All 4 Hunger Games books ranked worst to best (including A Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes)

2. The Hunger Games

The Hunger Games is the first book of the series, and it’s an excellent story. We’re introduced to Katniss Everdeen, District 12, and the rules of this world, of which there are many. The story begins when Katniss’s sister, Primrose, is selected as District 12’s tribute to the Hunger Games, an annual fight to the death competition featuring tributes from all 12 districts of Panem. Katniss, then, volunteers in her sister’s place, and tries to stay alive while other young people kill and are killed all around her.

The Hunger Games is a brutal story, but it’s also a story of hope. It’s such a good introduction to the world of Panem and Katniss Everdeen. Living in Katniss’s head for 384 pages is an interesting way to tell this story. Collins could have gone much more macro with this story, but it works so well only told from Katniss’s perspective. The reveals get bigger and bigger as the series goes on.

One of the reasons I love The Hunger Games compared to some of the other books is just how much heart this story has. It’s so grounded and raw, compared to, say, Mockingjay. We feel Katniss’s pain in every step of her journey. While that’s true in the later books, it feels much more heavy during Katniss’s first trip in the arena and her relationship with Rue, Peeta, Haymitch, and the rest of the District 12 team.

While Jennifer Lawrence’s Katniss comes off a little rigid in the first of the Hunger Games movies as she tries to find confidence and belonging in a new experience, Katniss from the book is anything but rigid. There’s so much depth to the character.

The Hunger Games just misses out on the top spot in the ranking.