The Hunger Games, by Suzan Collins, intrigued me since the moment I saw it in a local Borders. As I read the introduction of the book, I was prompted to buy and enjoy this exciting novel.

The story begins in the distant future, where Panem, a new country, rises from the ruins of North America. Here, the capitol continually controls everything the people do, and if something violent or rebellious leaks out, the capitol makes it illegal and punishes those who disobey.

The Hunger Games is a long-lasting death tournament, where twelve kids ranging from 12 to 18 come from each of the 12 districts of Panem compete in a neutral area. The game is played so that the public will see the consequences of a rebellion against the government.

When the audience becomes bored or uninterested in the game, the capitol changes the circumstances by adding fire or animals to lure the competitors together.

After the death of her father in a coal mining accident, main character Katniss Everdeen desperately tries to provide for her mother and younger sister. Katniss has followed her father several times to illegally hunt to sell or trade for food, and has some understanding how to survive in the harsh atmosphere of Panem.

Katniss is soon picked to be the female player for district 12 in the Hunger Games. Her day gets worse, as they also call Peeta Mellark, a boy who offered her bread when she had lost all hope.

They both travel to the capitol to prepare for the game. Everyone is shocked when Katniss arrives in a gorgeous fiery outfit. This is a surprise, because everyone who competes from the 12th district is a low-class boy or girl who has no potential to win.

A couple of days later, the competitions begin and the 24 contestants end up in a rustic area surrounded by grasslands and a nearby stream. Beside the landscape, a barren field holds the materials they are given to help them survive.

The rest of the novel tells each competitor’s desperation and desire to win the games, as each player becomes faced with problem after problem varying from starvation to betrayal.

Because Katniss is now in the tournament, she is faced with killing and getting home, or losing and leaving her loved ones behind. Katniss knows that killing is wrong, so she is devastated when she ‘must’ kill the 23 other contestants, lest she be killed first.

Katniss’ inner conflict ? whether to compete or rebel against the capitol ? causes her to constantly question her own motives. Though she continually has doubts about the tournament and her existence as a player, her conscience as no firm foundation. She simply plays the game.

Collins writes The Hunger Games in such a descriptive way that as I read the story I vividly imagined every scene and emotion that Katniss experiences. Especially at the end of each chapter, Collins left me in suspense. Collins also writes the novel in small but powerful prose, so readers easily understand and imagine.

Written through Katniss’ eyes, the book allows readers to see every thought and conflict in her head. Her emotions are always expanding; Collins created a character that constantly grew throughout her trials.

Though parts of the novel seem cheesy, the story flows along (excepting the very end, which ends on a frustrating cliffhanger). The next book will hopefully answer some questions.

Every page of The Hunger Games was suspenseful; when I finished the last chapter, I instantly wanted to dive into the sequel, Catching Fire, which comes out this September.

For those who enjoy young adult novels filled with action and a bit of romance, this novel is specifically rewarding. For more book reviews, check out Ashley Ward’s article, Redeeming Love transforms prostitute.