Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Set in the post apocalyptic world where a replacement for the United States demands a tribute from each of its 12 territories: two children to be used as gladiators in a televised fight to the death. We start out the story seeing life through Katniss Everdeen's eyes as she struggles to find food for her mother and younger sister. When the drawing happens for the tributes of district 12, Katniss finds to her horror that her sister's name is drawn. In a moment of almost dispair Katniss offers to take the place of her sister in the Hunger Games. So after this ultimate sacrifice, she is entirely focused on survival at any cost. It is her teammate, Peeta Mellark, who recognizes the importance of holding on to one's humanity in such inhuman circumstances.

Much of the story is told through flashbacks as we learn more about Katniss and how she came to this point. But the story is brutal as one by one tributes are killed off until the shocking conclusion where the ultimate horror becomes realized. Because of the "love connection" between Katniss & Peeta it is determined that if both tributes from the same district survive to the end then they can both be winners. But when the capital tries to revoke it at the last moment Katniss has the last word by showing they are both willing to die if they have to chose. Unfortunately the love Peeta feels for Katniss is real while Katniss is playing the game to survive.

So the story ends with them going home as the victors but Katniss has revealed her feelings to Peeta who is heartbroken. We're left wondering if they can keep up the deception as they will be under constant surveillance by the capital. Since this is the first book in the trilogy it isn't suprising that the ending is left opened for the next book. I listened to it on CD and really enjoyed it. It's right up there with Lois Lowry's Giver and Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451. Wow.