Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

I know I've posted about this book twice already, but this is just in case someone who has not read it and does not want to read the spoilers is curious.

Hunger Games follows the story of Katniss, a tough cookie whose main priority in life is providing for her family. In this world, a North America that has been torn apart by natural disaster, and then civil rebellion, only end up under the thumb of the modern metropolis, the Capitol; life is rough for those on the fringe, like Katniss, but sweet and full of technology and distraction for those in the Capitol. I found this to be a perfect illustration of how the 1st world seeks diversion while the 3rd world countries dies slowly of hunger, which is a key theme. This book is deep, engrossing, and ridiculously entertaining. I found the characters easy to identify with, and the dark story told with just enough touches of despair to be effective, but not so much that I closed the book feeling depressed. I look forward to the squeal.