The book Catching Fire, a part of The Hunger Games trilogy written by Suzanne Collins, is surely just as great and shocking as the first book.

 

Six months after winning the 74th Hunger Games, Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark have resumed their lives at the place they call home, District 12. As part of their victory in winning, their lives are a bit more luxurious scenery wise as they now live in the "Victor's Village", where Katniss lives with her mother and her sister Prime. This book explores the effects of trauma and classism and how fascism oppresses society. Katniss is left with her horrible memories of the past games and thinks that it could not get worse, but Katniss standing up for what she believes in turns to rebellion in a fascists society that can not be overlooked. Katniss' consequences take her back to the place she can never escape.

 

I absolutely enjoyed this book. Extremely easy to read without any difficult grammar barriers making it a great book for new readers to read and enjoy. The tone of this book is very stoic, but occasionally emotional. You never know what will happen in this book, because what else could happen after what seems like a big story then ends? But wait, this book carries on the story and does not disappoint. Shockingly enough this book at some times has little bits of humor, which compared to the first book, is refreshing to see.  It's refreshing to see a different side to characters when they are in desperate a situation, what can happen, and what can cause change to these people. An amazing book with so many unexpected changes and questions and events. You will not expect what will happen in this book. One moment there is a shock, then the next another shock, and it goes on and on and never gets boring with more problems and issues facing these characters.

 

The characters in this book definitely changed from the prior book as major events have happened and caused harm for some like Katniss and Peeta. Katniss in the first book was definitely brave and we still know that in the second book, but Katniss is definitely a lot more stoic and serious and less confident in her actions. She knows what the capital can do, and she is scared for what is coming, but she still pushes through that to fight for what she thinks is right. But there is definitely a change in characters and the whole dynamic and tone of the movie. Katniss is no longer new to what can happened and therefore can not hide it or think otherwise of what can happen because she knows from prior experience. The plot is great and unexpected. The ending leaves us readers wondering what happens next! Resolved in some ways but unresolved in most.

 

To be able to fully understand what is taking place in this book, I would recommend you read the first Hunger Games book, as it is worth your time, saves the confusion, and gives you the knowledge that can help you enjoy the book a lot better without wondering why this is or what this is. Information in this book is not real-world accurate as it is a dystopian book and completely fiction, so do not take context from this book and use it for a history or science report.

 

This book is so open and just so creative and good that you will not forget it. I recommend it to anyone. Does not matter if you are just starting to read because this book will get you to want to read more because of how intriguing it is. I recommend it to you even if you have read 1000 books, it is for anyone to read and love.

 

One similar book(s) trilogy to this one i would suggest would have to be Divergent by Veronica Roth as it carries that same dystopian feel to it and the same sense of the brave main character, who does something very brave that involves family, opposing, and doing what she wants in a context where she supposedly should not.  A great read and also a movie series just like The Hunger Games. Another book trilogy series i would recommend would be The Maze Runner by James Dashner because it too is dystopian and carries the same sense of fear, wonder, and action like The Hunger Games does.