Catching Fire - Suzanne Collins

The second book in the Hunger Games trilogy follows Katniss and Peeta in the year following their win in the Hunger Games. After her rebellious challenge to the Capital that enabled both of them to make it out of the games alive, Katniss finds herself as the poster child for the building of a rebellion throughout the 12 districts.

Starting out the reader gets to know what life is like back in District 12 for a Victor. Everything has changed for Katniss and her family, now with their own house in the Victors village and ample food that Katniss shares with as many people as possible. It seems that life could go on and Katniss and Peeta could forget about the games and continue on with life. That is until the announcement of the 75th Annual Hunger Games which have been made extra special by being a game featuring past Victors only. As Katniss is the only female victor from District 12, her fate is sealed.

I found this book to be almost as amazing as the first. While it does follow along the same idea of our main character going into the Hunger Games again, there is a new arena, new contestants and a new feeling of unrest within. The arena appealed to me more this time as it was designed for the purpose of the games, while the forest style area of the original Hunger Games seemed a little bland and pointedly there to help out the girl who climbs under the fence of her district to escape into the wilderness. Also putting characters who know what it takes to survive, into a purpose built arena adds a spark and intelligence to all that occurs within.

I ploughed through this book in one night, without sleeping as I couldn't put it down. I was so excited that a second book in a series could be almost as good as the first. I would say the only thing that made this book stand in the original's shadow was that a large part of the general story was very similar with Katniss being selected for the Hunger Games and going back into the arena. Still a very high quality for a second book, which puts so much pressure on the third and final book Mockingjay. Let's hope it lives up to the challenge.

The Hunger Games - Suzanne Collins

Imagine living in a place where each year 24 children are sent to fight to the death for a horrifying reality TV show. Welcome to The Hunger Games.

Follow 16 year old Katniss Everdeen, a tough strong willed girl from the Seam, as she steps up in place of her little sister to be the District 12 tribute. Kat knows this is a death sentence as there can only be one survivor in the games. The rules are kill or be killed.

Whisked away to The Capital with her own stylist team, food she has never even dreamt of, and a constantly drunk mentor, Kat must learn what she can from training to survive in the games arena.

Who will survive the initial bloodbath of the arena? Can Katniss bring herself to do what is necessary to defend herself not only from the other tributes but also the arena itself and all its hidden traps?

Jaki's Review

Originally when hearing about this book I thought of Arnold Schwarzenegger in the 1987 film "The Running Man", where the basic premise of trying to stay alive in a rigged arena is the same. However once beginning the book I quickly saw that it was much more than that.

Straight away I was drawn into Katniss' world and began to care deeply for the people around her. My heart lurched at Prim's name being called and again when Kat volunteers to take her place. Her awe of The Capital matched my own as each new person and event was described. Once inside the arena the quick pace doesn't slow with non stop action and adventure making it almost impossible to put the book down.

A phenomenal page turning book that takes you to a world where the residents are being punished for a rebellion 74 years ago, resulting in The Hunger Games. Anyone who loves brilliantly written characters, sensational detail and a mixture of action and adventure will love this book and be looking for it's sequel Catching Fire.