Book 39: Catching Fire.

Book 39: Catching Fire

Suzanne Collins.
Scolastic
2009
Rating:
3.5

From School Library Journal


Starred Review. Gr 7 Up--
Every year in Panem, the dystopic nation that exists where the U.S. used to be, the Capitol holds a televised tournament in which two teen "tributes" from each of the surrounding districts fight a gruesome battle to the death. In The Hunger Games, Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark, the tributes from impoverished District Twelve, thwarted the Gamemakers, forcing them to let both teens survive. In this rabidly anticipated sequel, Katniss, again the narrator, returns home to find herself more the center of attention than ever. The sinister President Snow surprises her with a visit, and Katniss’s fear when Snow meets with her alone is both palpable and justified. Catching Fire is divided into three parts: Katniss and Peeta’s mandatory Victory Tour through the districts, preparations for the 75th Annual Hunger Games, and a truncated version of the Games themselves. Slower paced than its predecessor, this sequel explores the nation of Panem: its power structure, rumors of a secret district, and a spreading rebellion, ignited by Katniss and Peeta’s subversive victory. Katniss also deepens as a character. Though initially bewildered by the attention paid to her, she comes almost to embrace her status as the rebels’ symbolic leader. Though more of the story takes place outside the arena than within, this sequel has enough action to please Hunger Games fans and leaves enough questions tantalizingly unanswered for readers to be desperate for the next installment.
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What Do I Think?
Catching Fire -sequel to The Hunger Games- was, well, not as good as I suspected. The exposition seemed to go on forever, and the conflict didn't start soon enough. Sure, we knew of the uprising in the other districts and there were police more and more in District 12, but it never really goes deep into it. I would like to hear the story from Gale's point of view.
My heart sunk when the news of the Quell came out; it was obviously planned. Before that year, there wouldn't have been a female victor from District 12. (Opinions?) The Games were all kind of blur and didn't really make sence a lot of the time.
Eh. Not as good as the first. I don't know if I'll read Mockingjay.