The Hunger Games

In a post-apocalyptic world, one group of people who live in the decadent Capitol rule over the rest of humanity, who are consigned to 12 impoverished districts that supply resources to the Capitol. Every year, two teen “tributes” from each district are sent to the Capitol to compete in a gladiatorial spectacle to the death–and the winner earns food for their district for the year. District 12's tributes, Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark must overcome the odds of professionally trained “Career” tributes out for blood and the treacherous political climate of the Capitol in order to avoid death. Collins' ability to build a desperate and yet believable world through specific sensory details and believable characters makes for a fast-paced yet thought-provoking book. Highly recommended for both male and female teens, although I might recommend it for middle grade on a case-by-case basis due to violent content and gore.