Set in a dystopian future America (Now called Panem), 16-year old Katniss is a girl struggling to feed her family in an impoverished portion of the empire, the coal mining District 12, located in the Appalachian mountains. Her father died in a mine explosion years ago, so all she has left are her younger sister Prim, and her somewhat mentally unstable mother. To support the family, she has to go hunting in the nearby woods, an action strictly forbidden by the government, but overlooked by locals who can be bribed with fresh meat.
The Hunger Games, an annual event, involve a lottery system that picks one boy and one girl from each District (12 in total), ages twelve to eighteen, to take part in gladiatorial combat. Apparently, years ago, the districts rose up against the Capitol, and the games are their way of reminding everyone who's boss. So every year, 24 teens fight to the death, with only one possible survivor. Young Prim is chosen, but Katniss offers herself up instead, to help save her sister from certain death. Katniss knows that there's no way she can survive. Or is there? And even if she does survive, it would mean having to kill the boy gladiator Peeta, one of the few people she's know who has shown her great kindness.
If you're worried that this gets less bleak, let me assure you; it does not. For children or not, this story is about as dark and hopeless as they come. Granted, the book does give Katniss some easy moral outs, but in the end you do have a bunch of kids running around the woods killing each other with sharp objects.
I'm not sure if this book was done as a response to Twilight, but it certainly feels that way sometimes. Unlike the heroine of those teen vampire romance books, this girl is self-assured, self-reliant, and just generally badass. She's human, in that she's not fearless, and doesn't take great pleasure in murder, but is going to do what it takes to survive.
This is a book that I would recommend to a wide range of readers, but mostly to those who enjoy your dystopian futures as bleak as possible.
Who would I have direct the movie?
The Artsy version: Lynne Ramsay, who would accurately deliver an almost dialogue free story.
The Crafty version: Kathryn Bigelow, who knows all about being a chick who doesn't fuck around.
The Fun version: Sean S. Cunningham, reteaming with Tom Savini to drive arrows through throats.
Who's actually directing it: Gary "Fucking" Ross
Frederick Opines: GREAT
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