The Hunger Games has received rave reviews from fans and critics alike. Stephanie Meyer said: "I was so obsessed with this book I had to take it with me out to dinner and hide it under the edge of the table so I wouldn't have to stop reading. The story kept me up for several nights in a row, because even after I was finished, I just lay in bed wide awake thinking about it."
In The Hunger Games, Katniss is a 16-year-old girl living in the poorest district of Panem, the remains of what used be the United States. Long ago the districts waged war on the Capitol and were defeated.
As part of the surrender terms, each district agreed to send one boy and one girl to appear in an annual televised event called The Hunger Games. When Kat's younger sister is chosen by lottery, Kat steps up to go in her place.