I knew I wanted to continue to explore writing about just-war theory for young audiences. I had been grappling with another story that just couldn’t get any air under its wings. At the time, I was completing the fifth book in The Underland Chronicles and my brain was shifting to whatever the next project would be. Suzanne Collins: Yes, I was flipping through the channels one night between reality television programs and actual footage of the Iraq War, when the idea came to me. An excerpt from that interview, including potential spoilers, is below, condensed and edited for clarity and length.ĭavid Levithan: Let’s start at the origin moment for “The Hunger Games.” You were flipping channels one night. In a 10th anniversary edition of the book, which hits stores this month, David Levithan, a vice president and publisher at Scholastic Press, interviewed Collins. The books have spawned four record-breaking films and many Katniss Halloween costumes. The series has more than 100 million copies in print worldwide, and spent more than 260 consecutive weeks on The Times best-seller list. It is the first in a trilogy by the same name that includes “Catching Fire” (2009) and “Mockingjay” (2010). And the fate of the districts relies on it.“The Hunger Games,” by Suzanne Collins, came out in 2008. Will Katniss survive once again? Or surrender herself for Peeta? In this heart racing, action packed sequel to the first Hunger Games book, Katniss must find out the true meaning of being ‘The Mockingjay’. But this is not the a usual Quarter Quell, Snow is determined to kill Katniss off with the bowl of former victors out for her too (Or so she thinks)! Katniss is forced to question whether her choice of actions were for the cause of whole hearted love? Or the fiery thirst of rebellion that feasts inside her. Then, with more odds against Katniss’s survival, the Quarter Quell happens. Katniss’s family and all who she loves is now in danger, and she and Peeta are once again forced to be “the-star-crossed-lovers-from-District 12”, but not everyone is convinced, especially Snow. To make matter worse, rebellions have started to kick out and more peacekeepers have been coming to District 12 nonstop. Ever since Katniss won the 75th Hunger Games, the trauma has been haunting her.

The catching fire book