Bound To Stay Bound

Booklist - 07/01/2009 *Starred Review* At the end of The Hunger Games (2008), breathless readers were left in the lurch with any number of questions. Will Katniss lead an uprising against the Capitol? Does she fancy Peeta or Gale? Both? Neither? And perhaps most importantly, how in the world is Collins going to live up to the (well-deserved) hype? Without divulging too much, don’t sweat it. The book opens with Katniss and Peeta reluctantly embarking on their victory tour through the 12 oppressed districts of Panem, where they witness more than a few surprising things. And right when it seems as if the plot might be going into a holding pattern between the first and third acts of the trilogy, a blindsiding development hurtles the story along and matches, if not exceeds, the unfiltered adrenaline rush of the first book. Again, Collins’ crystalline, unadorned prose provides an open window to perfect pacing and electrifying world building, but what’s even more remarkable is that aside from being tremendously action-packed science-fiction thrillers, these books are also brimming with potent themes of morality, obedience, sacrifice, redemption, love, law, and, above all, survival. Honestly, this book only needs to be good enough to satisfy its legions of fans. Fortunately, it’s great. And if you were dying to find out what happens after the last book, get ready for pure torture awaiting the next. - Copyright 2009 Booklist.

School Library Journal - 09/01/2009 Gr 7 Up— Every year in Panem, the dystopic nation that exists where the U.S. used to be, the Capitol holds a televised tournament in which two teen "tributes" from each of the surrounding districts fight a gruesome battle to the death. In The Hunger Games (Scholastic, 2008), Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark, the tributes from impoverished District Twelve, thwarted the Gamemakers, forcing them to let both teens survive. In this rabidly anticipated sequel, Katniss, again the narrator, returns home to find herself more the center of attention than ever. The sinister President Snow surprises her with a visit, and Katniss's fear when Snow meets with her alone is both palpable and justified. Catching Fire is divided into three parts: Katniss and Peeta's mandatory Victory Tour through the districts, preparations for the 75th Annual Hunger Games, and a truncated version of the Games themselves. Slower paced than its predecessor, this sequel explores the nation of Panem: its power structure, rumors of a secret district, and a spreading rebellion, ignited by Katniss and Peeta's subversive victory. Katniss also deepens as a character. Though initially bewildered by the attention paid to her, she comes almost to embrace her status as the rebels' symbolic leader. Though more of the story takes place outside the arena than within, this sequel has enough action to please Hunger Games fans and leaves enough questions tantalizingly unanswered for readers to be desperate for the next installment.—Megan Honig, New York Public Library - Copyright 2009 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.

Bulletin for the Center... - 12/01/2009 In the months following their triumphant return from the Hunger Games, District 12 victors Katniss and Peeta try to get back to their everyday lives. Unfortunately, the Games-an annual event in which chosen teens must fight to the death-have a way of destroying any sense of normalcy long after the contenders leave the arena, and the pair find themselves haunted by nightmares while keeping an uneasy distance from those they love. Worse yet, Katniss’ last-ditch attempt for survival during the Games has spurred what were once faint cries for reform into a full-blown rebellion that threatens to destroy Capitol and places Katniss directly at the front of the movement. Despite her best efforts to calm the uprising, Katniss ends up back in the arena, battling not just their fellow contenders but also the Capitol’s wrath while trying to keep Peeta alive for the sake of the revolution’s future-or so she thinks. This thrilling follow-up to The Hunger Games (BCCB 11/08) matches its predecessor in both breathless pacing and high-octane drama, keeping the reader totally engrossed in Katniss’ struggle to keep those she loves alive. Her internal battles are just as provocative as the surrounding political machinations and the utter decay of this dystopian society is revealed not just in the poisonous vapors and blood rain of the arena but also in the callous decadence of the Capitol and the bleak desperation of the rebels. Collins deftly balances the heart-pounding action scenes with moments of tender emotion, particularly between Katniss and the two men that claim her heart, and readers will find themselves unwilling to root for just one guy. Get multiple copies of this one and be prepared to throw a book party when the third installation comes out, as this trilogy is sure to only gain in popularity. KQG - Copyright 2009 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois.