REVIEW: Catching Fire

Catching Fire
Author: Suzanne Collins

The Hunger Games is one of my favorite YA series. The story is action-packed, exciting and suspenseful. I'm re-reading this series as part of The Great American Read. The series is the 8th book or series on the GAR list of 100 books that I'm reading. It will take me awhile to work my way through all 100, but I'm enjoying the experience so far.

Catching Fire is the middle novel in the Hunger Games Trilogy. Every 25 years, the Capitol hosts a special Hunger Games called the Quarter Quell. Following the exciting ending of the previous year's Hunger Games, the capitol wants revenge for what happened. So, for the 75th anniversary of the Hunger Games, a special reaping is announced and all of Panem is in shock. Who will survive the 75th Anniversary Quarter Quell? Maybe nobody.....     Tick, Tock.

Catching Fire is a great middle novel for this series. It contains a lot of character development and important plot points. The games are worse than usual because the Capitol is angry....and afraid. There are rumblings of revolution in the Districts. President Snow and the leaders in the Capitol want to keep control over the districts, and they are willing to do anything. The gamemakers
really work hard to make the 75th anniversary of the Hunger Games particularly horrifying. The game is a whole new level of demented for the Quarter Quell.

This series is Young Adult Fiction. There is no cursing or sex, but the theme is particularly dark and violent. The violence is not graphic, but the books might be a bit much for kids under 13. The series is well-written and action-packed. It's a good one to give to a teen who is a reluctant reader. But it's also enjoyable for adults too.

I'm glad this book made it onto the list for The Great American Read. It definitely got millions of teens and adults reading, and that's the whole point of GAR! I have read some comments online that some feel that YA books did not belong on the list. Why?? There are also popular horror novels and even an erotic fiction novel series on the list. Why not YA? The GAR is about books that got people reading and talking about books....not an attempt to name the top 100 classic books. The Hunger Games is an enjoyable action series with interesting topics to discuss.....totalitarian governments, war, love, the pain of being forced to make difficult choices, life and death...great topics to discuss with teens. The list is diverse and meant to represent a large majority of readers. All readers. Not just those who enjoy classics. I'm glad it made the list!  And I'm thoroughly enjoying re-reading this series! On to the final book -- Mockingjay!