Catching Fire Book Review

Catching Fire
Book 2 of The Hunger Games
By Suzanne Collins
Scholastic Press
2009

Dedication: For my parents, Jane and Michael Collins, and my parents-in-law, Dixie and Charles Pryor

Target Age Group: Girls, ages 12 and up

Must Read
Good Read
Should Read

Synopsis

Would you sacrifice your life for someone you cared about? Katniss Everdeen was ready to do that in Book 1 of The Hunger Games, a barbaric sport where children ages 12 through 18 fight to the death until there is only one victor left. What Katniss did to save the life of Peeta Mellark, her fellow tribute, was viewed by the Capitol as an act of rebellion, and rebellion will not be tolerated in Panem.

But if the Capitol thought that what Katniss did was rebellious, what did the oppressed citizens of the 12 Districts of Panem think? The citizens who are forced to watch their children be slaughtered year after year for the Capitol’s entertainment?

Now, all that Katniss holds dear – her sister, her mother, her friends – have been threatened by the Capitol. They will die, unless Katniss bends to the Capitol’s cruel and unyielding will. But can she do it? And if she can, should she?

Book Review

Catching Fire is amazing and wonderful. Once again told in first person from Katniss’s perspective, the story pushes and pushes our heroine into the darkest and cruelest corners of imagination. There are no dull moments in the book. It’s probably Suzanne Collins’s finest writing to date.

All I can say is rush out and read The Hunger Games first, then get this one, and hope the 3rd book of this series will be here soon…I’m not sure I can wait much longer!

Amazon Links

Catching Fire (Book 2 of The Hunger Games) - Hardback
Catching Fire (Book 2 of the Hunger Games) - Audio CD
The Hunger Games (Book 1) - Hardback
The Hunger Games (Book 1) - Audio CD

Characters

Katniss Everdeen – Our heroine is 16 going on 17. Katniss survived the Hunger Games and now lives in the Victor’s Village in District 12. Before the Hunger Games, her primary focus was hunting and trading in order to keep her family alive. Now, she doesn’t know what she wants to do.

Peeta Mellark – Same age as Katniss, Peeta is in love with Katniss and would do anything for her. Even if she doesn’t feel the same way about him.

Gale – 2 years older than Katniss and her best friend. At least he was before the Hunger Games. He now works in the mines in order to feed his mother and brothers.

Haymitch Abernathy – A former victor of the Hunger Games, Haymitch was Katniss and Peeta’s mentor. He’s an alcoholic, unable to handle the nightmares that the Hunger Games brings.

Finnick Odair – He won the Hunger Games 10 years ago, when he was 14. His good looks have made him the envy of all girls, but no one holds his attention for too long. He is from District 4, whose primary industry is fishing.

Johanna Mason – She won the Hunger Games several years ago and is the only living female victor from District 7. She won by pretending to be a weakling, but was instead a savage killer.

Cinna – Katniss’s stylist for the Hunger Games. He will be her stylist for the upcoming Victory Tour.