'The Hunger Games (Trilogy)' by Suzanne Collins

The Hunger Games (Trilogy), Suzanne Collins (4)

The main subject of this book/trilogy is very dark.  It is combination of ‘Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome’, ‘Lord of the Flies’, and ‘The Golden Compass’.  In a post-apocalyptic world, citizens are kept in check by a diabolical game.  Every year each of the 12 districts has to send 2 candidates between ages 12-18, chosen from a lottery, to the Hunger Games.  They will be put in an arena, which is similar to a contrived ‘Survivor’ type of environment.  The difference is that they have to kill each other until only one is standing, the victor.  This is all done while the nation watches on TV.  While all of this is quite abhorrent, Suzanne does an amazing job of focusing on the characters and making you care about them.  The main character is a strong teenager that reminded me of Lyra in ‘The Golden Compass’; strong, talented but with a soft side.  The first book is the best, with its new ideas and clever surprises.  The second and third books add twists to keep the main plot moving: how can the oppressed fight against the establishment and not become said establishment.  If the story was not sold as Young Adult, all 3 books may have been made into one book.  They are quick, exciting reads that will keep you thinking about the characters and circumstances for some time.