The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins - ESSENTIAL

Collins, Suzanne The Hunger Games, 420 p. Scholastic, October 2008. 

MS, HS - ESSENTIAL

Each year, a boy and a girl are chosen as sacrifices from each of the thirteen districts, the remnants of what used to be North America. The central government uses a game of mortal combat to at once show the districts that they have no control, and to reward the winner's district with special privileges for the next year. When Katniss' sister is chosen in the lottery, Katniss volunteers to take her place. Though there can only be one winner, Katniss works with the boy from her district as they make final preparations. In the heat of the battle, they will need each other, and a better outcome may just be possible. 

Wonderful future fiction - a little gory, because it is combat to the death, but the violence is not the point. The brilliantly, compelling plot and characters are the point! A perfect piece of science fiction - and a sequel should be forthcoming! 

CINDY