes and love ones.

Katniss is a beautiful, smart, and skilled girl with respectful morals. Her attitude is focused on the safety of herself, friends and the survival of her family. She has magnificent hunting skills and precise with her bow and arrow. She hunts with her best friend Gale in the woods entertaining each other with secrets and new skills to learn. The vibe between them is as if they are one. The natural connection to be with each other is powerful. Unfortunately she must attend to the games and leave love ones behind with Peeta, her fellow tribute, to try to survive. With the two relying on one another for protection to deceive the capitol slowly evolves into a romance. Katniss is faced with a difficult task with mixed emotions for two loves. I recommend this book for its variety of genres and attracting to mystery, romance, and thrill lovers. This book truly lives up to its reputation of rich quality and inspiration to readers.

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins reviewed by Alejo Lujan

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins, the second book of The Hunger Games trilogy, has awed me. This book really puts you on edge and keeps you on your toes for twists. It brings a whole new excitement and mystery.  It has more detailed emotions between her two loves, her family, and the capitol. She has won the games along with Peeta cleverly and carefully. She is back home but with Peeta ignoring her. Emotions became a stir when Katniss revealed the truth. With the capitol outraged about her rebellious performance, she has sparked the thought of a rebellion in the districts. She tries to extinguish the fired districts. She yet again faces a new worry.

            After returning home, things around district were not the same except for the poverty and misery. She has time to relax and erase the thought of the games and its horror. Reunited with her family and friends, she chooses to keep valued things and once more goes out to hunt. Gale has less time to spend with her. He works in the mines, Peeta returns to baking. Her vacation will be over soon when she leaves to tour the districts. The tributes must give a speech and a banquet is held for each district.  Heat begins to rise during the tour, When they return home, there is a new surprise waiting. Katniss’ senses tell her it will not be good.

            Peeta and Katniss continue to deceive when they must return to the hunger games for the Quarter Quarll. This Quarll is the 75^th anniversary of the games. It happens every 25 years.

Their mentor, Haymitch, was the winner of The 50 anniversary Quarll. This Quarll will have 24 tributes that were winners of the past games compete once more. It is one of the capitols sick and cruel ideas. They are devastated that they have to leave their lives and families once more.

Peeta and Katniss occupy an alliance with tributes from other districts. They stink together in the games and help figure ways to escape death traps. Survival is key in their mindset. The tribute’s intention is to kill of enemies. Katniss’ is trying hard to keep Peeta alive. She is returning the favor from the last games. All goes well until she takes her eyes off him.