“A violent, jarring, speed-rap of a novel that generates nearly suspense…I couldn’t stop reading.” –Stephen King

Action packed novels for summer reading? It just can’t be possible. But it is. This summer’s reading assignment is the highly adored novel The Hunger Games.  

 The Hunger Games trilogy, by Suzanne Collins is about a future North America that is in destruction due to bad government. The continent is broken up into multiple sections, or districts. Originally there were 13 districts, but some fighting happened that occurred between the 13 districts and the capital, and sure enough the capital won(you’ll learn that capital just about never loses) and district 13 is now gone.    

But here in the new world it’s not in good shape. Citizens are hungry and hurting. But every year the annual games are held, called the Hunger Games, hence the book title. These games are in some way like the Olympics, but much more extreme. Since each district has very little, the capital has held these games annually. And whoever wins these games; their district gets treated special, more food and more help. But what make these games different then the Olympics, is that it’s a fight till the death.

The novel is an intense and suspenseful read, and is much less depressing and heavy novel than last year’s summer reading Maus. But some don’t see the good in this novel.

Many kids do not like the idea of having to read The Hunger Games.

“I really don’t want to read The Hunger Games because I really don’t like sci-fi or futuristic fiction that much. A lot of people say it’s good, but I’m just not really interested,” freshman, Greta McGuire replied when asked about this summer’s reading assignment. She also added, “I think it would be cool if we got a list of books we could choose one we actually want to read and then do all the according work on the novel.”

Even some teachers don’t see this as a fit novel for all grade levels; don’t think that the looks you give during announcements, when there is a mention of this book, goes unnoticed Mr. Fonck.

But others are rather excited for this summer’s homework.

Jamie Picha, an avid reader of The Hunger Games series, said, “I think it’s one of the best books I’ve ever read!” I think it’s a really good summer reading book because it’s not boring like the other books we’ve had to read in the past. And to all the idiots who think that it is stupid, haven’t even read it yet. They just need to give it a chance and they’ll see that it is a really good book,” replied when asked about the summer reading novel and about some people’s views on it.

And other students are just relieved that The Hunger Games is an easier read.

Lauren Johnson, an honors freshman said, “All I have to say is that it’s easier than Leaf Storm,” when asked about the 2011 summer reading compared to last year’s novel Leaf Storm.

But no matter what your opinion on The Hunger Games, you have to read it, so get over it. It just might surprise you, and you’ll want to read all three.