The hunger games

An intriguing dystopian novel for young adults, “The hunger games,” written by Suzanne Collins, was published on September 14th, 2008. This novel includes themes of oppression, class divide and schadenfreude (Big Word Moment: schadenfreude-finding joy in one’s downfall/misery). In this book, the reader is immersed in what was once North America, where the Capitol of Panem has a hold on 12 districts by having “tributes” compete in a nationally televised event called the Hunger Games. Every citizen must watch as the young men and women battle for survival until only one is left.

The Hunger Games

By Suzanne Collins

Genre: Dystopian, Science Fiction, Thriller

Reading Level: 7th grade (ages 13+)

If you are looking to start (or reread) a series, look no further! Making it to the top 100 YA Books of all time (source: TIMES), the Hunger Games actually consists of five books, on top of movie adaptations you can enjoy, compare and critique (get that brain going, do all three!). Such a novel is a great way to find a different world to explore for quite a bit of time, allowing you to relate themes to our current world.