Mia Mangosong

1. Mia Mangosong Catching Fire By Suzanne Collins

2. Suzanne Collins Catching Fire is the second book to The Hunger Games trilogy. Suzanne Collins has also written a 5-book series: The Underland Chronicles, and a picture book, When Charlie McButton Lost Power. For a long time she has worked with Nickelodeon staffs, writing children’s shows like Clarissa Explains it All, Little Bear, and Oswald, and was Head Writer for Clifford’s Puppy Days. Author • Currently she lives with her family in Connecticut. • Collins will write the screenplay herself for The Hunger Games movie, hoping to start filming in Spring of 2011. They are interested in releasing it by March 23, 2012.

3. Setting • The country the characters live in is Panem. It is in futuristic North America. • The first half of the book is held during the Victory Tour. The victors would go around the country and visit each district. • Katniss’ and Peeta’s home district is District 12. • Katniss and Peeta spent a lot of time in the Capitol. • The actual 75th Hunger Games (3rd Quarter Quell) is held in the clock-shaped arena.

4. Characters Katniss Everdeen-She is the person telling he story, and is blamed for the uprisings against the Capitol and the only way she can fix it is if she convinces people that she attempted suicide for love, not political reasons. She is forced, then, to marry Peeta. Katniss is the main character and a victor of the 74th Hunger Games. Peeta Mellark-Peeta actually loves Katniss, but they are supposed to act as in they’re crazy in love with each other. In the Quarter Quell, he takes Haymitch’s place to protect Katniss, but was captured by the Capitol at the end of the Games. He is also a victor of the 74th Hunger Games. Gale Hawthorne-Katniss’ best friend and accompanying hunter, he also loves Katniss. He was brutally whipped for poaching. They must pretend they are cousins for their safety. President Snow-A cold and cruel president of Panem that threatens to kill Gale if Katniss doesn’t prove herself so deeply in love with Peeta. Haymitch Abernacky-Katniss’ and Peeta’s mentor and the winner of the 50th Hunger Games (2nd Quarter Quell.) Cinna- Katniss’ highly successful stylist and best friend, he designed her wedding dress that burned and burst into feathers, making her a human mockingjay. He was beaten unconscious and Katniss was forced to watch.

5. Plot Katniss and Peeta both won the 74th Hunger Games by threatening to commit suicide. In Catching Fire, they are on their Victory Tour, a tour deviously planned in between each Hunger Games to remind people of the horror of seeing the people who killed their children. Before the tour, President Snow intercepted Katniss to remind her that she has to make up for what she had done- she must convince the people that she attempted suicide strictly for love. When they reached District 11, the home town of Rue, Katniss’ friend and ally, the people did a salute to her. The person who started it was shot. During the tour, Peeta is forced to propose to Katniss. Upon their arrival at the Capitol, President Snow announced the new theme of the 3rd Quarter Quell- 24 of the existing victors will become a tribute again. Peeta takes Haymitch’s place to protect Katniss, but Katniss is determined to protect Peeta. While preparing for the Game, Cinna is badly beaten by government workers, and Katniss is forced to watch. The tributes land in an arena shaped like a clock, with a disaster every hour. Katniss makes quite a few allies, but when one of their plans failed, she struggled to figure out a back-up plan devised by one of her friends. She ends up blowing up the arena, and finds herself inside a hovercraft. The hovercraft is making its way to District 13, a district that was destroyed by the Capitol years ago. Haymitch is in the hovercraft, along with what’s remaining of their alliance. Katniss finds out that Peeta was captured by the Capitol. The story ends when Gale pays a visit to her and explains that her mom and sister are safe, and that there is no District 12.

6. Theme • I think the theme is that you have to choose who to trust. In Katniss’ case, she was skeptical about trusting Finnick Odair, the male tribute from District 4. He turned out to be a very valuable ally, and he saved Peeta’s life. Katniss feels like she can’t stop owing him. • Katniss trusted her mentor but he planned an escape behind her back. It was a good thing, but she was furious at him.

7. Conflict/Resolution Katniss vs. the Capitol Katniss believes the Capitol should be overthrown. President Snow hates her, and the she is forced to marry. She plans many things to foil the Capitol- escapes, uprisings, unity in a world full of hate- only to find out that Haymitch has already made plans behind her back. Katniss vs. Finnick From the beginning, Finnick Odair takes interest in her as an ally. When they begin the Games, Finnick flashes a golden band that belonged to Haymitch. Haymitch previously planned this alliance to happen, and Katniss knows it. She dislikes Finnick, but he revived Peeta but let his mentor, and fellow District 4 tribute Mags, die. She doesn't get him at first, and tried to form ways to kill him as he’s sleeping. He proves to be trustworthy towards the end.

8. My Personal Book Review • This book is amazing! Truly a great second book in the series. I would recommend it to a lot of people, but mostly girls, because a lot of the book would be more appreciated if read by a girl. At the very end, it leaves you hanging, eager to read the next book. This is definitely a well written story, a book that is a rare find.