This is easily the best book of the year, it's loving tale and endless suspense appealing to both adults and kids. If you haven't read it yet, it's about time you do. 16 year old Katniss Everdeen is a citizen of District Twelve, and even bigger, a citizen of Panem, a country that rose out of the ashes of what used to be North America after a devastating war. Katniss lives in a small Seam house with her semi-absent-minded and shocked mother, and her 12 year old beloved sister, Prim. She takes care of her family, and goes out hunting with her best friend, 18 year old Gale, with snare traps, a bow, and some arrows. Her father died when she was very young in a mine accident. On the day of a reaping for the annual Hunger Games, a deathly competition going on for over seventy years for the entertainment and revenge of the Capitol, her sister is chosen. Katniss takes her place and with Peeta Mellark- a baker's son and the boy tribute from District 12- they head to the Capitol, and then on their journey to certain death. Katniss and Peeta team up, and it seems like she could really win this and return home safely. But when she and Peeta make it closer to the end, she has feelings and thoughts of rebel, and starts her journey through the sequel of The Hunger Games digging up the secrets under the Capitol's rain. But not everyone can survive through the lies.