Review Blog

Nov 02 2009

The hunger games: Catching fire by Suzanne Collins

Scholastic, 2009. ISBN 9781407109367.
(Ages 13+) Recommended. After the thrilling first book in the series, The hunger games, comes an equally riveting action driven sequel. Catching fire follows the story of Katniss and Peetar, as they return victorious to their village. Life has changed for them. They are no longer hungry and living in poverty. Katniss finds it difficult to settle down. She still continues to break the law and hunt illegally for food for her friends and is torn about her feelings for Gale, her hunter friend, and Peetar. When she inadvertently becomes the focus of a rebellion in Panem, things begin to hot up for her and she is faced with going into the Arena again to fight to the death.
Although some of the action scenes feel a bit like a rerun from the first novel, they were still exciting enough to keep me reading and certainly on edge for the sequel. The romantic interest seesaws between the two young men, Peetar, who often appears to be too good to be true and Gale who has had a thin role in the action.
However Katniss is a most appealing heroine - she is brave and loyal to her friends. Her daring feats in the Arena and her encounters with the evil President kept me on the edge of my seat and I can't wait to see what will happen next.
Pat Pledger