Title: Catching Fire
Author: Suzanne Collins
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Year Published: 2009
Number of Pages: 391 pages
Date Read: 9/1/2012
Series: The Hunger Games #2
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Source: Purchased
Content Rating: Ages 16+ (Gory Violence, Death and Mature Themes)
Buy on: Amazon // Book Depository
Can I just say that I think that the second book in Suzanne Collins’ famous “Hunger Games” series “Catching Fire” is easily the best book
out of the entire series so far?
“Catching Fire” has everything that you would not expect to appear in
any young adult novel such as drama, romance, violence and suspense and wraps
it all up into one astonishing novel that really defined the excellence of good
storytelling!
After Katniss Everdeen wins the Hunger Games along with Peeta
Mellark in the first book, she thought that her life would be much easier now
that she is the victor of the Hunger Games.
Unfortunately, in order to win the Hunger Games, Katniss ends up defying
the Capitol by saving Peeta’s life and President Snow, the ruler of the
Capitol, is not pleased with Katniss’ defiance in the games and starts planning
the demise for Katniss! Can Katniss
protect her family and friends from the Capitol’s wrath and will she survive?
Wow…just wow…
This book has absolutely blown me away at so many turns that
I am still speechless about the huge turn of events that happened in this book! Suzanne
Collins has truly woven a brilliant and intense story that continues the
adventures of Katniss and this time the stakes are much higher than
before! I loved the way that Suzanne Collins gave this book a much
deeper insight than in the first book as this book deals with more intense
themes such as undying love and government corruption. I really enjoyed seeing the relationship between
Katniss and Peeta since we did not see too much of their relationship in the
first book. Katniss and Peeta’s
relationship is strengthening in this book as they realize that not only do
they have to do everything in their power to survive the Capitol’s wrath, but
they start to realize how much they truly care for each other and that they are
willing to put their own lives at stake to save each other. It was also interesting seeing Katniss’
relationship with Gale as Gale was her first true love until the Hunger Games
changed everything and Katniss was trying to regain whatever love she still has
for Gale while having feelings for Peeta.
I was blown away by how Suzanne
Collins gave a more political standpoint in this novel as the story
discusses about government corruption.
The Capitol, which is the government, seems intent on taking vengeance
on Katniss that they are willing to put her family and friends in danger to
prove a point to her that she cannot defy the Capitol. This was probably the scariest part of this
book as government corruption sometimes happens in real life and just imagining
that the government can be so corrupted that they could hurt innocent people
disturbs me.
Even though this book is not as graphically violent as the
first book, there is still some gory violence that happens in this book
especially in the second half of the book.
Many characters are killed in gruesome ways (some characters are
brutally tortured) and that might be disturbing for anyone who cannot handle gory
violence. Also, the theme about
government corruption in this book might disturb some readers as the Capitol is
pretty bloodthirsty in their attempts to get vengeance on Katniss.
Overall, “Catching
Fire” is easily my favorite book in the “Hunger Games” series so far and after reading the huge cliffhanger
at the end of this book (I will not tell you the ending since I do not want to
spoil the book for anyone) I am definitely looking forward to the third book in
the “Hunger Games” series, “Mocking jay.” I would HIGHLY RECOMMEND this book to any fan of the “Hunger Games!”
* 2010 Booklist Top Ten Science Fiction/Fantasy Novels for Youth
* 2010 ALA Teens' Top Ten
* 2010 Children's Choice Book Award for Teen Choice Book of the Year
* 2010 Indies Choice Book Award for Young Adult
* 2010 Teen Read Award Nominee for Best Read
* 2010 DABWAHA Romance Tournament for Best Young Adult
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