The Hunger Games

I love to read. There are days when I have started a book that am not able to finish and I think "hmm..if I just didn't have ____ I could read all day." When I was in high school I was a goody two shoes..the main way I remember defying my parents was by staying up past my bedtime to read a book. Since you know that about me as a reader, I feel that you should also know that I do not usually jump on the band wagon of popular books. I have not and will not read Harry Potter. I have not and will not read Twilight. That being said, Cody's cousin, Reagan, gave me The Hunger Games to borrow (which is a very popular book with everyone from teenagers to adults). I took it very unsure of whether or not I would like it, but...I LOVED IT! I finished the first book just before we returned from Christmas break and had not thought much of it until lately. I finished the last two books in a week and secretly wish that there was a fourth. To make it even better, there is a movie coming out in 2012, so read the series now!

Here's a synopsis of the 1st book from Amazon
"In a not-too-distant future, the United States of America has collapsed, weakened by drought, fire, famine, and war, to be replaced by Panem, a country divided into the Capitol and 12 districts. Each year, two young representatives from each district are selected by lottery to participate in The Hunger Games. Part entertainment, part brutal intimidation of the subjugated districts, the televised games are broadcasted throughout Panem as the 24 participants are forced to eliminate their competitors, literally, with all citizens required to watch. When 16-year-old Katniss's young sister, Prim, is selected as the mining district's female representative, Katniss volunteers to take her place. She and her male counterpart, Peeta, the son of the town baker who seems to have all the fighting skills of a lump of bread dough, will be pitted against bigger, stronger representatives who have trained for this their whole lives. Collins' characters are completely realistic and sympathetic as they form alliances and friendships in the face of overwhelming odds; the plot is tense, dramatic, and engrossing. This book will definitely resonate with the generation raised on reality shows like 'Survivor' and 'American Gladiator."