The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, 374 pages

I put off reading this book, and I am not sure I would have read it if I hadn't heard it was coming out as a movie. Also, not to mention, it was a book everyone was talking about. Like most parents, when I heard it was about kids killing each other until there was one survivor, I did not want to read this book.  It was nothing I was interested in, but I have a young son whose classmates were reading it and thought if he was going to read it, I should read it first.  For the price of $6.79 this book was well worth the money.  Although the book was not as graphically violent as I thought it would be, it had violence in it that could give a preteen nightmares.  Katniss is a strong role model who takes care of her family and who since her father's death, is a survivor and a fighter.  The friendship between Peeta and Katniss that starts to look like young love makes me want to read the next two books to see if it is about the Hunger Games or the relationship between the survivors of District 12.  Suzanne Collins has cleverly written a book to appeal to both adults, young and old, and preteens and teens.  I am glad I read this book as it also reminded me of an adult trilogy I recently read the first book of, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.  Hats off to the strong female heroine.  We have someone to cheer for.  My money is on Katniss all the way.