If your child is a fan of action-packed adventures, they’ll fall in love with Suzanne Collins’ The Hunger Games series. Ideal for older readers in grades 7-12, these books feature exciting story lines and memorable characters who will resonate with your child and get them excited about a daily reading routine.
In the first book, The Hunger Games, readers meet heroine Katniss Everdeen, a 16-year-old girl who lives with her mother and younger sister in the poorest district of Panem — the ruins of what once was the United States. To keep the districts in check, the Capitol forces each district to send one boy and one girl to battle it out on live TV. Katniss bravely volunteers to play in her sister’s place. But now Katniss must choose: kill or be killed.
Plus, the #1 worldwide best seller is now in a stunning illustrated edition! Featuring more than 30 illustrations from internationally acclaimed artist Nico Delort, The Hunger Games Illustrated Edition brings the iconic story to vivid life like never before.
"The challenge in a book like this is you have to find a way to not repeat compositions and atmospheres. If I had to illustrate a single scene from the book on its own, I would approach it very differently. Here I always had to keep other chapters in mind. While the illustrations aren't meant to be seen all next to one another, there still has to be a certain flow and rhythm," Delort says.
Readers reunite with Katniss in the second novel, Catching Fire, after she and fellow winner of the annual Hunger Games, Peeta Mellark, have won safety for their families. But as talk of rebellion among the districts spreads, Katniss and Peeta find themselves the faces of this uprising, and the Capitol wants revenge. In the final book of the original trilogy, Mockingjay, a revolution is unfolding. The success of the rebellion hinges on Katniss's willingness to be a pawn, to accept responsibility for countless lives, and to change the course of the future of Panem. To do this, she must put aside her feelings of anger and distrust. She must become the rebels' Mockingjay — no matter what the cost.
For fans who can't get enough of the dystopian world of Panem, they can travel back 64 years before the events of the original books with The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. Here, readers meet an 18-year-old Coriolanus Snow, who is preparing for his one shot of glory as a mentor in the games. When the young Snow starts to feel for his tribute, he must battle internal conflict and weigh his need to follow the rules against his desire to survive, no matter what it takes.
If your young reader has already devoured every title in the Hunger Games catalog, then they may want to re-read them all in preparation for the upcoming fifth book in the series, Sunrise on the Reaping. Releasing on March 18, 2025, the book revisits Panem 24 years before the events of The Hunger Games, starting on the morning of the reaping of the Fiftieth Hunger Games, also known as the Second Quarter Quell. You can pre-order your copy here.
These books teach older readers valuable lessons about courage, friendship, and compassion — all while enriching their reading skills with character development and nuanced plots, which help foster a love of reading.
Shop all of the books in the Hunger Games series below! Plus, explore our best children's books by age, interest, and more. You can find all books and activities at The Scholastic Store.
