I am a bit baffled by the reviewers who say they found the story simplistic and not exciting enough. These reviewers are clearly adults and I'm not sure what they were expecting from a young adult title? Given the lack of thought provoking content or challenging material usually offered to this audience, I (as a children's bookseller) found this to be one of the more confronting and interesting books for this audience and can see the cross-over appeal. I personally found it to be gripping and am looking forward to the next one!

Although this book was originally targeted to the young adult audience I think people of all ages will love this book. My 17 year old daughter begged me to read it when she finished. I listed to the audio book while traveling then came home and ordered Catching Fire and preordered Mockingjay right away! Loved all three books.

I honestly wasn't expecting much but boy was I wrong. It had me from the first minute of narration. I wasn't that thrilled with the narrator but she grew on me. The story isn't new or groundbreaking but the way the author wove the story was absolutely fantastic.

I loved this book and would recommend it to my 11 year old son, except that suicide is treated as a reasonable thing to do at one point in the narrative. That rubs my morals the wrong way.
The story is gripping and the setting believable.

A must read. I listen to books while I walk, and this one helped me lose 6 lbs in one week! I would walk just to listen to the book.I wish there was a sequel.

This series of books is so original, interesting and fascinating. It took me a little bit of time to get used to a female narrator, but after about 1/2 of the first book, I didn't even notice a difference any more. Carolyn McCormick is an excellent narrator. These books are not for younger aged readers even though they are Young Adult literature. I would say a mature 10 year old would be able to handle them, but probably closer to 12 is a good age. I would put them along the lines of the last 2 Harry Potter books for reader level.

These books will be re-read and dissected by the young adult literature community, just as the Harry Potter series has been. They are excellently written, with beautiful undertones and themes. Katniss is not a likeable character, but you like her anyway. She is tough, but not "boyish"; non-emotional but not insensitive.

If you are reading these reviews to see if you want to read these books, be prepared. You will be signing up not just for this book, but for all 3. Once you read the Hunger Games, you will HAVE to read Catching Fire and Mockingjay!

Overall, I enjoyed this story, but found the main character a little aggravating and some parts predictable.

There is some sleight of hand as well: the characters are being watched for entertainment by others in their society, including their romance, which perhaps points a subtle, suggestive finger at the inquisitiveness or voyeurism of the reader. Aren't we interested in their "lives" as entertainment, too, even if we know that they are fictional? "Reality" TV is a closer example, but the book still made me wonder if the author were laughing up her sleeve.

I would read the next story to find out what happens, but with some reluctance. If you can overlook these flaws, you will enjoy a fast-paced plot.

I have been listening to "The Hunger Games" and I am amazed at how great this book is. The book is thought provoking, suspenseful, and in many ways relevant to modern social issues. The concepts and struggles of these kids tugs at your heart strings, and I find myself frothing at the monstrous establishment that could create such a hideous sport where children are pitted in a battle to the death with other children. I have had a monthly platinum subscription to audible for several years and have listened to hundreds of audiobooks (usually nonfiction) and I can say that this is by far one of the best audiobooks I have ever listened to. I find myself doing random mindless chores around the house and driving the long way to work just so I can continue listening. Brilliantly done.

This is a terrific trilogy for any age (not just young adults) and I enjoyed it hugely and many of the previous reviews give a good indication why so I won't go there. I would just like to highlight that I loved the narrator of this audiobook and think she did a fantastic job. When the three books were finished, I was sad not just because the story ended but also because I wouldn't be hearing her anymore. One of the best series of audiobooks I have ever listened to (and I have been a platinum member of audible for years...) with a really great narrator !!!

The book was surprisingly good. I liked the idea of the hunger games. The game which is brutal in nature is tactfully written. The main character is likable and talented. The only aspect I didn't like is it seemed like the author didn't really describe what the rules of the game were until the "rule" came into play. It was like, oh yeah, by the way this is like this. And sometimes it is in the main characters favor and sometimes not. I just don't like it when it appears the author makes up the rules as they go. Like the jacker bees or whatever they are called. It was like, "oh yeah by the way there are these bees that kill and happen to be right here where I need them" That being said there are some good scenes of action and suspense. I wish she drew out some of the action scenes more and I would have liked more description when she wrote the final battle. Other than those few gripes the book was good. I like her world setting. I would like to see an antagonist be a person for the protagonist and not just ideology of big brother, but thats just me. Overall I highly recommend.