BOOK REVIEWS
Courtesy of Beaverdale Books
Review by Julie Goodrich
‘Catching Fire’
By Suzanne Collins
Scholastic Press
09/01/2009
$17.99
391 pp
The second book in the bestselling “Hunger Games Trilogy,” “Catching Fire” is a deep, emotionally charged book with wonderfully complex character development and a fast paced plot. Full of moral quandaries and achingly stark writing, it takes this already brilliant series to a whole new level.
Crowned as the first pair of victors in the 74th Hunger Games, Peeta and Katniss have become world famous celebrities for their star-crossed love story. Katniss struggles with the reality of that love story throughout the book, challenging her feelings at every turn. Starting when they spend weeks traveling to the other districts on their victory tour, things begin to change. They learn about their world and what it really means to be under the capitol’s thumb. Meanwhile things have changed drastically back home in District 12 and not in a good way. When her best friend Gale is gravely hurt, Katniss is thrust into even more moral and emotional turmoil as she wrestles with what is real, what is right and what has to be done.
“Catching Fire” has something for everybody — conspiracies, romance, ethical dilemmas and heart-pounding action. This series may be marketed towards young adults, but the charming characters, political overtones and sharp writing will appeal to adults and children alike. “Catching Fire” is a worthy sequel, filling out the story and deepening the reader’s connection to the characters. It matches “The Hunger Games” perfectly, including the painfully wrenching cliffhanger at the end. CV
