314 books
—
43 voters
Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read.
Start by marking “The Hunger Games (The Hunger Games #1)” as Want to Read:
The Hunger Games
(The Hunger Games #1)
by
First in the ground-breaking HUNGER GAMES trilogy. Set in a dark vision of the near future, a terrifying reality TV show is taking place. Twelve boys and twelve girls are forced to appear in a live event called The Hunger Games. There is only one rule: kill or be killed. When sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen steps forward to take her younger sister's place in the games, s
...more
Paperback, Foil Luxe Edition, 448 pages
Published
October 3rd 2013
by Scholastic
(first published September 14th 2008)
Friend Reviews
To see what your friends thought of this book,
please sign up.
Reader Q&A
To ask other readers questions about
The Hunger Games,
please sign up.
Popular Answered Questions
Novica Vukobratovic
The movies are terrible. Too many key things from the book(s) excluded.
" Never judge a book by it's movie " :)
" Never judge a book by it's movie " :)
Community Reviews
Showing 1-30


I have got to stop poking fun at this series with memes. Someone take them away from me!
Nah, I didn't love this book. I know I'm in the minority, and part of me is glad about that. I mean it when I say this book deserves recognition, and honestly, I'd rather people were reading this and following a heroine as independent as Katniss, rather than a simp like Bella or Bethany. The Hunger Games is high-quality YA, intelligently written, and despite its flaws it's worthy of success.
Here's where I be ...more

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.

Nov 23, 2015
Khanh, first of her name, mother of bunnies
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
I was forced into watching Mockingjay: Part II this weekend. To clarify, I watched the second part of the last Hunger Games movie without having read any of the books, without having watched any of the movies.
Needless to say, I was confused as fuck.
So many questions and thoughts ran through my mind as I watched the movie. Why is Peeta so thin? Did that huge-ass bruise really disappear from her neck the next day? Is Katniss supposed to look like she's about to burst into tears at any given moment ...more
Needless to say, I was confused as fuck.
So many questions and thoughts ran through my mind as I watched the movie. Why is Peeta so thin? Did that huge-ass bruise really disappear from her neck the next day? Is Katniss supposed to look like she's about to burst into tears at any given moment ...more

Oct 19, 2009
Dija
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Everyone who hasn't. Seriously, READ IT!
Recommended to Dija by:
Everyone who has read it!
My "Epic Book Recipe" Checklist for The Hunger Games:
1. A sharp and intelligent heroine with just the right amount of emotion who gives in to absolutely nothing and no one?
2. A sweet and sensitive hero who loves and supports the heroine unconditionally?
3. An original setting with a unique and thrilling plot?
4. A couple of earth-shattering shocks every now and then to keep the readers' mind reeling?
5. Extraordinary side characters from interesting backgrounds who possess the much-needed Voic ...more
1. A sharp and intelligent heroine with just the right amount of emotion who gives in to absolutely nothing and no one?

2. A sweet and sensitive hero who loves and supports the heroine unconditionally?

3. An original setting with a unique and thrilling plot?

4. A couple of earth-shattering shocks every now and then to keep the readers' mind reeling?

5. Extraordinary side characters from interesting backgrounds who possess the much-needed Voic ...more

Dec 07, 2010
Nataliya
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Fans of GOOD YA dystopias
Suzanne Collins has
Two reasons why this book rocks: (a) It is not Twilight, and (b) I really hate reality shows.

