New book series rivals Twilight’s popularity

Megan Lane/Staff Writer

After the international sensations of the Harry Potter and Twilight series, a new series has satisfied teens’ hunger for more thrilling reading. Released last year, The Hunger Games was the first book in this new series by Suzanne Collins. It is a futuristic sci-fi novel that has sold more than 500,000 books and is in print in 26 foreign editions. It has been on USA Today’s and New York Times Bestsellers for weeks.

Collins is also the author of the bestselling Underland Chronicles that began with Gregor the Overlander, also one her best selling books.
The Hunger Games is another take on her views about war and violence in society.

The plot of the book is a futuristic America divided into 12 districts. The Capitol forces each district to send both a young boy and girl to participate in a nationally televised death match. The suspense of what will happen to the young heroine and hero of the book, Katniss and Peeta, is completely absorbing.

Katniss is a 16-year-old girl who is beyond her years in maturity and knowledge. A hunter, this girl has a second nature for survival, making her a perfect candidate for the Capitol’s annual hunger games. Her side-kick/hero is a different story — a 16-year-old baker’s son who has no real special talent except a big heart. These two must learn the hardest lessons of love, loss, survival and revenge.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone. This book has a little something for everyone. The book’s treatment of tough subjects like freedom, loss, poverty and morality is much less flowery than the Twilight series. Also, unlike the overly romantic Twilight series, both guys and girls alike will be wanting to read more, and, now they can.

The Hunger Games has a sequel called Catching Fire that was just released last month. Though I have yet to read it, I am confident it will keep you reading just like The Hunger Games.