Chapter 1 of The Hunger Games - Love, Death, Competition, and Challenges.

Suzanne Collins

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Review by Kim and Raymond

   Hi! Welcome to Kim and Raymond's blog collaboration. (Hence, the RK in RK books.) Before we go ahead and begin, we'd like to inform you that this is a joint project, so there will be more than one voice in this blog. (: Also, this is about the entire first chapter, so if you haven't read it yet, you're bound to run into some spoilers. We don't want to ruin this for you since it's just so amazing, so we advise you to read this after you have read Chapter 1 and want a review of it in general. 

  

   Love, death, competition, and a hideous cat named Buttercup? This first chapter is a thrilling start to Suzanne Collins's The Hunger Games.

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Jacket Cover Design by Tim O'Brien

    The heart-stopping novel, first of a series, begins with the main character, Katniss Everdeen.  She is a 16 year-old girl portrayed as an emotionally tough provider for her family.  With her father gone in a mine explosion, her mother and her little sister are all she has left.  (Not including Prim's ghastly cat, Buttercup, which Katniss tried to drown in a bucket of water.)  She became the head of the family when she was just 11 years old, and her sister, Primrose, was just 7. Can you even imagine the responsibility and weight that was suddenly hefted onto her entire being?

   They live in a place that replaced the title of "North America" with "Panem." Panem was originally divided into 13 districts, but when the 13th District rebelled (the first ever rebellion), Panem and its Capitol destroyed it! Because of that, to remind everyone that rebelling is not the brightest option, the Hunger Games were created and only 12 remain. The 12th District is by far worse off than all the others, and this is the district that Katniss and her loved ones live in. 12 seems to be a pretty big number in this chapter, because we discover that Prim is only 12 years old! With her being so young, Katniss tries to protect her from all things possible.... Especially the Hunger Games.

The Hunger Games Scene
by damnskippy @ deviantart.com

  The Hunger Games is the day of the reaping, where Panem's Capitol sends Effie Trinket (a bubbly messenger of death) to collect tributes from 12 districts. Each district must sacrifice a boy and a girl, totaling to 24 kids that will risk their lives in an enormous arena. It's a matter of life and death for these kids that are only in their teens! Even though we're about the same ages as them, it's terrifying to think about what they are going to go through. Out of those 24 tributes, only one will be victorious. The others will die, and the victor will gain fame and glory and allow their district to be showered in prizes. Something ironic about the games is that everyone dresses up for when the names are announced like it's some big festival! Sure, it's called the Hunger Games, but it sounds sadistic to me (Kim). The contest is even broadcasted on national television and pretty much everybody watches! Nothing like a little more pressure to really keep you motivated and wanting to stay alive, right? Now, you guys tell me; Truthfully, is it really worth it? What would you do if you were picked to be a tribute? Why?


   Well, someone did get picked that we know pretty well in the story. Prim! (This part sent chills down our spines since we both have siblings.) Prim didn't know what do do when she was chosen to be the female tribute for District 12. Thankfully, Katniss took her place with great courage and valiance. This was uncommon in District 12, where the economy was bad and living conditions were poor. Nobody ever volunteered to take place of a tribute, because participating in the games usually meant certain death. In other prospering districts, though, like District 1 where the Capitol and its people reside, people eagerly volunteer to take place to show off their valor and gain fame. I (Kim) thought that this is just full of bravado and that people like Katniss should be more acknowledged because she volunteered out of love and pure intentions, not just false courage and a vain personality. Once again, we ask you, the reader, to comment below with your thoughts. Do you think people like the ones in District 13 should be praised, or should the ones that are like Katniss be appreciated? And if your loved ones were picked as tributes, what would you do? It's true that even though sometimes the right choice is evident, it can be a struggle to stand up and carry it out. So don't feel like a coward if you don't volunteer in place of that person. It's called survival and fear and it penetrates EVERYONE's mind. Still, if there's more reasons why you chose the action you would do, comment! Voice out that opinion with pride, even though you might feel unsure about it. :)

Katniss and Gale Hunting
Picture by Clio Chiang

   So by now you're probably wondering, "Where's the love in-between all of this suspense and drama?" Well, we suspect that Katniss has this teeny-tiny (okay BIG) crush on this boy named Gale. In the story, Gale is said to have "straight black hair, olive skin, and gray eyes," but Katniss says they can be mistaken for siblings since most children in District 12 kind of look the same. He says that Katniss (or Catnip, as he calls her) never smiles except in the woods, which is where they can meet! He lives in District 12, too, and usually goes out hunting in the woods with Katniss. Even though hunting and carrying weapons could already mean executions for the two, some of the officials in Panem also like fresh meat, so they let it slide secretly. Katniss wields bows that her father used to craft before he passed away. With them, her and Gale go out into the woods that are fenced off from District 12 to catch the occasional animal, like a squirrel, and can trade them for other foods. In this chapter, Gale suggests running away from District 12 together while they take a break from hunting. Katniss refuses since they both had "kids" (siblings) and families to provide for. Gale has an even tougher time than Katniss. He is 18 and took care of a family of 5 for 7 years! He's also taken tessera, which is where you can enter your name an extra time for some oil and merchandise for you or your family. Also, each year as you get older, an additional slip with your name gets entered into the games, increasing your chances of getting picked. All of this amounts to Gale getting his name entered a whopping 42 times! (Katniss only has 20 entries and Prim only has 1.) It's so shocking that he has never been picked so far! And that Prim got chosen against all odds. It breaks our hearts.... Not that we want Gale to be chosen, or anything.

   So back to the sadistic "games." Prim was chosen and Katniss fainted. After she collected herself, she ran to the stage and said she would take Prim's place. One of the two victors of the Games over the past 74 years from District 12, Haymitch, gets onto the stage and assaults Effie in a drunk state before she can finish her speech. Then, when Katniss gets on stage, he also puts his arm around her. What do you think of a person like that? And do you think that an alcoholic like that can compose himself later on in the story? Also, do you think he will contribute to the plot, and how?

   Now, after the female tribute is announced, the male tribute will be called out! Who will he be? What is he like?? What in the fudge will happen to Katniss??? Well, we'll never know until we read the next chapter! Keep on reading this jaw-dropping novel and prepare to fall off your seat repeatedly in shock and anticipation! As Effie Trinket always says, "Happy Hunger Games! And may the odds be ever in your favor!"