The Hunger Games series is a trilogy set in the young adult and dystopian genre. They were originally published in 2008, 2009, and 2010, with a prequel being published in 2020.
If you’ve watched the highly successful movie series based on this trilogy, you might also find yourself interested in reading the book series. If that’s the case, this article will help you with a complete guide on how to read The Hunger Games books in order!
Suzanne Collins is the author of The Hunger Games series. She was born in Hartford, Connecticut, on August 10, 1962. Before she wrote books, she worked as a writer for children’s television shows, many of which were on Nickelodeon.
It was in 2003 that she published her first series called The Underland Chronicles. There are five books in the series, and Suzanne Collins says the inspiration came from none other than Alice in Wonderland.
Once this series was published, she started working on her The Hunger Games series, which became so popular that it was adapted into a movie series starring Jennifer Lawrence in the lead role of Katniss Everdeen.
But you are not here to talk about the movies, right? You want to know exactly how many books there are in The Hunger Games series and what the best order to read The Hunger Games books is. So, let’s not waste any more time and get right into it!
How Many The Hunger Games Books Are There?
In The Hunger Games series, there are three books with a prequel set before the events of the Hunger Games. It’s recommended that you read the books in order of publication because each book takes place after the previous one.
Below is the correct order to read all the books in The Hunger Games series:
- The Hunger Games (2008)
- Catching Fire (2009)
- Mockingjay (2010)
- The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (2020)
Suzanne Collins’ fantasy series has been extremely popular over the years and has also won multiple awards!
In addition, the series has sold more than 65 million copies in the United States and has been sold in 56 countries and translated into about 51 languages.
What is The Hunger Games Series About?
The Hunger Games series takes place in a dystopian world in a nation called Panem, which was once known as North America. It is the Capitol surrounded by 13 districts, all specializing in various things. However, the public only knows about 12 of the districts for plot reasons.
You can tell that the residents of Panem live a difficult life. What makes it worse is that the Capitol hosts the Hunger Games every year, where two children from each district are forced to fight to the death in a televised event.
Katniss Everdeen is the main character; throughout the series, she changes Panem for the better. Now, we’ll dive into the books in this series and give you some information about them.
Hunger Games Books in Order of Release Date:
1. The Hunger Games (2008)
Every year, something called The Hunger Games is held. This forces each of the 12 districts to send two children between the ages of 12 and 18 to fight until there is only one winner. To make matters worse, it’s watched by the Capitol, and they treat it like a great form of entertainment.
Katniss Everdeen has always lived under the threat of the Hunger Games. She focuses on caring for her mother and younger sister, who are all she has. When her sister Primrose’s name is called out, Katniss realizes what she must do.
It is up to her to volunteer to take her sister’s place in the Hunger Games because there is no way she will let her twelve-year-old sister go through that. The one chosen to represent the boys is Peeta Mellark, with whom she has a complicated history.
2. Catching Fire (2009)
Catching Fire is the second book in The Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins! In a twist, Katniss Everdeen has won the Hunger Games but isn’t the only one who has survived it. Peeta Mellark also survived through a last-minute plan Katniss wasn’t sure was going to work. They were going to poison themselves together and make it so no one won these latest hunger games. In a panic, the Capitol decided to name them both winners.
The narrative is that Peeta and Katniss were so in love with each other that they couldn’t bear to be apart. It’s a lie that Katniss and Peeta have to keep up because if they don’t, they could put their lives at risk.
After visiting home and getting a lukewarm welcome, they must go on this Victory Tour, where they need to ensure no one sees through their rouse. All this happens while there is a rebellion brewing in the background!
3. Mockingjay (2010)
Mockingjay is the final book in The Hunger Games trilogy. After being forced to take place in a special edition of the Hunger Games with Peeta, she nearly loses her life. At the last minute, she is rescued by the rebels from District 13, the district no one thought existed. However, only she is saved, and Peeta is left behind, who eventually gets captured by the Capitol.
It might seem random, but District 13 always intended to rescue Katniss. They have wanted to overthrow the Capitol for years, and with everyone viewing Katniss as a hero, it’s time to do it. They can use her to boost the morale of the people of Panem and try to get them to join a rebellion that aims to take down their oppressors.
Katniss finds that she has little choice and must let herself be essentially used by the rebels to bring down the Capitol.
4. The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (2020)
Before President Snow was an all-powerful President, he was a young man who was set to be a mentor in the Hunger Games. This series takes us 64 years into the past, where we see Coriolanus Snow, whose family house is not doing well. If he can be a mentor in the Hunger Games, then he might be able to bring some prestige back to the Snow Family name.
He is confident this will set things right, but then he learns who he will be mentoring. She is from District 12, which is the worst district out of all of them. Somehow, he needs to mentor this girl and try to ensure she survives the Hunger Games.
To make matters worse, he starts to feel something for the female tribute he is supposed to mentor. This is the last thing he needs.
FAQs:
Who Is The Author of The Hunger Games Books?
The author of The Hunger Games books is Suzanne Collins, who had previously written a series before The Hunger Games that was targeted more towards children rather than young adults.
Will There Be Another Hunger Games Book?
The main series is finished, so there will be no more additions to the original trilogy. Meanwhile, the prequel is a stand-alone book that follows President Snow as a child. There are no plans to expand on that or the series in general.
What Age Is the Hunger Games Series Appropriate For?
The Hunger Games books deal with some complex material, so it’s recommended that those under the age of eleven don’t read the book. As for an upper age limit, there is no such thing. Plenty of adults love young adult books, and that shows no sign of stopping!
Conclusion
The Hunger Games trilogy is one of the most popular book series out there, along with the Harry Potter series. And just like Harry Potter, it spawned four successful movies, with a fifth one about to come out based on the prequel.
For now, it seems like Suzanne Collins is done with the Hunger Games series, but maybe one day in the future, she might pick it up again and bring us more stories from the dystopian world.
Until that happens, make sure you read all The Hunger Games books in order to be ready for new titles, if and when they come out. Also, share the article with your friends and have them join you on this book-reading journey!
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