Seriously, how long would it take for reality shows to evolve from "Survivor" to "Hunger Games"?
Yes, this book is full of imperfections. It often requires a strenuous suspension of disbelief. It can cause a painful amount of eye-rolling and shaking fist at the book pages. Its ...more

A lot of things are troubling me about The Hunger Games. A lot of things which I more and more perceive and which are not solely connected with this book but with the metaphor behind the words. People attach themselves to fictional freedom without seeing what really something is and which unfortunately is here to stay because you can't wake a person who is pretending to be asleep. You can’t make a shift on a deeper level, if the only thing that attracts you to this book is – a vision of fight, r
...more

If I were a teenager or recommending this to a teen, I might give it 3*; as an adult, I give it 2*.
PLOT
It's a potentially exciting but gruesome story, but most of the characters were rather flat, much of the plot was predictable (it's not hugely original; in particular, it is VERY similar to the Japanese "Battle Royale"), and there were too many flaws in the plot. I fail to understand its very high ratings.
Post-apocalyptic America (Panem) is divided into a wealthy and technologically advanced Ca ...more
PLOT
It's a potentially exciting but gruesome story, but most of the characters were rather flat, much of the plot was predictable (it's not hugely original; in particular, it is VERY similar to the Japanese "Battle Royale"), and there were too many flaws in the plot. I fail to understand its very high ratings.
Post-apocalyptic America (Panem) is divided into a wealthy and technologically advanced Ca ...more

Sep 20, 2008
Meredith Holley
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Recommended to Meredith by:
Stephenie Meyer
For a long time now, I’ve wanted to rewrite my review of The Hunger Games so that I could tell you why I don’t just love this series, but why I also think it’s important. It is beautiful for the unflinching way it shows you, as a reader, your own willingness to disregard people who are different from you - how you are the Capitol audience. But, it is important as a story about girls. I had not initially thought about articulating that point because it seemed so obvious to me, and I am bad at rec
...more

(A-) 83% | Very Good
Notes: The literal corruption of youth by reality television. Forced into murder, thievery, treachery, and kissing to stay alive.
Notes: The literal corruption of youth by reality television. Forced into murder, thievery, treachery, and kissing to stay alive.

Apr 24, 2018
Chelsea Humphrey
rated it
really liked it
Recommended to Chelsea by:
Irina Humphrey
Shelves:
library
Why did I put reading this one off for so many years? I remember this being extremely popular but it seems like I was in a rut with my reading and figured I would pick them up eventually when I was back on track. Months turned into years and I finally saw the movies, which I suppose pushed them even further down my TBR and is a real shame because the movies didn't capture quite everything the book had to offer. (Not that I'm shaming the movies; I enjoyed them but you never can include everything
...more

“Happy Hunger Games! And may the odds be ever in your favor.”Every year, Panem (post-apacolyptic North America) hosts a Hunger Games involving one female and one male representative from each of its twelve districts to fight to the death.
All of the Districts of Panem must watch the Games as a form of yearly "entertainment" when in actuality, it's a power play put on by the Capitol (the wealthiest of the districts).
For there to be betrayal, there would have to have been trust first.The Capit ...more

"I don't know how to say it exactly. Only...I want to die as myself. I don't want them to change me in there. Turn me into some kind of monster that I'm not. I keep wishing I could think of a way to...to show the Capitol that they don't own me. That I'm more than just a piece in their Games."

“You have a... remarkable memory."
"I remember everything about you. You're the one who wasn't paying attention.”

So, I really really liked this book!! Of course, I loved Peeta!How can I not? He is pe ...more

Apr 05, 2008
elissa
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
anyone (age 12+) who likes dystopic SF, and can handle some violence
Recommended to elissa by:
2008 buzz
I LOVE THIS BOOK! I've said to a few people that if I wasn't married, I'd have to marry this book. :) I read the 400 page ARC in a less-than-24-hour time period (so quickly that it was never even on my "currently reading" shelf), which I've only done before with HP books, and I've just officially put the first book on my 2008 favorites shelf. I feel pretty safe in saying that if this isn't still my favorite book of the year when next January rolls around, that I'll eat a hat. As soon as I finish
...more

