In depth book review

Recently, one of my older students and I embarked on a reading journey with The Hunger Games series. Surprisingly, neither of us had ever read the books or watched the movies. Often, when books first come out, they don’t receive the hype they deserve; or they’re so overhyped that they don’t live up to their name. So I went into this with zero expectations. Below is my in-depth review from my perspective!

At first glance, Suzanne Collins’ The Hunger Games is a gripping, action-packed story of survival. A teenage girl, Katniss Everdeen, volunteers for a bloody battle to the death to save her sister. It’s a premise that hooks you immediately.

But to leave it there is to miss the profound depth of Collins’ creation. The Hunger Games is more than a young adult thriller; it’s a sharp, multifaceted critique of power, media, and the human spirit. It holds up a dark mirror to our own society, reflecting uncomfortable truths we often choose to ignore. Let’s dive into the layers that make this story so enduring and relevant.

1. The Machinery of Power: Oppression as Spectacle

The Capitol isn’t just a tyrannical government; it’s a master of political theater. The Games are not merely a punishment for the past rebellion; they are the central tool of ongoing control. This operates on several levels:

• The Psychology of Fear: The Games keep the fear of the Capitol fresh and visceral in the minds of the districts. Every year, they are forced to watch their children be slaughtered, reinforcing their absolute powerlessness.
• The “Bread and Circuses” Strategy: Drawing direct parallels to the Roman Empire, the Capitol uses the Games as a spectacular distraction. For the Capitol citizens, it’s entertainment, numbing them to the brutality of their own government. For the districts, it’s a forced participation in a ritual that celebrates their subjugation.
• Division and Conquer: By pitting the districts against each other, the Capitol prevents the formation of a unified front. The tributes are not just fighting for their lives; they are representing their districts, which fosters inter-district rivalry instead of solidarity against the real enemy.

The Lesson for “Living”: This is a powerful reminder to question the spectacles presented to us. Are we being distracted from real issues? Are we being manipulated into fearing or resenting each other, rather than examining the systems in power? The book urges us to look beyond the pageantry and identify the true sources of control.

2. The Media as a Weapon: The Performance of Reality

This is perhaps the most prescient theme for our modern world. Katniss’s survival depends not just on her archery skills, but on her ability to perform a role for the cameras.

• The Creation of Narrative: From the moment she volunteers, Katniss is packaged into a story. Her stylist, Cinna, makes her “The Girl on Fire.” Her handler, Haymitch, coaches her on how to be likable. Her perceived romance with Peeta is a narrative crafted for survival, blurring the line between genuine emotion and strategic performance.
• The Desensitized Audience: The Capitol audience watches the Games like we watch reality TV. They bet on tributes, send gifts, and are emotionally invested in the drama, all while being completely detached from the horrifying reality of the violence. This is a direct critique of our own consumption of sensationalized media and “trauma porn.”
• Controlling the Message: The Gamemakers don’t just control the arena; they control the narrative. They can edit footage, create “highlights,” and spin stories to maintain the Capitol’s preferred version of events. This mirrors how modern media can shape public opinion by controlling the flow and framing of information.

The Lesson for “Living”: We live in an age of curated identities and manufactured narratives, from social media to 24-hour news cycles. The Hunger Games teaches us to be critical consumers of media. Who is controlling the narrative? What is their goal? Are our emotions being manipulated for someone else’s gain? It champions authenticity (Katniss’s struggle to be herself) in a world that constantly demands performance.

3. Katniss Everdeen: The Reluctant Symbol and Complex Heroine

Katniss is a groundbreaking protagonist because she is not a chosen one in the traditional sense. She is an accidental revolutionary.

• Motivated by Love, Not Ideology: Her primary driver is not a grand political ideal but a primal, protective love for her sister, Prim. This makes her relatable and her actions feel deeply human. Her volunteering is an act of love, not rebellion, yet it sets the entire revolution in motion.
• The Unwilling Hero: Katniss is traumatized, cynical, and deeply uncomfortable with her role as a symbol. She doesn’t want to be “the Mockingjay”; she is thrust into the position. This subverts the trope of the eager, destiny-driven hero and instead explores the heavy psychological toll of being a symbol.
• Survival vs. Humanity: Her entire journey is a battle between her hardened survival instincts and her core humanity. Key moments—like singing to Rue as she dies or risking her life to give her a proper burial—are acts of defiance that reclaim her humanity in the face of a system designed to strip it away. These are the moments that truly spark the rebellion, showing that humanity itself is the ultimate act of resistance.

