Reviews
The Hunger Games
The Hunger Games (Book 1)
"Collins's characters are completely realistic and sympathetic as they form alliances and friendships in the face of overwhelming odds; the plot is tense, dramatic, and engrossing. This book will definitely resonate with the generation raised on reality shows like "Survivor" and "American Gladiator."
-School Library Journal, Starred Review
Catching Fire
“...doesn’t disappoint when it segues into the pulse-pounding action readers have come to expect. Characters from the previous volume reappear to good effect: Katniss's stylist, Cinna, proves he's about more than fashion; Haymitch becomes more dimensional. But the star remains Katniss, whose bravery, honesty and wry cynicism carry the narrative.”
-Publishers Weekly, Starred Review
Mockingjay
"Fans will be happy to hear that Mockingjay is every bit as complex and imaginative as Hunger Games and Catching Fire. Collins has kicked the brutal violence up a notch in an edge-of-your-seat plot that follows Katniss as she tries to fulfill her role, protect her mother and sister and, in the end, finally choose between her two greatest loves."
-Entertainment Weekly
Underground Chronicles
Gregor the Overlander
“...readers will likely find [the Underland] to be a fantastically engaging place.”
-Publishers Weekly, Starred Review
Gregor and the Prophecy of Bane
"...fans will not be disappointed with this exciting, action-packed sequel, whose ending suggests more adventures to come."
-Booklist
Gregor and the Curse of the Warmbloods
"The strong, likeable characters, easy reading level, and nonstop action make this series attractive to even reluctant readers."
-VOYA
Gregor and the Marks of Secret
"The breathless pace, intense drama, and extraordinary challenges will leave fans clamoring for the conclusion of this fine series."
-School Library Journal
Gregor and the Code of Claw
"Collins delivers more of what's made this series so compelling: vivid action scenes, detailed military machinations, and nuanced character development."
-The Horn Book Magazine
Picture Books
Year of the Jungle
"Year of the Jungle: Memories from the Home Front by Suzanne Collins, illustrated by James Proimos (Scholastic £10.99), is an unusual, brave autobiographical experiment from the author of The Hunger Games. It is about the year Collins's father was deployed to Vietnam when she was a child. It's not sensational but nor does it evade the emotional issues involved. When "worried ladies" (presumably friends of her mother's) tried to reassure her about her father – "your dad will be just fine" – and gave her extra sweets, it had the unsurprising effect of making her suddenly worried. Proimos ingeniously uses jungle pictures to illustrate her emotions. When her father returns: "He is here but not here." Not an uncontroversial read yet not to be missed. (5+)."
-The Guardian/The Observer
When Charlie McButton Lost Power
"Charlie loves computer games so much, he never plays with anything else - so when the power goes out, he's really in the dark. His desperate search for batteries involves his sister's toys and some nasty behavior before he settles down to realize what's truly important in his life. Deftly written by Suzanne Collins and nicely illustrated by Mike Lester, When Charlie McButton Lost Power is refreshingly original and moving!"
-Midwest Book Review