Catching Fire

Collins, Suzanne. Catching Fire. Scholastic Press, 2009. ISBN 978-0-439-02349-8

Plot
The Games are over and Katniss and Peeta surprisingly survive, but the threat is not over yet. They may have won the games, but the manner in which they won makes the Capitol angry and they blame the actions of Katniss for lighting a fire underneath all the Districts wanting to rebel. With the Capital threatening to erase her family, friends and all that she cares about Katniss must take on a new challenge where it's more than her life at stake.

Critical Evaluation
Usually there is a concern that the second book in a series won't be as good or interesting as the first. However it is not the case here. Readers will enjoy the quick pace of the book and great plot twists that will keep them guessing throughout the entire story. Readers will also be treated to more insight to each character and their capabilities as well as life in other districts. It is a page turner from start to finish and will leave readers wanting the third book to come out right away.

Reader's Annotation
Katniss is out the rink but not out of the game. She didn't play by the Capitol's rules so now she must convince them and well as all Districts that her actions were out of desperation, or else. Katniss now tests her own limits of how much she can go to protect all of the people that she loves.

About the Author
Suzanne Collins started out as a writer for TV shows for children. She has contributed to Clarissa Explains it Al and the Emmy nominated Little Bear among many others. It wasn't until she met James Proimos, a children's author that she decided to try writing books.

She has also written the Underground Chronicles in addition to the Hunger Games series. The Third book of the Hunger Games, The Mocking Jay, will be available August 2010.

Genre
Fiction

Curriculum Ties
Sci-fi
Dystopia
Social Rebellion

Book Talking Ideas
Do you think Katniss' actions really determined if the Districts would rebel or not?
Compare and contrast the relationships between Katniss and Peeta, versus Katniss and Gale.
In what ways did you feel Katniss and Peeta and other characters in the book demonstrated that the Capitol didn't "own" them?

Reading Level/Interest Age
12 and up

Challenge Issues
There is violence in the book

Challenge Answer
The violence is brief and doesn't go into graphic detail.

Why included in Selection
I heard a lot about this series and heard it was a good social/sci-fi series. I also enjoyed the first book.