Review: Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
The Hunger Games series #2
young adult, dystopian, post-apocalyptic
My own purchase
4.5 stars

Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen has won the annual Hunger Games with fellow district tribute Peeta Mellark. But it was a victory won by defiance of the Capitol and their harsh rules. Katniss and Peeta should be happy. After all, they have just won for themselves and their families a life of safety and plenty. But there are rumors of rebellion among the subjects, and Katniss and Peeta, to their horror, are the faces of that rebellion. The Capitol is angry. The Capitol wants revenge.

I really loved this book. I stayed up until 2am Saturday night just so I could finish it, and it was really hard to not start Mockingjay Sunday morning (two library books told me I shouldn't). I was glad to see Gale again (Yay, Gale!), and how life back in District 12 had changed for Katniss after the Games. Becoming a nationwide celebrity, means that she has to watch how she acts, which is difficult for her since her previous constants in her life have changed. Becoming a symbol for the rebellions is unexpected for Katniss, and trying do her best to discourage the rebellions proves to be a harder task than competing in the Games.

Katniss still maintains her strength in protecting those she cares about throughout the novel. One thing that struck me in this is how Collins did a bit of role reversal in Catching Fire. It seems like frequently in novels, the serious romantic feelings tend to originate in the female character, but in The Hunger Games series, it the male leads that come into their feelings first, and Katniss is blindsided when she learns of their feelings. I just found it interesting, it fits well for the completely un-boy crazy Katniss.

The story will keep you reading with it's plot twists, especially when you get to the last half of the novel. The worse thing is it has one of those cliff hanger endings (although, it may have been before that was the in thing to do), so you may have the urge to start straight in with Mockingjay.