Suzanne Collins

Catching Fire

By winning the annual Hunger Games, District 12 tributes Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark have secured a life of safety and plenty for themselves and their families, but because they won by defying the rules, they unwittingly become the faces of an impending rebellion.

The Second Book of the Hunger Games

Elle bagnall

And some I like. And a lot of them are so damaged that my natural instinct would be to protect them. But all of them must die if I'm to save Peeta.

 "It must be very fragile, if a handful of berries can bring it down." 

Cassidy Nolan

But Gale is not one to keep secrets from me. “Katniss, there is no District Twelve.”

“Peeta,” I whisper, my heart sinking.

“The others kept Peeta alive because if he died, we knew there’d be no keeping you in alliance,” says Haymitch.

The bird, the pin, the song, the berries, the watch, the cracker, the dress that burst into flames. I am the mockingjay.

The one that survived despite the Capitol’s plans. The symbol of the rebellion.

“We had to save you because you’re the mockingjay, Katniss,” says Plutarch. “While you live, the revolution lives.”

“Done knocking yourself out, sweetheart?” says Haymitch, the annoyance clear in his voice. But as I careen forward he steps up and catches my wrists, steadying me. He looks at my hand. “So it’s you and a syringe against the Capitol? See, this is why no one lets you make the plans.”

Right before the explosions begin, I find a star.

”You just remember who the enemy is,”

Haymitch’s last words of advice to me. Why would I need reminding? I have always known who the enemy is. Who starves and tortures and kills us in the arena. Who will soon kill everyone I love.

My bow drops as his meaning registers. Yes, I know who the enemy is. And it’s not Enobaria.

Peeta. My dying wish. My promise. To keep him alive.

I take Peeta’s face in my hands. “Don’t worry. I’ll see you at midnight.” I give him a kiss and, before he can object any further, I let go and turn to Johanna. “Ready?”

As I drift off, I try to imagine that world, somewhere in the future, with no Games, no Capitol. A place like the meadow in the song I sang to Rue as she died. Where Peeta’s child could be safe.

“No one really needs me,” he says, and there’s no self-pity in his voice. It’s true his family doesn’t need him. They will mourn him, as will a handful of friends. But they will get on. Even Haymitch, with the help of a lot of white liquor, will get on. I realize only one person will be damaged beyond repair if Peeta dies. Me.

By the time we pull ourselves together, I’m thinking that maybe Finnick Odair is all right. At least not as vain or self-important as I’d thought. Not so bad at all, really.

“Poor Finnick. Is this the first time in your life you haven’t looked pretty?” I say.

“It must be. The sensation’s completely new. How have you managed it all these years?” he asks.

“Just avoid mirrors. You’ll forget about it,” I say.

“Not if I keep looking at you,” he says.

Fed up, I stomp back onto the beach, turn my face upward, and snap, “Hey, Haymitch, if you’re not too drunk, we could use a little something for our skin.”

It’s almost funny how quickly the parachute appears above me.

What happens next is so fast, so senseless, I can’t even move to stop it. Mags hauls herself up, plants a kiss on Finnick’s lips, and then hobbles straight into the fog. Immediately, her body is seized by wild contortions and she falls to the ground in a horrible dance.

I expect to see a smug or sarcastic expression on his face, but his look is strangely quizzical. He glances between Peeta and me, as if trying to figure something out, then gives his head a slight shake as if to clear it.

“No,” Finnick repeats. “Because whatever happened in the past is in the past. And no one in this arena was a victor by chance.” He eyes Peeta for a moment. “Except maybe Peeta.”

Finnick knows then what Haymitch and I know. About Peeta. Being truly, deep-down better than the rest of us.

Slowly I raise my eyes and take in the water spreading out in every direction.

“Remember, girl on fire,” he says, “I’m still betting on you.”

“Katniss, when you’re in the arena,” he begins. Then he pauses. He’s scowling in a way that makes me sure I’ve already disappointed him.

“You just remember who the enemy is,” Haymitch tells me.

“i guess this is where we say our good-byes as well.”

“Any last words of advice?” Peeta asks.

“Stay alive,” Haymitch says gruffly. That’s almost an old joke with us now. He gives us each a quick embrace and I can tell it’s all he can stand.

But even if all of us meet terrible ends, something happened on that stage tonight that can’t be undone. We victors staged our own uprising, and maybe, just maybe, the Capitol won’t be able to contain this one.

