New book coming to OHS library soon!

Futuristic, postapocalyptic "The Lottery" meets "The Most Dangerous Game"

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

This book for young adults has it all -- adventure, intrigue, drama, violence and yes, even romance. The reader cannot help but make comparisons as the book opens with talk of "the reaping" which brings overtones of "The Lottery" to mind. In section 12, as in all other 11 districts in a futuristic, post apocalyptic United States, children aged 12-18 must appear at a gathering where the name of a boy and a girl will be selected at random from a large ball. Upon selection, these children will be the district's tribute to the Capitol as a type of repayment for infractions and rebellion at a previous point in time. The children from each sector are taken to the Capitol and then released into an arena where they compete to the death in The Hunger Games.

Sixteen year old Katniss, a skilled hunter for her district, volunteers to take the place of her younger sister and is transported to the training center at the Capitol in luxury with a baker's son, Peeta. Both teens, along with pairs from the other 11 districts, are gathered for a week of activities that sound much like a team arrival at the Olympic Games or like young women at a Miss America beauty pageant. The events scheduled for the week preceding the games involve marketing of the game players, stylists, trainers and eliciting sponsors. Finally the week is over and Katniss and Peeta are released into the arena. What follows is the game of kill or be killed. The teenagers need food, water and shelter to survive. Only one victor is allowed; everyone else must be vanquished.
The story of Katniss' time in the arena, reminiscent of "The Most Dangerous Game" (where man is prey, hunted by other man) and sounds like scenes from "The Gladiator" is harsh and filled with terror and pain. Can she survive when it means that she must kill humans to live? Who will emerge as the winner when it means that humanity will be lost?

Fast paced and filled with suspense, this is the first book in what appears to be a new series by this author. Despite some descriptive gore and violence, this reader highly recommends THE HUNGER GAMES for high school age teens and young adults.

Book #2 Catching Fire (The Second Book of the Hunger Games) by Suzanne Collins comes out on September 1, 2009.

Mrs. C.