In the ruins of North America lies the nation of Panem, 12 districts ruled by a central Capitol. As punishment for a long-ago uprising, the Capitol forces each district to send one boy and one girl, ages 12 to 18, to take part in the annual Hunger Games—a fight to the death on live TV.

When her younger sister’s name is called, 16-year-old Katniss Everdeen steps forward to take her place. But even Katniss, a skilled hunter with bow and arrow, regards it as a death sentence. If she is to win, she must start making choices that weigh survival against humanity...and life against love.

A searing coming-of-age novel set in a post-apocalyptic future, The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins is a fast-paced read with a message for our times.