REVIEW: Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

In book 2 of the Hunger Games Trilogy we reunite with Katniss Everdeen and Peeta-the latest victors in the Hunger Games-a televised fight to the death mandated by the Capitol, the governing body of what used to be the United States. Each of the 12 Districts is required every year to send one male and one female teenage Tribute to compete in the Games. In an act of defiance that astounded all, Katniss and Peeta, the last two standing at the end of the Games made a vow to commit suicide, forcing the hand of the Capitol to either declare them both victors or be left with no champion. Now Katniss and Peeta are back at home in District 12 getting ready to tour all the Districts as part of the victory celebration and getting ready for their wedding which neither really wants but which both know is necessary as they are in great danger for defying the Capitol and the only chance to save themselves is to prove their romance is real.

The Capitol finds a way to get even anyway as this year's Hunger Games is a Quarter Quell (a special Hunger Games that is held every 25 years). This is the 3rd Quarter Quell. In the first, the Capitol required the citizens of each district to vote on who they would send into the Games. In the 2nd each district was required to send double the number of tributes. Now in the 3rd previous victors will be chosen for the Games which means as Katniss is the only female victor district 12 has ever had, she will face her worst nightmare-a return to the bloody Arena to fight for her life once again. Peeta volunteers to re-enter the Games with Katniss and the District does all they can to stack the odds against them. The Capitol realizes that Katniss and Peeta's defiance in the last Games has sparked an uprising in all the Districts and they must be eliminated. Katniss and Peeta make several unlikely alliances as they fight for their lives amongst the other former victors. This Game doesn't go quite as planned for any of those involved.

I went on my weekly trip to Barnes and Noble today. Normally, sometime in the course of the trip I wander over the the YA section where I get strange looks from any of the teen set that may be there checking out the books like "uh what are you doing over here obviously past your teen years lady? What could possibly be of interest to you over here?" And now after reading this book and the first in the series I don't mind being "that" lady that gets the strange looks if I end up with reads as awesome as these two have been. This story delivers just like the first. In this second installment we get to learn a bit more of the characters-namely Katniss, Peeta, Hamish, and Gale. I liked how the author made it so Katniss and Peeta knew they were in a great deal of trouble but kept in the dark to how essential they were to the revolt brewing in the Districts and how the Capitol thought that putting former victors in the ring would result in the bloodiest battle yet but several unexpected events occur which throws everything into total chaos. I cannot wait for Mockingjay to be released so I can see how this trilogy ends. Will the districts triumph over the repressive and cruel government in the Capitol and is there really a District 13?

Another great read! I have yet to run across anyone who has read these that has not loved them.

I got this book from the Fruitport Library