Why The Hunger Games Series Will Always Have My Heart

 

Ok so first off let’s be real—The Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins is a series that is loved by so many for a reason. With its unique and intense dystopian setting, unforgettable characters, and powerful messages, it’s captured the hearts and well minds of many many readers, including mine! Whether you’ve just opened the first book for the first time or have re-read the trilogy countless times, this series stays with you long after the last page. 

Here’s why The Hunger Games, Catching Fire, and Mockingjay are so amazingggg—and why I have so much to say about them!!

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The Setting: Panem

Okay so the story takes place in a country called Panem—a nation made up of a controlling Capitol who is very wealthy, and 12, well formerly 13 districts that are basically forced to obey it. So, every year, the Capitol reminds the districts who is in charge by hosting the quite horrifying Hunger Games, where children—yeah, children—are forced to fight to the death on live TV.

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The Characters

• Katniss Everdeen
The girl on fire herself. Katniss is the same as many protagonists—fierce, loyal, and resourceful. But also different because from the moment she volunteers to take her sister’s place in the Games, we can tell that she is something special. Her journey from surviving the games to becoming a symbol of hope to being free, is full of heartache, courage, and growth.

• Peeta Mellark
Well as most readers know him, he’s the love interest in the story. But really there’s so much more to him, he brings empathy, strategy, and well unexpected strength to the story. Also props to him for his way of words. Also going back to him being the love interest… he shows such deep love for Katniss like come on. It’s kind of hard not to root for him.

• Gale Hawthorne
Gale is also a love interest as he is part of the love triangle type thing. He is the childhood best friend and hunting partner of Katniss, who represents a more aggressive form of rebellion. He’s quite complicated but is also passionate and loyal. This makes the dynamic between him, Katniss and Peeta all the more interesting and intense.

• President Snow
He’s the main villain. Cold, calculating, and cruel, President Snow controls Panem through fear and manipulation. Like the way he does things in sort of a calm-ish and very well thought way makes him even more scary. Many readers love to hate him.

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Themes That Stick

These books are a lot more than just action packed stories. They dive into a lot of deep topics. They dive into them in a way that feels real, especially if you are paying attention when reading.

Here are some of the themes that stuck out to me:

• Survival
First things first, everything starts with survival in the series, it’s quite obvious since the first book is called The Hunger Games. It starts with Katniss fighting to keep herself and her family alive. But living isn’t just about surviving, it’s also about keeping your soul alive too. 

• Social Inequality
The gap between the districts is very large, and honestly it’s uncomfortably familiar, mostly the gap in wealth I mean. This series really gets readers thinking about class and privileges. Like how some people get to live comfortably while others suffer. 

• Media & Propaganda
I think it’s very smart how this series shows the media being used as a weapon. The series circles around the hunger games which are broadcasted live for entertainment for the people of the Capitol and torture for the districts. Later in the series Katniss and her allies use that same media to turn the tables. I think that it is smart, scary, and well very relevant.

• Rebellion
Like most dystopian books this one has a strong theme of rebellion. So as Katniss evolves from a survivor of the games into the Mockingjay, the symbol of rebellion and or revolution, we see a movement grow. It is a bit messy and not perfect, but that’s what makes it feel real. It shows us that rebellion often comes with a price.

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Final Thoughts

I had originally gotten the first book of the series as a gift and it had been sitting on my shelf for quite a while. So then one day I decided to finally pick it up and read it, unsure of how much I’d like it. But oh my gosh as soon as I put the book down after I had read the first few chapters, I knew that I would be talking about this one for a while! 

So whether you’re here for the rebellion, the action, the romance, or just the pure adrenaline rush of the games —this trilogy definitely delivers. Well I mean it did for me! Anyways hope you enjoyed this post!

- Jiya