The Hunger GamesThe Hunger Games
Score Modern
What it's about
In Panem, a nation built on the ruins of North America, the Capitol forces each of its twelve districts to send two teenagers every year to the Hunger Games, a televised fight to the death. When her twelve-year-old sister is chosen, sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen of impoverished District 12 volunteers in her place. Alongside Peeta Mellark, the baker's son, she must survive the arena, the other tributes and a Capitol that wants a show, while deciding how much of herself to give its audience.
Why it's worth reading
It's one of the best-selling books of all time and defined a whole era of young adult fiction. Under the cliffhangers it's a sharp book about violence, poverty and entertainment, which is why adults read it as eagerly as teens.
You'll love it if you liked
Red Rising
The Giver
Lord of the FliesGood to know
It's the first of a trilogy, with Catching Fire and Mockingjay following and two later prequels. Teens die on the page, though it's not graphic.
By the numbers
- Readers94 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller92 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #6 of the 219 young adult books we rank
- #9 of the 313 science fiction books we rank
- #47 of the 1,573 modern books we rank
- #85 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Thought-provoking, Dark
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Quick answers
Is The Hunger Games worth reading?
Yes. It's one of the best-selling books of all time and defined a whole era of young adult fiction. It ranks #85 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 87.0 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is The Hunger Games about?
In Panem, a nation built on the ruins of North America, the Capitol forces each of its twelve districts to send two teenagers every year to the Hunger Games, a televised fight to the death. When her twelve-year-old sister is chosen, sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen of impoverished District 12 volunteers in her place. Alongside Peeta Mellark, the baker's son, she must survive the arena, the other tributes and a Capitol that wants a show, while deciding how much of herself to give its audience.
How long does it take to read The Hunger Games?
About 9 hours (374 pages), or about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after The Hunger Games?
If you liked it, try Red Rising by Pierce Brown, The Giver by Lois Lowry or Lord of the Flies by William Golding.