Catching FireBy: Suzanne Collins

Daniel PhillippReading-RochePeriod-5May 11th

Suzanne Collins BiographySuzanne Collins was born on August 10, 1962, in Hartford Connecticut. Her father was an U.S. Air Force pilot. He served in the Vietnam War. Since her father was in the military, her family moved around constantly. She attended school at Alabama School of Fine Arts and majored was theater arts. She then went to Indiana University graduating with a double major in drama and telecommunications. Her career took off in 1991 as a writer for children’s television shows. It was after meeting children’s author James Proimos, that Suzanne was inspired to write children’s books. She has written many great books such as Gregor the Overlander, Underland Chronicles, and the well –known Hunger Games series. Suzanne Collins is one of the most popular authors today.

SummaryIn this novel, Katniss Everdeen has just won the Hunger Games which is a competition in which tributes from each district are picked to go into an arena and fight to the death. She has also been told by the person who had won along with her, Peeta Mallark, that he loves her. After Katniss won, her life was filled with greater wealth and better living. This happened because every victor of the Hunger Games gets treated well. Also, if you win you never have to compete again in your life. After winning the Games, Katniss is visited by the President, President Snow. He tells her that when she goes on tour with Peeta, she has to truly act like she loves him. President Snow, along with the Capitol, are mad at that fact that both Katniss and Peeta were named victors because of their eating the poisonous plant. They feel strongly that there should only be one victor of the Hunger Games.

When Katniss and Peeta go tour the districts, they start off at district eleven. This is the most emotional for Katniss because she had partnered up with a girl from that district, Rue. Rue had been killed and this had haunted Katniss. During the rest of the tour it was the same: give a speech about the tributes from that district, eat a grand meal, and leave for the next district. But while on tour, to prove their love to President Snow, they arranged that Peeta proposed to Katniss. She said, “Yes.”

After the engagement, Katniss attends a party at the mayor of district twelve’s house. She sees a video in his study where there is a sign of rebellion. This rejuvenates Katniss to oppose the Capitol.

Summary (Continued)

As the Quarter Quell is approaching, which is the seventy- fifth annual Hunger Games, the tributes are chosen. Because it is such a large anniversary, the Capitol chooses to take the victors from every district into the arena. The people going in would be one boy and one girl. There were only three victors from District Twelve: Katniss Everdeen, Peeta Mallark, and a drunk man named Haymitch. The two going in were Katniss and Peeta. Peeta volunteered for Haymitch even though Haymitch's name was picked. He did this because he wanted to protect Katniss

While preparing for the Games, Katniss and Peeta had to go to a room alone and prove themselves to a group of people. These people would give them a score. The score is given to the people of the districts so the people who send in supplies know who to pick. Peeta draws a picture of Rue. Katniss does the old game maker being hung. This man’s name was Seneca Crane. They did this instead of proving their skills because they wanted to show the Capitol that they despised them. Although they did not prove any skill, they both got perfect scores so now the other tributes targeted them.

10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2,1, let the Games begin. Will Katniss and Peeta survive? Will a full out rebellion start in the Capitol? Read the book to find out.

CharactersMain Characters

Katniss Everdeen- a young girl who is deaf in one ear, has won the Hunger Games, has a romantic relationship with Peeta Mallark, is strong spirited, plays an important role to how the Capital makes decisions because of some of her thoughtless actions, and despises the Capital and wants to start a rebellion.

Peeta Mallark- a young boy who is strong, has won the Hunger Games, is good with baking, has a romantic relationship with Katniss, is a strong speaker in public, is more patient than Katniss, always tries to protect Katniss, and he along with Katniss want to start a rebellion.

Minor CharactersHaymitch Abernathy- is obsessed with alcohol, helps Katniss and Peeta train, has won the Hunger Games, and is a main contributor to the uprising against the Capital.

President Snow- a cruel, self absorbed leader who is harsh against rebels and will not hesitate to kill anyone who opposes him.

Gale- a rebel, who hunts illegally, he also is good friends with Katniss, he also works in the coal mines of District twelve.

PlotIntroduction

• Katniss is anticipating the preparation of the Victory Tour.Rising Action

• Katniss is visited by President Snow.• Katniss and Peeta depart for their victory tour.• Katniss gives an emotional speech at District Eleven.• Katniss and Peeta get back to District Twelve.• Katniss sees a video that looks like an uprising.• Gale is whipped for hunting in the woods.

Climax• The Capital decides to send a boy victor and a girl victor into the arena for the Quarter Quell, the seventy- fifth anniversary of the Hunger Games.

Falling Action• Katniss and Peeta prove themselves to receive scores• Peeta draws a picture of Rue• Katniss makes a diorama of the old game maker, Seneca Crane, being hung.• These actions did not really prove Katniss’ or Peeta’s deadly talents but it was a message to the Capital that they despised them.

Conclusion• Katniss and Peeta enter the arena.• Read the book to find out what happens to Peeta and Katniss.

New Vocabulary

Retrospect- (n) a contemplation of the past; a survey of past time, events, etc. (v) (used without object) to look back in thought refer back (often followed by to) Pg-7Sentence: I wish I could go back to it because, in retrospect, it seems so secure compared with now, when I am so rich and so famous and so hated by the authorities in the Capitol

Subtle- (ado) thin, tenuous, or rarefied, as a fluid or an odor; fine or delicate in meaning or intent; difficult to perceive or understand. Pg-13 Sentence: “ Get up!” I say loudly, because I’ve learned there’s no subtle way to wake him.

Protocol- (n) the customs and regulations dealing with diplomatic formality, procedure, and etiquette. Pg-108Sentence: “Is that the standard protocol here?”Pockmarked- (n) scars or pits left by a pustule in smallpox or the like; a small pit or scar.

Pg-133Sentence: The snow’s pockmarked with footprints.Embodiment- (n) a concrete form; to express, personify, or exemplify in concrete form.

Pg-175

New Vocabulary (continued)

Sentence: They , or should I say we, are the very embodiment of hope where there is no hope.

Movie Characters

Molly Quinn as Katniss Everdeen

Main Characters

Logan Lerman as Peeta Mallark

Minor Characters

Ed Harris as Haymitch Abernathy

Minor Characters

Harrison Ford as President Snow

Minor Characters

Zac Efron as Gale

Song

now i'm walking in, walking into firei'm walking into fire with youi'm walking in, walking into firewhen I walk, into youi'm walking in, walking into firei'm walking into fire with youi'm walking in, walking into firewhen I walk, into you

into you into you into you into you into youinto you into you into you into you into you

I would use this song because fire is involved in the title. Also some of the meanings of the lyrics relate to Katniss and struggles.

Rated

I gave this book five out of five stars because it was full of action. It also was filled with suspense. In this book I never lost interest, it was very intriguing. I often did my homework quickly so I could read. I would recommend this book to everyone.