This is a really powerful science-fiction story set in the future. Think of the United States of America as no longer existing. What remains is a land of twelve districts run by the capitol. Every year the authorities choose two young people between the ages of 12 and 18 from each district to compete in the Hunger Games. It's a reality show that everyone in the land watches on television, and it is a fight to the death. These kids are set against one another. Every night an image of anyone killed in the fighting that day is beamed up against the sky for all to see. When her younger sister's name is picked, Katniss Everdeen steps forward and volunteers in her place. She and a young man from her district will face the ferocity of the others. Quite riveting!
384 pages Ages 12 and up
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n the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. Long ago the districts waged war on the Capitol and were defeated. As part of the surrender terms, each district agreed to send one boy and one girl to appear in an annual televised event called, "The Hunger Games," a fight to the death on live TV.
Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives alone with her mother and younger sister, regards it as a death sentence when she is forced to represent her district in the Games. The terrain, rules, and level of audience participation may change but one thing is constant: kill or be killed.---from the publisher
384 pages 978-0439023528 Ages 12 and up