The Lesson for “Living”: You don’t need to be a perfect, charismatic leader to make a difference. Change often begins with small, authentic acts of love, decency, and integrity. Katniss teaches us that staying true to your humanity, even when the world encourages selfishness and brutality, is a radical and powerful force.

4. The Love Triangle: A Political and Personal Paradox

The Katniss-Peeta-Gale dynamic is often simplified, but it’s a deeply symbolic element of the story.

• Gale represents the fire of revolution: He is fueled by anger, a desire for direct and brutal retaliation against the Capitol. His strategies are effective but morally ambiguous, ultimately leading to mass civilian casualties.
• Peeta represents the hope of recovery: He is the baker’s son, the one who provides sustenance. His weapon is not violence but persuasion, empathy, and the ability to win hearts and minds. He strives to “stay true to himself” even in the arena.
• Katniss is torn between these two paths: Her choice at the end is not just a romantic one; it’s a choice about what kind of world she wants to build. By choosing Peeta, she chooses a future built on healing and preservation of life, rather than one defined by the same cycle of violence the Capitol perpetuated.

The Lesson for “Living”: In our own lives, we often face choices between righteous anger and compassionate healing. The story suggests that while anger at injustice is valid, a future built solely on vengeance may not lead to true peace. It champions the quiet, restorative power of empathy and kindness as the foundation for a better world.

Student Review: By T.M (Year 9)

Name of pupil: T.M
Grade: Year 9 Educator: Ms Muskan

Title: The Hunger Games
Author: Suzanne Collin
Other books written by author:
Sunrise on the reaping, Catching fire, Mockingjay, The balled of the
songbirds and snakes, Gregor the overlander.

Genre: fiction

Setting: The setting of The Hunger Games book 1 is past-apocalyptic
North America, in the dystopian nation of Panem, which consists of
wealthy Capitol and twelve surrounding districts.

Who are the main characters in the novel?
Katniss Everdeen, Peeta Mellark, Haymitch Abernathy, Effie Trinket,
Cato, Clove, Gale, Primrose Everdeen, Rue, and Cinna

Summarize the story (in your own words)
In the dystopian nation of Panem, where the Capitol forces the 12
districts to send two tributes to fight to death in the annual Hunger
Games, Katniss Everdeen volunteers to take her younger sister’s place.
Alongside the male tribute from her district, Peeta Mellark, Katniss is
thrust into brutal televised fight for survival against other tributes from
across the districts, struggling to stay alive while navigating a complex
world of alliances, manipulation and rebellion.

Write a paragraph on the character that made the greatest impression
on you: Katniss Everdeen stands out as a brave, strong and smart
character in the Hunger games, because she is brave enough to risk her

life volunteering to replace her sister out of a life or death situation. She
was brave enough to go to the cornucopia to get Peeta’s medicine even
though she knew that she could have been killed. She was really strong
when she was helping Peeta with his injuries, when she had to hold in
every negative emotion when she thought of Rues death especially right
after Rues death. The reason why Katniss and Peeta won the hunger
games was because of how smart Katniss was especially at the end
when they found out there could only be one winner and they had to kill
each other.

Would you say the author successfully developed the character in the
novel?
Yes, Suzanne Collins successfully developed the characters in The
Hunger Games with Key characters like Katniss Everdeen by combining
her father’s experience in the Vietnam War with her research onto
wilderness survival and classical mythology.

What is the theme of the book?
I think the theme of the book is the corrupting influence of power.

Do you regard this book as a success and worth reading?
I would say the book is successful and I would recommend it to
someone who likes fiction and action, because the book was
entertaining it’s not too fictional and it’s really good for action thrillers

Final Thoughts: Why ‘The Hunger Games’ Endures

The Hunger Games endures because its themes are timeless and increasingly relevant. It’s a story about:

• The corrosive nature of unchecked inequality.
• The power of individual acts of defiance.
• The importance of seeing through media manipulation.
• The struggle to retain one’s humanity in inhumane circumstances.

It’s not just a story about a dystopian future; it’s a warning and a guide. It asks us the most important question: When the world demands performance and compliance, will we have the courage to be authentically, defiantly human?

Your Turn: What lesson from The Hunger Games has resonated most in your own life? Was it a character’s choice, a political theme, or a moment of humanity in the arena? Share your thoughts in the comments below.