Title: The Hunger Games
Author: Suzanne Collins
Authors Website: http://www.suzannecollinsbooks.com/
Series: The Hunger Games Trilogy
Release Date: September 14, 2008

Goodreads Description: Could you survive on your own, in the wild, with every one out to make sure you don't live to see the morning? In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. The Capitol is harsh and cruel and keeps the districts in line by forcing them all to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV.  Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives alone with her mother and younger sister, regards it as a death sentence when she steps forward to take her sister's place in the Games. But Katniss has been close to dead before—and survival, for her, is second nature. Without really meaning to, she becomes a contender. But if she is to win, she will have to start making choices that will weigh survival against humanity and life against love.

This book was very intense and left me eager for more!  I was hesitant to read it at first even though it came highly recommended.  Now I wish I didn't wait so long to read it.  Every chapter left me wanting to read the next.  I finished the book in a 24 hour time period!  It was almost impossible to put down!

The story was very intriguing and original.  The sad thing is even though it's a fictional book I can see it happening in the future.  It seemed very realistic!  The author writes in a way that you can picture everything that goes on in the games.  The characters are amazing and highly developed.  I feel as if I know them all.  You can see the love triangle just starting to form in this book.  I have to say that so far I am Team Peeta.  However, we still haven't gotten to know Gale very much so things may change.  Even though the romance isn't the main focus of the book, there was a big enough lick of it to keep me intrigued! 

Overall, I absolutely loved it and can't wait for the next two! It definitely took my breath away! 

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