The first book in any series must spark a fire.
The sequel should make it bigger.
Author Suzanne Collins’ second book in The Hunger Games series, Catching Fire, takes victors Katniss Everdeen and Peta Mellark on the road. They travel through all twelve districts in Panem plus the Capitol.
But, President Snow warns Katniss to “convince him” her love for Peta is real and her act in the Hunger Games was not an act of rebellion.
When life grows darker in District 12, Katniss and Peta, and other former victors are forced to compete to the death again in the cruel seventy-fifth Hunger Games.
The book is darker than the first. The Capitol’s evil is unleashed. Katniss and Peta first witness the cruelty in District 11 and then at home.
Any Thoughts?
At times, when Katniss goes back and forth between Gale and Peta, it became a little annoying. That said, the book is written for the Young Adult audience. Teenagers relate to not knowing what or who they want.
I thought the best part about the book was the layout of the arena in Catching Fire. Collins displayed much creativity in the design of the place. Since I don’t want to ruin the book, I’ll let you read it to find out exactly what she does.
The second book delves into the question on when to depend on others more than the first book. Katniss learned to rely on Peta in their first Hunger Games. Now the two must learn to rely on more than just themselves.
The best part about the book is it leaves you with a super cliffhanger. The last line will leave you thinking: OMG, I got to read the book now.
By Rebecca T. Dickinson
Tagged: book review catching fire, Catching Fire, Hunger Games, Katniss, Katniss Everdeen, List of characters in the Hunger Games trilogy, Peeta Mellark, Suzanne Collins
[...] Book Review: Catching Fire (rebeccatdickinson.wordpress.com) [...]
Thank you for the link!
Great review. I enjoyed reading this series. Didn’t think I would with it being YA, but I was wrong. After reading the first I downloaded this within about an hour of finishing Hunger Games. I downloaded Mockingjay before finishing the second book.
You’re right about the setting of the arena. Brilliant book.
Thank you for the comment, Pete! I read YA books more now because I teach kids, and I want to understand what they’re interested in. Twilight I will not touch.
Anyways, I loved the creation of the arena. I thought it was the best part of the book. It was so different from anything else I’ve read in that respect.
Since I’m a 52-year-old woman in a 27-year-old’s body, I was holding each book online at the library before I finished the prior book. It was very good!
The arenas were good. Very well drawn and imaginatively terrorised