Science Fiction, Survival, Action, Violence, High School
517 pages.
https://twitter.com/hungergamesnet
Description
Kirkus Reviews starred (June 15, 2020)
An origin story for both President Snow and the Hunger Games as we know them.
Coriolanus Snow has the right family name, a prestigious address, talent, and
charisma—but unless he wins a prize to pay for university, it’s all for nothing, as
his family’s wealth came from the now obliterated District 13. He must succeed
in his final project of being a mentor in the Hunger Games, but his District 12 girl
tribute assignment at first feels damning. However, Lucy Gray Baird is vibrant
and wild, a singer and performer with star power; she’s perfect for Coriolanus, who
has been tasked with boosting the grim, lackluster games that, early in the shift from
mock war to sporting spectacle, are even more brutal and unpredictable. Coriolanus
is pulled between Mengelian Dr. Gaul’s twisted mentorship and connections with
sympathetic foils Lucy Gray (which veers romantic) and compassionate classmate
Sejanus. Conflicted Coriolanus thinks of himself as a good person in an impossible
situation but also as exceptional—a belief with a high price. Collins humanizes him
as superficially heroic and emotionally relatable while also using him for a vehicle for philosophical questions. Though readers know how he will eventually answer the
questions explicitly asked of him, the central question is why, resulting in both a
tense, character-driven piece and a cautionary tale. There is some mention of
diversity in skin tone; Coriolanus and Lucy Gray seem to be white. The twists and
heartbreaks captivate despite tragic inevitabilities. (Science fiction. 12-adult)
My Comments Despite some reviews, I think this prequel is as good, if not better than the Hunger Games trilogy. Collins delves into serious, relevant philosophical questions about human behavior and choices. It would be excellent for 8th through high school sociopolitical discussions related to Machiavelli ideology. This book is best for older and mature readers. On my favorite list. Waiting for the next one!
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