Helpful Score: 1
Before I begin this review, I should start with a disclaimer: if I could give this book more than five stars, I would. I tip my hat to you, Ms. Collins. Not only did you surpass my expectations for the sequel to The Hunger Games, you managed to write a follow up that was actually better than its predecessor. Wow.
Catching Fire picks up six months after the end of The Hunger Games. Katniss and Peeta are recovering from their experience in the Hunger Games arena, and have settled into their lives in the Victor's Village. Now that every day isn't a struggle to stay fed, Katniss has some free time on her hands. She still hunts and trades at the Hob, spends Sundays with Gale hunting in the woods, and tries not to think about the approaching nationwide Celebration Tour and the next Hunger Games, where she'll serve as mentor for the first time and have to use her lessons learned to try to keep another young girl from District 12 alive. Through it all, Katniss is also still holding her breath, waiting for fallout from her act of rebellion at the end of the last Hunger Games, and hoping that her family and loved ones aren't punished for her transgressions.
In addition to Katniss' own personal issues -- including her ongoing confusion over her feelings for both Peeta, her fellow champion, and Gale, her life-long best friend -- changes are sweeping the nation. There are rumors of uprisings in other districts, supposedly stemming from Katniss' act of defiance against the Capitol. Soon, the plot escalates to a frenzied pitch with not one, but two incredible twists that actually made me exclaim out loud. Both times.
I've called The Hunger Games the best book of 2008, and I stand by that claim. However, I can also easily say that Catching Fire is unquestionably the best YA book of 2009. I've recommended Hunger Games to almost every reader I know, and look forward to continuing to spread the word about Suzanne Collins' amazing series. I only have one negative comment to add: Collins is the queen of cliff-hanger endings, and I found this one to be especially brutal. It will be TORTURE waiting until 2010 for resolution to this thrilling story.
Catching Fire picks up six months after the end of The Hunger Games. Katniss and Peeta are recovering from their experience in the Hunger Games arena, and have settled into their lives in the Victor's Village. Now that every day isn't a struggle to stay fed, Katniss has some free time on her hands. She still hunts and trades at the Hob, spends Sundays with Gale hunting in the woods, and tries not to think about the approaching nationwide Celebration Tour and the next Hunger Games, where she'll serve as mentor for the first time and have to use her lessons learned to try to keep another young girl from District 12 alive. Through it all, Katniss is also still holding her breath, waiting for fallout from her act of rebellion at the end of the last Hunger Games, and hoping that her family and loved ones aren't punished for her transgressions.
In addition to Katniss' own personal issues -- including her ongoing confusion over her feelings for both Peeta, her fellow champion, and Gale, her life-long best friend -- changes are sweeping the nation. There are rumors of uprisings in other districts, supposedly stemming from Katniss' act of defiance against the Capitol. Soon, the plot escalates to a frenzied pitch with not one, but two incredible twists that actually made me exclaim out loud. Both times.
I've called The Hunger Games the best book of 2008, and I stand by that claim. However, I can also easily say that Catching Fire is unquestionably the best YA book of 2009. I've recommended Hunger Games to almost every reader I know, and look forward to continuing to spread the word about Suzanne Collins' amazing series. I only have one negative comment to add: Collins is the queen of cliff-hanger endings, and I found this one to be especially brutal. It will be TORTURE waiting until 2010 for resolution to this thrilling story.
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