Jul 18, 2008
Colleen Venable
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
ya-fiction,
books-that-made-me-cry
Fantastically Written? Ooooh yeah! Compelling? Yup! Super Quick Read? Most definitely! Original? Um...well *shuffles feet, since I seem to be a rare non-five star-er* not original at all really....
Man, I wish someone on my friends list here has also read Battle Royale and this book! The Hunger Games WAS pretty fantastic, hence the four stars (though I would have given 3 1/2 if the choice was available.) I ate it up, shouting into other rooms and offices that I was going to be shoving the book i ...more
Man, I wish someone on my friends list here has also read Battle Royale and this book! The Hunger Games WAS pretty fantastic, hence the four stars (though I would have given 3 1/2 if the choice was available.) I ate it up, shouting into other rooms and offices that I was going to be shoving the book i ...more

Jun 02, 2008
Betsy
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Recommended to Betsy by:
Monica Edinger
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.


It seems weird that I never reviewed The Hunger Games . I don't know why I didn't when it was a series that completely took over my life for a short while. But recently I've been thinking about posting something in this review space and after just watching the second film (which I think was amazing and better than the first), now seems like as good a time as any to talk about why I love Katniss and nearly everything about this series.
I gave this book four stars back in 2011 and I'm going to le ...more

Mar 28, 2012
Manny
marked it as to-read
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
lists-glorious-lists,
ya
SOME BOOKS I ALREADY OWN WHICH I PLAN TO FINISH BEFORE BUYING THE HUNGER GAMES
John Lanchester, Mr. Phillips
Margaret Atwood, Oryx and Crake
Steven Weinberg, The First Three Minutes
Jean-Jacques Sempé, Le Petit Nicolas
Merritt Ruhlen, The Origin of Language
Pernilla Stalfelt, Le petit livre de caca
Hubert Reeves, L'univers expliqué à mes petits-enfants
Gustave Flaubert, Trois Contes
Dominique Lambert, Un Atome D'Univers
Jean-Pierre Luminet, L'Invention du Big Bang
Francis Collins, The Language of God
Ben Ma
...more

Oh no. You've awakened the beast. It's Jackniss!!

Yeah. So maybe Matthew Fox from Lost isn't exactly the person you had in mind when you thought about who they might cast as Katniss in The Hunger Games, but I was inspired to create that after I saw this site called Jackimals. You might want to wait to visit it, though, because it can suck you in like an unexplained time warp flash.
I was also inspired to create the Jackniss after I read a discussion that deeply disturbed me.
Somewhere, possibly on ...more

Yeah. So maybe Matthew Fox from Lost isn't exactly the person you had in mind when you thought about who they might cast as Katniss in The Hunger Games, but I was inspired to create that after I saw this site called Jackimals. You might want to wait to visit it, though, because it can suck you in like an unexplained time warp flash.
I was also inspired to create the Jackniss after I read a discussion that deeply disturbed me.
Somewhere, possibly on ...more

Nov 13, 2009
Morgan F
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
everyone
Shelves:
young-adult,
sci-fi,
preston-public-library,
dystopian-apocalyptic,
2000s,
favorites,
adrenaline,
its-a-girl,
own,
re-read
THIS BOOK IS JESUS.

يمر الوقت لأعرف وأتأكد أن هذه الثلاثية من أفضل التجارب القرائية التي مررت بها في حياتي
فهي لم تكن أبدا مجرد رواية فانتازيا استغل نجاحها لاصدار جزئين تاليين
وإنما هي قصة ثورة من نوع جديد
فيها الاثارة والمتعة والفانتازيا والابهار والرومانسية
أي التوليفة الكاملة
بل إنني أرى أن الجزء الأول كان الأقل من ناحية أدبية بحتة
فقد شعرت طوال القراءة بأن كولينز تحاول صياغة رواية ولكنها تفشل في بنائها مرة تلو الأخرى
وهذا هو سر منحي هذا الجزء ثلاثة نجوم
وما إن شرعت في قراءة الجزئين التاليين
حتى وجدتني أقول أخيرا فعلتيه ...more

