The Hunger Games

Holy Cow what a good book!!!  I have heard of this book several times over the last six months, hadn't seen a poor review and then it showed up at my book fair's buy one get one free (I know, right?) and couldn't pass the chance to read it.  I started it Friday night.  Finished it about five minutes ago.  Could not stop thinking about it when I wasn't reading it.  

This is a book many years in the future when 12 different communities are controlled by the Capitol.  In order to prevent any rebellions, the Capitol hosts an annual Hunger Games, wherein a boy and girl between the ages of 12 and 18 have there names drawn randomly and are required to attend the games where they will face off against the children from the other districts in a battle to the death.  There's only one winner.  The narrator finds herself as one of the competitors and tells the events that happen during the "games" which are televised to all the other districts.  It's basically the recreation of what I imagine happened in the ancient Roman Coliseum, but a wider playing field, longer playing time, younger contestants and not as many animals.  

I've worked it out to get this book to read with my class next year.  I guarantee it to be a winner among the 16-17 year old boys for sure, and because the narrator is a girl and develops conflicting love interests the girls will be hooked too.  I'm off to pre-order the sequel set to come out in the fall.  Yea, it's that good.