Gale informs her that the Capitol has destroyed District 12 in retaliation. After some hesitation, Katniss joins the rebels. The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes". Lionsgate Publicity. April 25, 2023 . Retrieved April 25, 2023. Major themes of the novels include distrust of authority (of adults and the government), class discrimination and caste, resistance, the ethics of entertainment, and most notably, the origins and effects of war. [20] Social inequality, unaccountable governance and violence against children have also been suggested as prominent themes. "In the world of the 'Hunger Games', the Capitol lives a life of extravagant wealth and consumption. Meanwhile, out in the 'districts', millions of people work dangerous jobs with low pay. As the Capitol wallows in excess, the districts can barely afford to feed their children." [21] Author Suzanne Collins also mentions the themes of " just war", gladiatorial combat and hunger. [22] War as a result of climate disaster, and the power and illusions of television have also been cited as themes. [23] Others have mentioned revolution and rebellion as themes. "Although it’s... aimed at young adults, it presents potentially quite subversive ideas of mass revolution, economic sabotage and the populist fight against oligarchy." [24] Reception Critical reception All four books have been made into feature films, the first three starring Jennifer Lawence, Liam Hemsworth, Josh Hutcherson, Stanley Tucci, Elizabeth Banks and Donald Sutherland. Reese, Jennifer (August 28, 2009). "Catching Fire review". Entertainment Weekly . Retrieved November 26, 2010.

The best-selling prequel to The Hunger Games, The Ballard of Songbirds and Snakes, is soon to be a major feature film releasing in 2023.A prequel to the trilogy, titled The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, was released on May 19, 2020. [15] The novel is set 64 years before The Hunger Games events, during the 'Dark Days' which led to the failed rebellion in Panem. The story follows an 18-year-old Coriolanus Snow, whose family name has fallen from grace as the remaining Snows live in poverty and struggle to keep up appearances in post-war Panem. [16] Snow becomes a mentor for the 10th annual Hunger Games as his final project before graduating from school. Snow shows great commitment in mentoring his tribute Lucy Gray Baird from the impoverished district 12 because her winning means he will be awarded a monetary prize that will cover his university tuition. [17] Though skeptical at first, Snow believes he can turn the odds of the Games in his favor after seeing Lucy defiantly sing during her reaping ceremony. [18] During his time spent mentoring Lucy, Snow begins to fall in love with her and must choose between her and his promising political future. [16] Collins credits her character Lucy as having introduced the concept of entertainment into the Hunger Games with her performative and musical talent. [19] Themes Throughout the novel, Katniss sees how ruthless Gale is. He does not seem to value human life as much as she does. He feels no sympathy for the enemies to the rebellion, and he feels fine with torture and murder, even of innocent civilians, to advance the rebellion. She struggles to reconcile this with the fact that she still cares for Gale. Amid her crushing loneliness and her PTSD, she kisses Gale, but he says that the kiss is not real as it is like “kissing someone who’s drunk.” in SCB Offer September 2023, 8365 in Schools Catalogue 2023–24, 881 in UK Primary September 2023 and 406 in UK Teen Autumn 2023 Series Valby, Karen (January 6, 2011). " 'Hunger Games' exclusive: Why Gary Ross got the coveted job, and who suggested Megan Fox for the lead role". Entertainment Weekly . Retrieved January 26, 2011. Hood, Grace (November 27, 2013). "More Girls Target Archery, Inspired By 'The Hunger Games' ". NPR . Retrieved February 10, 2023.

Perez, Lexy (September 3, 2022). "Who's Who in 'The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes' Movie Cast". The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved April 25, 2023.Haymitch warns her that the danger is far from over. The authorities are furious at being made fools, and the only way to try to allay their anger is to continue to pretend that her actions were because of her love for Peeta and nothing else. On the journey home, Peeta is dismayed to learn of the deception.

Jeff Labrecque (April 4, 2011). " 'Hunger Games' casts Peeta and Gale: Josh Hutcherson and Liam Hemsworth nab the roles". Entertainment Weekly . Retrieved April 4, 2011. Lionsgate announced that the trilogy will be made into 4 movies. Everything we know so far about The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes". Vogue Singapore. September 21, 2022 . Retrieved April 30, 2023. The Most Dangerous Game, a 1924 short story about a big game hunter who is hunted down by another hunter on an isolated island J.C. Maçek III of PopMatters stated, "While the film saga does capture the action of The Hunger Games, the novels are most assuredly the heart of the story. They are nothing less than 'The Writer’s Cut' of the films themselves." [36] In his review Mike Ruiz argues that The Hunger Games film does not have the first-person narrative that is in the original novel. As a result, Ruiz contends the novel is better than the film. [37] have been sold in over 39 countries to date. In April 2010, Suzanne Collins was named to the TIME 100 list of “the world’s most influential people.” LionsgateCowles, Gregory (December 27, 2009). "Children's Books". The New York Times . Retrieved December 31, 2009. Joshua L. Weinstein (March 16, 2011). "Exclusive: Jennifer Lawrence Gets Lead Role in 'The Hunger Games' ". TheWrap.com . Retrieved March 17, 2011. Springen, Karen (March 22, 2012). "The Hunger Games Franchise: The Odds Seem Ever in Its Favor". Publishers Weekly . Retrieved April 11, 2012. 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 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… Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media (August 4, 2016). "New Study from Geena Davis Institute finds Archery Catches Fire Thanks to Inspiring Hollywood Images". Mount Saint Mary's University . Retrieved February 10, 2023.

Video: Contemporary Inspiration – The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins". Scholastic . Retrieved September 4, 2010. [ dead link] Peter Bloom (December 19, 2014). "Subversive message behind "Hunger Games": rebellion works". Denver Post. The fourth movie of The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, is released November 2023 and has an all-star cast including Tom Blyth, Rachel Zegler, Viola Davis and Peter Dinklage. American University in Washington D.C. offered a class 2014-2016 that examined the themes in The Hunger Games world titled “The Hunger Games: Class, Politics, and Marketing”. The class was offered for the school's American Studies Program and covered topics of oppression, feminism, food deserts, rebellion, the publishing industry, and social media marketing. The course's professor, Stef Woods, believes that using the fictional world of Panem to discuss real word problems helps students better understand the issues in American society. [64] [65] See alsoThe Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (2023 Movie) - Reveal , retrieved April 27, 2023