Review: Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

Title: Catching Fire

Author: Suzanne Collins
Series: The Hunger Games

Book #: 2

Pages: 384

Reading Level: YA

Rating: .9

Goodreads Rating: 4.39

Published: Sept. 1st, 2009

by Scholastic Press

"Tick Tock, Tick Tock..."

Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen has won the annual Hunger Games with fellow district tribute Peeta Mellark. But it was a victory won by defiance of the Capitol and their harsh rules. Katniss and Peeta should be happy. After all, they have just won for themselves and their families a life of safety and plenty.

But there are rumors of rebellion among the subjects, and Katniss and Peeta, to their horror, are the faces of that rebellion. The Capitol is angry. The Capitol wants revenge.

Taschima's POV:

Katniss has done it. She won, and she isn't going home alone. With Peeta by her side she goes on home thinking the worst is done. But the nightmares are only beginning. The Capitol is angry at her little stunt to keep both her and Peeta alive, so they decide to take control of her entire life. At least at The Hunger Games you knew what to expect. Here in the districts they can kill you and make it look like an accident. Whats worst they can kill your whole family and friends right along with you. All this is in Katniss mind when she hears about strange rumors concerning a revolution, and how she is the spark that finally started the flame.

There is nothing that can hold a candle to The Hunger Games, but Catching Fire serves as an excellent bridge between book's 1 and 3. When a series usually consist of 3 books book 2 is almost always bound to be a bridge between books and Catching Fire serves this plus it gives us more clues and answers questions while giving us more that I expect will be answered in book 3.

Katniss is as independent as ever and I just love her for that. She seems more stronger now, but at the same time she isn't putting a barrier between her and the world anymore. She is letting people in. Oh and she is as smart as in previous installments. All in all in the Katniss department we see a little of character development that is just enough to start off book 3 and keep us happy.

One of the only things that let me down about this book is that I didn't get to know Gale as well as I would have liked. I wanted to know more about him than his rough exterior. I wanted more Gale time. But that don't mean I am on Gale Team, I am still Team Peeta. In fact if this book did anything is make me more of a Team Peeta member! Peeta is just so sweet and he really means everything he says, and at the same time if it comes to his or Katniss life he will take every precaution necessary to prolong both if not only Kat's.

I say he would make an excellent spokesman for the rebellion. Oh and yes, I am all for the revolution. The sooner the better! One thing this book definitely didn't lose was it's suspense. Sure I expected some things, other's I didn't, and some things I kind of had some idea they were there while other's took me by surprise.

Oh and I still find it hard to remember the names O.o Why must they be so weird!

The ending was a total cliffhanger. I understand why Katniss acts like she acts by the end, but I think that she should stay still for just a minute and take a breath so she can see the big picture. There is no going back. The revolution has begun.