Review of The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

If you're looking for a book that is full of action and adventure, and with a love triangle subplot, then I highly recommend reading this superb young adult fiction book by Suzanne Collins. The Hunger Games is one of the best "teen" ficition books I've ever read. I'd rank it right up there with Stephenie Meyer's Twilight novel.

The second book in the Hunger Games series, Catching Fire, was released in 2009, and the third book, called Mockingjay, will be released in late 2010.

Hunger Games movie will be coming out in 2011. Lionsgate has acquired the rights to make the movie based on this awesome book. A cast has not yet been announced.

This teen fiction book is set in a world where North America is known as Panem. Panem is divided into 12 Districts (a 13th district was obliterated during a rebellion) governed by the Capitol. The Capitol keeps the citizens of Panem in line by threatening devastation, starvation and brutality. As such, each year the Capitol holds a televised "game show" in which two teens from each district must fight to the death.

Every year each district holds a lottery called the Reaping to choose one girl and one boy between the ages of 12 and 18 to compete in the games. The winner - and there can only be one - is awarded with a life of ease.

The main character and heroine in this teen fiction book is Katniss Everdeen. Katniss is a 16-year-old girl who lives with her mother and younger sister, Prim, in District 12. District 12, which used to be Appalachia, is a poor mining community called the Seam. Katniss provides food for her family by hunting in a forbidden area with her friend, Gale, an 18-year-old boy who also lives in the Seam, and with whom she has a small crush on.

When the Reaping is held, Katniss's little sister, Prim, is called to compete. However, Katniss volunteers to take her sister's place. The other contestant called to compete for the Seam is a 16-year-old boy named Peeta.

Katniss and Peeta, and all the other contestants from the other districts, are taken to the Capitol to be groomed and pampered for the upcoming games. During this time Katniss grows fond of Peeta, and later discovers that Peeta has had a crush on her for some time. Which leaves Katniss with a dilemma because she also has feelings for her friend, Gale.

Katniss and Peeta, along with the other contestants, are thrown into a remote environmentally controlled wooded area called the "arena". Cameras are hidden everywhere so that the citizens of Panem can watch the games. Katniss and Peeta are separated, and she later sees Peeta with a group of other contestants. Has he betrayed her? Will she be able to kill him if they are the last two contestants to survive?

Get ready for an adventure you won't soon forget! What will happen when they are confronted by giant wasps, and even mutant werewolves? How will Katniss or even Peeta survive being hunted by the other stronger and more skillful contestants?

In this adventure-packed adult fiction novel, you're always left wondering what's going to happen next, which makes putting the book down almost impossible. This is a thrilling, fast-paced adventure that is brilliantly plotted and with just enough romance to keep it interesting. But when you get to the end, don't expect any resolutions, as this is the first book in a trilogy.