My ‘The Hunger Games’ week
23rd march- movie is released
24th march- I read this review and end up watching excellent trailers, Later I downloaded the excerpt and kind of liked the first chapter
25th march- I ama proud owner of the book. Yay!
26th to 27th march- I started reading the book
This is how I thought it would go:
Once I would start reading it, I would just be sucked into it and finish the book remaining awake until early hours of morning, with my bloodshot red eyes.
This is how it went:
I s ...more
23rd march- movie is released
24th march- I read this review and end up watching excellent trailers, Later I downloaded the excerpt and kind of liked the first chapter
25th march- I am
26th to 27th march- I started reading the book
This is how I thought it would go:
Once I would start reading it, I would just be sucked into it and finish the book remaining awake until early hours of morning, with my bloodshot red eyes.
This is how it went:
I s ...more

~SO THIS IS WHAT ALL THE FUSS IS ABOUT~
THE HUNGER GAMES is a fantastic, breathless and somewhat brutal read that once you start you simply can’t put down again. Initially I had no idea what this book was about or what to expect in terms of YA writing, it had just been recommended to me by so many people and had such a buzz surrounding it that I had to find out for myself why. Well let me say I was not disappointed and have now joined the legions of Suzanne Collins fans in awaiting her next insta ...more
THE HUNGER GAMES is a fantastic, breathless and somewhat brutal read that once you start you simply can’t put down again. Initially I had no idea what this book was about or what to expect in terms of YA writing, it had just been recommended to me by so many people and had such a buzz surrounding it that I had to find out for myself why. Well let me say I was not disappointed and have now joined the legions of Suzanne Collins fans in awaiting her next insta ...more

Aug 30, 2010
Tessa
rated it
liked it
·
review of another edition
Recommended to Tessa by:
Jameson Marriott
I sat down to this book prepared to be captivated in its pages. But I was disappointed. I was always expecting that finally the author would show her genius and knock me off my feet. But it never happened. Yes, it was exciting and entertaining. But it wasn't a truly great book.
I could not stop comparing this to Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury. Like Fahrenheit 451, it was a dystopian novel set in the future, but Fahrenheit 451 had significant symbolism on every page, paragraph, and even half the ...more
I could not stop comparing this to Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury. Like Fahrenheit 451, it was a dystopian novel set in the future, but Fahrenheit 451 had significant symbolism on every page, paragraph, and even half the ...more

Well this book lived up to a lot of the hype that surrounds it. While the name and cover still do not grab my attention the story, once started, did.
This book is written in first perspective, from the heroine's aspect. Her name is Katniss Everdeen. She starts off in her home, a simple, poor area of the land. She is the provider for her mother and sister with her hunting skills. To protect her younger sister, she is sent to the capitol, along with local boy Peeta, to 'participate' in the annual H ...more
This book is written in first perspective, from the heroine's aspect. Her name is Katniss Everdeen. She starts off in her home, a simple, poor area of the land. She is the provider for her mother and sister with her hunting skills. To protect her younger sister, she is sent to the capitol, along with local boy Peeta, to 'participate' in the annual H ...more

***UPDATE 15 April 2014*** I've now seen the movie...yes, watched the movie of the book I didn't like...and it made less sense than the book! But it was really pretty to look at.
Pearl Ruled
Rating: 1* of five (p81)
What was I thinking? I don't like books about teens. Well, that's not entirely true...I am not a Serial Killer is about a teen boy who's sure he's the evilest thing ever born, is told from his PoV, and yet that gets darn close to 4 stars. I don't like books about teen girls. Well, that' ...more
Pearl Ruled
Rating: 1* of five (p81)
What was I thinking? I don't like books about teens. Well, that's not entirely true...I am not a Serial Killer is about a teen boy who's sure he's the evilest thing ever born, is told from his PoV, and yet that gets darn close to 4 stars. I don't like books about teen girls. Well, that' ...more

