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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Loved this one. I sped through the first book a couple of months ago, and put this second installment on hold right away. I read it while sick in bed one weekend. It picked right up where The Hunger Games left off, same characters, no sneaking anything past the reader. I really like the way the author works some hints into the story [some more subtle than others] and lets the reader try to work some things out for herself.
I also appreciate that the author has already said it will be a trilogy. I like when there is a set end as opposed to when a series just goes on and on.
5 out of 5 and cannot wait for the third story to come out.
Library list:
The lost city of Z : a tale of deadly obsession in the Amazon Grann, David
Book by book : the complete guide to creating mother-daughter book clubs Hudson, Cindy
The black echo Connelly, Michael
Freakonomics : a rogue economist explores the hidden side of everything Levitt, Steven D.
Hardball Paretsky, Sara
I dreamed I married Perry Mason Kandel, Susan
The last Dickens : a novel Pearl, Matthew
Karma Dunlap, Susan
Gregor the Overlander Collins, Suzanne
The love dare Kendrick, Stephen
Dial H for Hitchcock Kandel, Susan
Moonlight in Odessa : a novel Skeslien Charles, Janet
Hollywood Station : a novel Wambaugh, Joseph
Let me know how you like the Michael Connelly book - I’m interested in him as an author, but have never actually read anything except a short article in The New York Times or something like that!