The Hunger Games

Katniss Everdeen is every modern girl's hero. Tough and wizened by life's hard times, she also has weaknesses, self-doubt, and even a hint of romance in her life. I can see why this book has attracted so many YA readers, both male and female. It's—I use one of my favorite words here, “gritty”—edgy, but also endearing. You get a sense of Kat's love for her little sister Prim, her weaknesses in the Games, and her confusion regarding Gale and Peeta.

The plot itself reminded me of a mix between The Island, Shirley Jackson's The Lottery, and the TV show V. I am eager to pick up the next installment of this trilogy to find out what's next. This book kept me interested and engaged, which is something wonderfully powerful about most YA literature.