Catching Fire was a fantastic second book for this trilogy. Katniss continues to be exceptionally well written, and if he wasn’t before, Peeta – If it wasn’t for the baby – Mellark is now my new favourite character. He is 

good at manipulating that capital crowd, and his capture at the end was a gut punch, even though I already knew about it from the movie. The new characters, Finnicks, Johanna and Mags were also great additions to the series. I did note that Katniss often would recount events from the previous book, which got annoying after a while. However, if you’re not reading the books one after the other, I’m sure it wouldn’t be as big an issue.

Carly Goldy

Catching Fire was a fantastic second book for this trilogy. Katniss continues to be exceptionally well written, and if he wasn’t before, Peeta – If it wasn’t for the baby – Mellark is now my new favourite character. He is so good at manipulating that capital crowd, and his capture at the end was a gut punch, even though I already knew about it from the movie. The new characters, Finnicks, Johanna and Mags were also great additions to the series. I did note that Katniss often would recount events from the previous book, which got annoying after a while. However, if you’re not reading the books one after the other, I’m sure it wouldn’t be as big an issue.

Nicole Grace

Book 2 of the Hunger Games Completed and what a Wild ride this one was one as I loved that I was able to put down book 2 and then get instantly on with the story and pick up where things were left off with that Cliffhanger! This one has even more twists and turns and the start of something that I know is going to culminate in the 3rd and final book

After barely surviving the deadly Hunger games, days in District 12 turn simple and peaceful; the life of a victor carries tranquillity, fame and well-being. Yet new difficulties don’t take long to appear; being the new celebrity of Panem brings a lot of attention, and of the most dangerous kind. The challenge in the previous tournament does not go unnoticed, and the beginnings of a rebellion start to arise. Under the ever-vigilant eye of the Capitol, not even the victors, the strongest among the strong, can escape its power. Katniss and Peeta will have to try to appease the social unrest and prove their loyalty to the government; or else their loved ones, their district, and even all Panem may burn for it.

In this book, we really start to see Katniss's PTSD from being in the games. One of the things this series does well is depict how complex people are, including in their handling of trauma. This becomes and even bigger example of that complexity when we meet the other victors. The brilliant, awful thing about the Games is how they are constructed to victimize the participants repeatedly. From selection to actively participating in your pre-slaughter with training and interviews and makeup and parades, to the actual murdering and dying. And if you are lucky/unlucky enough to survive, a victory tour to face down the families of all the people you killed.

We really start to see Katniss's character progress here as well. She's such a survivor, our girl, but she also cares deeply for people. As her world opens up, as she moves out of District 12 and onto bigger stages, and meets more people, the more you see both those sides of her also develop and shine: the ultimate survivor who would also protect everyone if she could.

Nail biting and gripping, Catching Fire is just as good, if not better, than the original book. Suzanne Collins is brilliant in the setting – the arena can be almost anything. The reader doesn’t know what to expect.

Ian Brakspear

Book 2 of the Hunger Games Completed and what a Wild ride this one was one as I loved that I was able to put down book 2 and then get instantly on with the story and pick up where things were left off with that Cliffhanger! This one has even more twists and turns and the start of something that I know is going to culminate in the 3rd and final book

 

After barely surviving the deadly Hunger games, days in District 12 turn simple and peaceful; the life of a victor carries tranquillity, fame and well-being. Yet new difficulties don’t take long to appear; being the new celebrity of Panem brings a lot of attention, and of the most dangerous kind. The challenge in the previous tournament does not go unnoticed, and the beginnings of a rebellion start to arise. Under the ever-vigilant eye of the Capitol, not even the victors, the strongest among the strong, can escape its power. Katniss and Peeta will have to try to appease the social unrest and prove their loyalty to the government; or else their loved ones, their district, and even all Panem may burn for it.

 

In this book, we really start to see Katniss's PTSD from being in the games. One of the things this series does well is depict how complex people are, including in their handling of trauma. This becomes and even bigger example of that complexity when we meet the other victors. The brilliant, awful thing about the Games is how they are constructed to victimize the participants repeatedly. From selection to actively participating in your pre-slaughter with training and interviews and makeup and parades, to the actual murdering and dying. And if you are lucky/unlucky enough to survive, a victory tour to face down the families of all the people you killed.

 

We really start to see Katniss's character progress here as well. She's such a survivor, our girl, but she also cares deeply for people. As her world opens up, as she moves out of District 12 and onto bigger stages, and meets more people, the more you see both those sides of her also develop and shine: the ultimate survivor who would also protect everyone if she could.

 

Nail biting and gripping, Catching Fire is just as good, if not better, than the original book. Suzanne Collins is brilliant in the setting – the arena can be almost anything. The reader doesn’t know what to expect.

sometimes Katniss could be a little dumb tbh

Elin Hakvoort

It's that everything was happening to Finnick katniss and peeta so much you forget they're so young and then when they had a chance to be kids and scare peeta with their scabby faces they did and that was all so refreshing. Yes Finnick is an adult but his childhood was stolen from him I feel as though being around Katniss and Peeta something in him was healed.