Jun 17, 2008
Maggie Stiefvater
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
young-adult,
recommended
"The Most Dangerous Game" meets Survivor. I loved it: deft characterization wrapped tightly around this lean, brutal plot that absolutely grabbed me and hung on. This was one that I started reading in the morning and snarled at all comers until I had finished it in the evening. HIGHLY RECOMMEND.
***wondering why all my reviews are five stars? Because I'm only reviewing my favorite books -- not every book I read. Consider a novel's presence on my Goodreads bookshelf as a hearty endorsement. I can' ...more
***wondering why all my reviews are five stars? Because I'm only reviewing my favorite books -- not every book I read. Consider a novel's presence on my Goodreads bookshelf as a hearty endorsement. I can' ...more

allow me to be relevant for a moment: oh my god, this book is outstanding!! it is all good things; battle royale, blood of heroes (one of the best movies ever made - dont argue with me), and all the best elements of this survivalist gary paulsen jag i am on. it kept me up way past my bedtime last night, because i could not stop reading, even though my eyes did not want to be awake. and now we veer, as ever, into the personal. this book is my comeuppance. i suppose it is factually my second comeu
...more

5 stars to Suzanne Collins's The Hunger Games. Such a popular series, so many people have read it or watched the movies... do I really need to do a review? But since I've put it in my top 20 favorite books, isn't there an obligation to review it?
YES
Let's make it simple... it may be young adult, and it may be fantasy, but neither of those facts matter when you have a set of richly flawed characters, a plot that is an absolute play on "survival of the fittest" and imagery so vivid it jumps off ...more
YES
Let's make it simple... it may be young adult, and it may be fantasy, but neither of those facts matter when you have a set of richly flawed characters, a plot that is an absolute play on "survival of the fittest" and imagery so vivid it jumps off ...more


Jun 27, 2011
Brandi
rated it
did not like it
·
review of another edition
Recommended to Brandi by:
♥ Caitlin
First of all, I know you're looking at my rating and wondering what's wrong with me. For one thing, this book's gotten at least 4 stars from everyone else. For another, everyone seems to think that it's the best book of the year.
I won't dispute what everyone else has said about this book, because it's not a complete disaster. It's just that it's one of the worst novels I've ever read.
The story begins great. I love the dystopian setting, even if it is a bit unrealistic. Katniss is a great prota ...more
I won't dispute what everyone else has said about this book, because it's not a complete disaster. It's just that it's one of the worst novels I've ever read.
The story begins great. I love the dystopian setting, even if it is a bit unrealistic. Katniss is a great prota ...more
topics | posts | views | last activity | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Word Game starting with........you have to look and see!! | 59571 | 9372 | 11 hours, 8 min ago | |
Change 1 letter | 55284 | 11041 | 17 hours, 24 min ago | |
Is The Hunger Games book or film better? | 35 | 502 | Feb 12, 2019 05:44PM | |
Book title game | 14865 | 3993 | Feb 11, 2019 02:30PM | |
How do I put Gifs onto a review? | 1408 | 14221 | Feb 11, 2019 01:46PM | |
Word Game | 79407 | 10477 | Feb 11, 2019 09:06AM | |
Song Names Puzzle | 18625 | 3452 | Feb 10, 2019 07:45PM |
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Since 1991, Suzanne Collins has been busy writing for children’s television. She has worked on the staffs of several Nickelodeon shows, including the Emmy-nominated hit Clarissa Explains it All and The Mystery Files of Shelby Woo. For preschool viewers, she penned multiple stories for the Emmy-nominated Little B ...more
Since 1991, Suzanne Collins has been busy writing for children’s television. She has worked on the staffs of several Nickelodeon shows, including the Emmy-nominated hit Clarissa Explains it All and The Mystery Files of Shelby Woo. For preschool viewers, she penned multiple stories for the Emmy-nominated Little B ...more
Other books in the series
The Hunger Games
(3 books)
831 trivia questions
245 quizzes
More quizzes & trivia...
245 quizzes
“You don’t forget the face of the person who was your last hope.”
—
18147 likes
“Remember, we're madly in love, so it's all right to kiss me anytime you feel like it.”
—
17585 likes
More quotes…