Review: Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

SPOILER ALERT!

Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen has won the annual Hunger Games with fellow district tribute Peeta Mellark. But it was a victory won by defiance of the Capitol and their harsh rules. Katniss and Peeta should be happy. After all, they have just won for themselves and their families a life of safety and plenty. But there are rumors of rebellion among the subjects, and Katniss and Peeta, to their horror, are the faces of that rebellion. The Capitol is angry. The Capitol wants revenge.

Katniss survived the games and is back in district 12.  But it’s not what it used to be.  Her family has been moved to a new home.  Gale is now old enough to work in the mines to take care of his family and doesn’t have as much time for hunting with Katniss and since Katniss confessed that her “love” for Peeta was all an act for the games to help them survive he hasn’t been around.  There is also rumor of rebellion that has brought capital troops to the districts.  President Snow is angry and he wants revenge, which means that Katniss and Peeta are going back into the games.  Catching Fire is the action packed sequel to The Hunger Games. 
 

I Rate this Book a:

What I didn’t care for about the book is that they were going back into the games.  After all of that working and fighting and surviving it was frustrating for me, as a reader, to watch them go back. 

One of my favorite parts about the book was that we got to go see the different districts when Katniss and Peeta went on the tour as champions.  It made them seem more real and give an insight into the other tributes, such as Rue’s, lives.  When Katniss and Peeta went to the other districts you also saw how completely divided the country actually was.  When you read about it, you really see why they have never really been able to rise up against the capitol for so long.

My other favorite part, in one word, or should I say name, Finnick.  In Catching Fire and Mockingjay Finnick completely takes over my heart as my favorite non-main character.  When they first introduce him I wasn’t sure about this guy.  But as you get further into the plot you find that he is a deep and loving man that will do anything in his power to protect the women he loves, who isn’t quite right, from those who could hurt her, even cooperate and go back in the games.  Forget Team Peeta or Team Gale. 

Suzanne Collins is the author of the best selling series The Hunger Games, which is now being made into a major motion picture.