With the most anticipated movie premiere of the year only five short days away, chances are, The Hunger Games fever is “Catching Fire” all over your campus.
But wait! You’ve never heard of a mockingjay? You’re the only girl in your sorority who doesn’t own a “Team Gale” t-shirt? You think Peeta is a type of bread with pockets?
If you answered yes to any of the above, no prob! To get you up to speed, fast, HC is proud to present the official collegiette’s survival guide to all things Hunger Games!
What is The Hunger Games?
It’s a young adult sci-fi/adventure book trilogy by Suzanne Collins. The first novel hit bookstores in 2008, and since then, it’s become a pop culture phenom. Think Twilight big. (With equally attractive, although 100% human, guys!)
The Hunger Games takes place in a dictatorship called Panem. Every year, Panem’s government requires each of the country’s districts (AKA states) to randomly select one boy and one girl to be sent to the Capitol, where they will face off to the death in a survival competition called The Hunger Games. Only one teen will make it out alive. (And you thought you had it rough in high school!)
The books are about Katniss, a 16-year-old girl from District 12 who steps up to take her little sister’s place in the Hunger Games. At the Games, Katniss faces epic decisions about life and death (sorry ladies, no major spoilers just yet).
Mark your calendar for this Friday, when the movie version of the first book in the series, The Hunger Games, will hit theaters. Trust us: your fave professor, soccer coach, lab partner, little sib, and that cute guy from English class will all be there.
And if our spoiler-free synopsis didn’t convince you, here are a few reasons why everyone is so obsessed with The Hunger Games (minor spoiler alert)!
1) The bada** female
Katniss, the protagonist of The Hunger Games, is a strong woman, to say the least. A skilled hunter, she takes down prey in the blink of an eye with her wicked archery skills. No damsels in distress here! And with the help of her smart stylist, she happens to be the most glamorous girl at the Games. Who says you can’t have it all?
2) The guys
Like a certain other megahit book/movie saga (here’s looking at you, Twihards), the main cast of HG features not one, but two drop-dead gorgeous, lovable guys! Gale is the sexy, rugged hunter. Peeta is the sweet, romantic cutie. Even better, the on-screen personas live up to the books’ swoon-worthy characters. Gale is played by Liam Hemsworth (The Last Song) and Peeta is portrayed by Josh Hutcherson (Bridge to Terabithia). Need we say more?
3) The big questions
The Hunger Games might have rocked your roommate’s world way back in middle school, but it explores big philosophical questions that collegiettes can relate to. What’s the point of love? War? Life? The books and/or movies might change your answer to one or all of these questions. They’ll challenge your views and make you think twice. There’s even a possibility that your BF will get “something in his eye” that causes him to tear up while reading the books. Don’t worry, we’ll keep it on the down-low.
4) The adventure
From deadly, mutant animals to induced natural disasters, anything is possible in the Hunger Games universe. You never know what will happen next (but will probs hope it involves Liam Hemsworth, shirtless). The action-packed books are bound to translate well to the big screen. You know what means, collegiettes… the explosions will keep your guy awake, while Katniss’s dazzling outfits and daring tactics will keep you and your besties entertained. It’s a win-win!
There you have it. See, doesn’t it feel good to be in the loop? Now that you’ve got the HG basics covered, be sure to hit up the Pop Campus blog tomorrow for an overview of Hunger Games lingo.