The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Official Summary
In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. The Capitol is harsh and cruel and keeps the districts in line by forcing them all to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV.

Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives alone with her mother and younger sister, regards it as a death sentence when she is forced to represent her district in the Games. But Katniss has been close to dead and survival, for her, is second nature. Without really meaning to, she becomes a contender. But if she is to win, she will have to start making choices that weigh survival against humanity and life against love.

My Two Cents
Is there really anyone out there that hasn't read this book?? If you haven't, please do yourself one of the biggest favors of all time and pick it up. BEFORE you go see the movie. It is one of the best I've ever read. And that is saying a lot.

I'm not really here to talk about this for my Young Adults or Moms, I actually read this book to Charlie (please notice the label). I told him that if he wanted to see the movie, he had to listen to the book. (I was due for a re-read of it, anyway). Well. Let me tell you that this child, who is a tough nut to crack as far as books go, BEGGED me to read to him every night, BEGGED for more chapters each time we picked up the book. He absolutely loved it and wants me to read the rest of the series to him sometime soon. By soon, he means "now" but I needed to take a break from Katniss and Peeta. We'll get to it.

Now - fair warning...it is a little intense and there is one pretty upsetting scene. But Charlie is a second child who has been exposed to stuff that's a little less than "age appropriate" for him his whole life. (anyone else got one of those???) So he was not happy after I read certain parts, but he took it in stride and it didn't give him nightmares or ruin the book for him or anything.

So, consider this as a "read aloud" option. But also consider yourself warned - I would give it a PG-13 rating. It may not be for every grade schooler.