The Hunger Games series is set in a dystopian future where young people from the 12 districts of Panem (the ruins of North America) are forced to compete in a brutal fight to the death. Katniss Everdeen, a fierce yet reluctant heroine, must fight to survive against overwhelming odds.

Readers love the series for its unforgettable characters, thought-provoking themes, and high-stakes action. Suzanne Collins explores power, oppression, survival, and the cost of war in a way that feels both timeless and deeply relevant.

Since The Hunger Games trilogy is structured as a three-act story, reading the books in order is essential to fully appreciate the narrative arc. The prequel novels, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, followed by Sunrise on the Reaping, are best read after the original trilogy to avoid spoilers and to better understand the evolution of key characters and relationships.