Nala

Book 2 (The Hunger Games: Catching Fire)

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

This is art Suzanne!! So many good characters & ugh the intensity!!

Licious💕

Never realized how much I forgot about this book until I started rereading the series again. Love that even if I read this in high school, it still hold up to its standard 

lily

Mia McCoy

Really good sequel. Bit slow at first but it picked up once we got in the arena again and I was on the edge of my seat to the end.

Bethany

I’ve seen all the movies but still screamed when Gale said “there is no district 12.” 

But is still don’t understand why everyone hates Gale. Yes, sometimes at least thus far he is misguided but he is also an 18 year old kid. These are kids literally trying to save the world. 

But overall great book, nothing like the first book. Although I would have like to have been informed or left breadcrumbs of the plan. I don’t like the whole in the dark until others deem it necessary to know. Additionally, she could have added hits like at the beginning with the watch. But there were no hits.

Bushra Yenice

I’ve seen all the movies but still screamed when Gale said “there is no district 12.” 

But is still don’t understand why everyone hates Gale. Yes, sometimes at least thus far he is misguided but he is also an 18 year old kid. These are kids literally trying to save the world. 

But overall great book, nothing like the first book. Although I would have like to have been informed or left breadcrumbs of the plan. I don’t like the whole in the dark until others deem it necessary to know. Additionally, she could have added hits like at the beginning with the watch. But there were no hits.

Hence 4/5 stars.

I’m not gonna lie, this was so freaking good. 

I really liked the first one and understood why people love this series so much, but this one blew the first one out of the water, in my opinion. The further dive into all the characters, the dive into the major politics within, and the introduction of new characters was done so well. 

Most of this book also took place outside of the hunger games, which I think made it better. It was more about the politics of the world rather than the fighting taking place within the arena, and i felt myself unable to put it down. I didn’t wanna stop readingggg, I loved this so much. It was so brutal to read obviously, and my heart felt heavy the entire time, but I truly loved this book. All the new characters were so intriguing! And while I usually despise love triangles, this is the only one where I’ve understood it even a tiny bit. 

Ugh entering my hunger games era way too late 💔❤️

Jessie!

I’m not gonna lie, this was so freaking good. 

I really liked the first one and understood why people love this series so much, but this one blew the first one out of the water, in my opinion. The further dive into all the characters, the dive into the major politics within, and the introduction of new characters was done so well. 

Most of this book also took place outside of the hunger games, which I think made it better. It was more about the politics of the world rather than the fighting taking place within the arena, and i felt myself unable to put it down. I didn’t wanna stop readingggg, I loved this so much. It was so brutal to read obviously, and my heart felt heavy the entire time, but I truly loved this book. All the new characters were so intriguing! And while I usually despise love triangles, this is the only one where I’ve understood it even a tiny bit. 

Ugh entering my hunger games era way too late 💔❤️

Brittany Peterson

My favorite movie and my favorite book. I forgot about so much that happened but it’s SO GOOD. I love Finnick Odair and next book is going to break my heart certainly :)

Sílvia

Rereading the series before sunrise on the reaping, absolutely one of my favourite series in the world! Great book! 

Kira Louise Morris

Loved the book. It was the perfect thing for me to read. 

Ashley Lively

Syasya Diyana 

Very interesting sequel, it ended on a big suspense and leaves you eager to continue reading to find out more.

Yega

W pierścieniu ognia

natalka

Miru

book two wont fail to diminish 
your excitement as it did to you on 
Hunger Games!

keeps me wanting mooore. 
am ready to watch it on the big screen!

This book started a bit slow but once you get to part two things get really interesting. My favorite thing about Collins books is her characters development. She is a master at creating perplex characters!

Camron Swartzendruber

She does it again. Love the characters and their relationships. Also Collins does a great job at writing Katniss’ internal thought. 10/10. 🏹🌊

Sadie Hoffman

tori 👻

God, years later and this cliffhanger still gives me chills.
Also, years later and still ridiculously attached to Peeta.

I feel like my rating comes from something other than the writing itself. I remembered well enough how fast paced this trilogy is (which I don't mind if you give me a few more pages).
Catching Fire is a good follow up to a great book and I love all 3 acts within this book individually and for different reasons. Funny how I rated it higher now that I'm older, it's just that I know the impact this series had on me after reading it as a teen.
I love the reminder of how similar Katniss and Haymitch are.
Always a great read.

kelsey

amazing from start to finish and with its fast pacing makes it quickly digestible

Catching Fire

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