By Paige Galloway, Jessica Demarest, and Hannah Smith

PANEM–Are you a part of the world-wide phenomenon?  Three juniors, Paige Galloway, Jessica Demarest, and Hannah Smith, are in love with the Hunger Games series, by Suzanne Collins, which quickly swept the world with its portrayal of a post-apocalyptic world.  The book, set far into the future, depicts an oppressive government in the Capitol, which controls 12 districts.  In order to remind the districts of their failure to overthrow the government, the Capitol forces 2 kids from each district to fight to the death while the districts watch.  The Hunger Games follows the experiences of Katniss, a girl from the most disadvantaged district.

Describe Hunger Games in 5-10 words.

P: Spectacular, intense, powerful, exhilarating, enticing, and completely breathtaking

J: fast-paced, intriguing, addictive, original, true to the characters, and epic

H: Extreme intensity, sadistic, well-developed characters & plot, emotional, and unique

What is your favorite book in the trilogy?

P: Hunger Games

J: Hunger Games

H: Hunger Games

Least favorite?

P: Catching Fire

J: Catching Fire

H: Catching Fire, except Finnick

How long would you last in the Hunger Games and what would your strategy be?

P: I would like to think that I would get pretty far by manipulating the stupid people.

J: I would try to outwit them rather than try to fight with physical force once it got down to the final 8.  Before that, I would keep a low profile and let the other people kill each other.

H: I would probably last until at least the final 8, just by avoiding everyone and focusing on surviving what the arena itself proposes, and letting the other tributes fight it out.

What is the biggest surprise from the first book?

P: The use of muttations at the end of the book was awful.

J: Peeta’s strategy at the beginning of the Games.

H: I agree with Paige, I definitely didn’t see the use of muttations at the end of the book coming.  It was awful.

How were you introduced to the Hunger Games?

P: Jessica

J: Mrs. Decker

H: I first found out about them when Jessica was freaking out because she couldn’t get Mockingjay yet after finishing Catching Fire.

Favorite moment that happens in the Hunger Games?

P: When Cinna talks to Katniss before the Games.

J: Everything from the first to last word.

H: When the Games first started and people were instantly dying, it was the first indication of how intense everything was going to be.  People were dying and it was great.

Who is your favorite character from the series?

P: Cinna, Rue and Finnick

J: Haymitch, Cinna, and Finnick

H: I love Finnick from Catching Fire, and Haymitch.

What is your favorite part of the Hunger Games world?

P: The actual mockingjay bird.

J: Hovercrafts, because I really want to fly one.

H: I thought the muttations were so cool.  They were so dark and creepy, but so freaking cool.

What District would you live in?

P: Probably 12

J: 8, because it rebelled first, or maybe 11 or 12.

H: Geographically, we are on the border of being underwater or in district 13, but if I had a choice, I would live in the 4^th District, just so I could be best friends with Finnick.

What item from home would you take into the Arena with you?

P: A ring my aunt gave me when I was 2 years old.  It’s small and won’t get in the way, but is still a reminder of home.

J: Nothing.

H: My peace sign necklace, because I wear it so often and it’s like a part of me.

What is the most evil part of the book?

P: The muttations.  I hate them.

J: The idea of avoxes, and the whole part where they make kids kill each other on TV, that’s pretty bad too.

H: Definitely avoxes, and like Jess, the whole concept of the Games

What is one thing you wish you knew about the Hunger Games world?

P: I want to know Prim’s thoughts on everything

J: I wish I knew more about Madge.  I felt like there was more character depth there that wasn’t addressed.

H: I’m curious as to whether the bodies of dead tributes are returned to their families.  And I’m curious as to how Panem came to be, and the rebellion that sparked the creation of the Games.

What was the most emotional part for you?

P: The scene when Katniss sings Rue’s song.

J: The end of Peeta’s interview.

H: I agree with Jessica again; my heart broke for him.

What are you most looking forward to seeing brought to life in the film?

P: I can’t wait to see how they show the Games themselves and their intensity.

J: All of it.  The whole Hunger Games world. I’m anxious to see how they show a lot of the book, because much of it is Katniss’s personal thoughts and observations, since she’s on her own.

H: I’m anxious to see how they portray the Arena itself, and if the rest of the districts are shown reacting to the Games as they watch them.  I’m also curious to see if they portray the deaths that Katniss doesn’t see.

The movie for the Hunger Games comes out this Thursday; who is going to see it?  Leave in the comments your thoughts on the series and your responses to these questions, and try to leave it as spoiler free as possible!  May the odds be ever in your favor!