Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Science Fic COL

The United States no longer exists. Panem has taken its place. Panem is a country made up of the Capital and twelve districts. The districts exist to serve the Capital and the Capital makes sure the districts stay in line by reminding them each year of their failed revolution. The reminder is called the Hunger Games. Each district selects two children, a boy and a girl, to come to the capital and participate in a competition to the death, where there is only one survivor. The winning district gets some extra attention and supplies for the year. This competion is a brutal spectacle that each person in the country is required to watch on television. District Twelve is a particularly poor district and when young Prim is selected as the female combatant, her sister, Katniss steps up to take her place. Her counter-part for District Twelve is the son of a baker, Peeta, a nice boy but a partner who lacks any fighting ability. These two must journey to the Capital where they will be wined and dined, pampered and adorned, for the week leading up to the Games. Their abilities will be judged during this week and they will have the opportunity to pick up sponsors who can donate needed supplies to them during the Games. They must team up for this week but after that, the games begin and only one will survive. Make no mistake, this is a violent game that tests the boundaries of each participant's humanity. It is a powerful book.