Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

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reviewed by Aaron Stagoff-Belfort

Sparks fly and the war for control of the nation of Panem is ignited. Will the rebels win or will the capital prevail? Catching Fire, the explosive sequel to the Hunger Games, is even more suspenseful and riveting than the first.

Impossibly and improbably, Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mallark have survived the Hunger Games. Despite not being the richest, strongest, or most crafty of the contestants, they outsmart the rest with their fake ploy as star crossed lovers. They have succeeded. But by winning and tricking the fascist capital, they have incurred its wrath.

Rumors of a possible uprising, not seen since before the Hunger Games, have begun to circulate. Katniss is cautious and fearful for her friends and family. In addition to the capital's threats, she has to deal with the issue of Peeta, who is really in love with her. Gale, her best friend, kisses her in the woods and declares his love for her. Katniss is confused, and in turn doesn't know whether to like Gale, and feel guilty about Peeta, or vice-versa.

Then Katniss's life starts to crash and burn. The feared President Snow comes to her house. He has a meeting with her and tells her that if she doesn't perform really well with Peeta at the victory tour, he will kill her family and destroy District 12. As President Snow leaves, he whispers, "I know about the kiss." Katniss discovers that there are all-seeing video cameras watching her every move. And as Snow departs, she smells blood on his breath.

Katniss is absolutely terrified. This victory tour is really a survival tour. If she cannot quell a rebellion, which she wants to start, everything she loves will be lost. Katniss travels all around Panem. As she travels, she witnesses the start of a rebellion. As the capital gets nastier, and tension heightens, Katniss only seems to add fuel to the rebellion, which she is trying to stop. Will the capital buy the ploy of star-crossed lovers? Can Katniss save the people she holds most dear? Only one thing is certain: the capital wants vengeance.

Catching Fire was a very good book, possibly even better than the first. As soon as I started reading it I couldn't put it down. I give it 9 out of 10. From the start, Catching Fire was a face-paced thriller. It will make kids who don't usually pick up a book want to read. Collins had a lot to work with in this second book and many different roads to explore. This book had a good mixture of love and the more war-like gory details similar to the first book. While the dynamic between Peeta and Katniss didn't develop as quickly as I would have liked, Collins is obviously saving the suspense for the upcoming books in this epic series.

The character development was excellent, even better then the first. Collins really knows how to craft her characters in a way that makes them interesting, sophisticated and appealing. You want to learn more about them, which makes the already brilliant story line even more intriguing.

Book 2 was almost as good as the first; this sequel had no sophomore slump. The first 150 pages or so were very good but lacked the same intensity as the Hunger Games. Things really start to pick up when you get to page 172. The biggest twist in the series happens here, leaving you praising Collins's genius. After that, the book is nothing short of amazing. I couldn't put it down and finished it in one sitting. Book 3 promises to be even more amazing than the first 2. The 2nd book built up the momentum for book 3 and I believe that one will be mind-blowing. It was one of my favorite books of the year.

If you haven't read book one of the series then you should definitely pick it up. It's for kids 10 and up but is not for the faint of heart. Catching Fire hits stores September 1, 2009 and is a perfect book to start the school year with. You will not be disappointed.
(ages 12 & up)