The Book my Daughter Counted Down the Days For – Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

Last spring, I bought  my daughter, Kelsey, the finalists for the YA portion of the Indie Choice Book Awards.  Her hands-down favorite was The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (see a review by Carrie at Books and Movies).  She personally convinced so many friends to buy copies that Ms. Collins owes Kelsey lunch next time she’s in Los Angeles.  Just mention to Kelsey that The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaimen won the Indie Choice Book Award to see an instant frown cloud her face. 

September 1st was Kelsey’s first day of school, but more importantly, it was the release date for Catching Fire, Suzanne Collins second book in The Hunger Games trilogy.  I picked up a carload of girls from school, headed to Diesel, our local bookstore, and followed some very excited girls to the cash register.  My deal with Kelsey, I’ll pay for Catching Fire, but you have to write the review.  Here it is, Kelsey’s first book review:

Catching Fire picks up a few weeks after Katniss and Peeta win the Hunger Games. These games are a cruel competition among the 12 districts of Panem. In The Hunger Games, two children from each district aged 12 to 18 fight to the death in the arena of the Hunger Games. When Katniss’ little sister Prim is picked to compete as the girl for District 12, Katniss volunteers instead, and against all odds  she and Peeta win the games, but not with angering the capitol.

Catching Fire starts when Katniss is back at home. As winners of the Hunger Games, Katniss and Peeta are forced to tour the districts as a reminder of the impending next round of the annual games, but this time it’s worse than ever. Every 25 years there is a Quarter Quell, Hunger Games with a cruel twist each time for the contestants and the districts. In the first Quarter Quell, the districts had to pick the children who went into the games.  For the second Quarter Quell, twice as many people were forced to go into the games, and the next Hunger Games is the third Quarter Quell. When Katniss learns of this Quarter Quell’s twist she realizes that it’s worse than she could have ever imagined.

Katniss hears that she may have created a rebellious spark in the districts by undermining the Hunger Games in how she and Peeta won. During the tour some of the districts aren’t being complacent. Under the shouting of Katniss’ name there’s elation and fury. Katniss is torn between protecting her loved ones and doing what she thinks is right.

 Katniss, the girl on fire, has become the fuse of another rebellion and she is Catching Fire.