The Girl Who Was On Fire edited by Leah Wilson
The Girl who was on Fire is not my normal kind of read. But this book was so fantastically terrific. If you’re a Hunger Games fan, this is worth a read.
Look, I am not the kind of person who wants to read endlessly about books I like (well, okay, I love reading blog posts about books I like, but I don’t want to read an entire book about people who have clearly thought way too deeply about something I read, enjoyed, and do not want to read a dissertation on).
So, I thought there was a distinct possibility I would not actually love this The Girl Who Was On Fire.
And then I read the first essay and it was so ludicrously smart and engaging and I had to read whole paragraphs to Bart after he got home from work reeeeeeeally late and probably wanted only to go to sleep. But no! He must listen. (Good soul that he is, he totally listened. And acted interested).
The Girl Who Was On Fire edited by Leah Wilson
There are thirteen essays in this book, each written by a different YA author, and each one is fantastic. The first one is about why the Hunger Games has been so insanely popular. I know, sounds cliche. But it’s anything but. For instance, this paragraph:
Another things that kept me reading compulsively was sheer interest in how the novel is structured: how does Suzanne Collins allay the very bleak premise of the Hunger Games enough so that we are not all carted, weeping softly, off to a lunatic asylum in the middle of Catching Fire, and how does she keep her characters sympathetic even when they are almost all, by necessity, murderers?
Why indeed? And that’s just the beginning. The chapter about Team Katniss – why she is such a fascinating character independent of the two boys vying for her love. Or the one about love as a political act. Or how fashion is used in the books (I was sure this would be the one I yawned through. I did not. Not even for a moment). How surveillance keeps people in check (or doesn’t). How Katniss’ world is one of smoke and mirrors, where it is incredibly difficult for people to tell what is real and what is not.
Reading this book is like going to an English class where your professor suddenly starts pointing out all the symbolism and themes and you think, “wow, I didn’t even like this book and now I want to reread it.” Imagine that happening with a book you actually loved. You could talk for ages about this.
I only read Mockingjay back in August when it came out, but now that I’m itching to read the entire series straight through. I generally wouldn’t be the person recommending a book of essays about another book, but here I am. Seriously, this is fascinating stuff.
Also, this book did what the three original books failed to do – it turned me to Team Peeta.
And. . . when I emailed the publisher to tell them how much I LOVED The Girl Who Was on Fire, they offered to give a copy away to a reader. So, if you’d like your own copy, leave a comment (one per person, only if you live in the USA or Canada, tragically (that is, it’s tragic that it’s only open to those readers, not tragic if you live in one of those two countries)). I’ll close entries at midnight on Sunday night and announce a winner Monday morning. Ta-da!
Advance copy received from publisher
I would like to win/read this book.
I've always been Team Peeta. Maybe this would switch me to Team Gale?
I loooooooved the Hunger Games series and can't wait to read this!
How fun! I always loved reading books in class but then disliked them by the end because the teachers made us deconstruct them down to the very letter. I always wondered if the authors consciously put in half the symbols, alternate meanings and tangents the teachers said they did! I really do enjoy insights and back stories and connections where you can see events starting in book one that came to fruition in the last book and things like that. I’m very curious to learn more about The Hunger Games because it’s become so powerful! So…pick me! 🙂
Ooh I'd love a copy! I read the series last April (and finished in August) then started again in October. That is a pretty quick turn around for me since I only got around to reading Harry Potter again three and a half years after D.H. came out. In my defense, Harry Potter is a pretty big commitment. Melissamturney(at)gmail(dot)com
Sounds very interesting. I'll have to check it out one way or another.
Please pick me, and can we still be friends if I've always been Team Peeta?
I love the Hunger Games trilogy! This sounds like an interesting book, would love to read it.
I'm intrigued…even though I didn't love the end of the Hunger Games series, I am intrigued by this book.
xox
I would LOVE to read this.
Also, I never was able to decide between Gale and Peeta (unlike Twilight, in which case I have always been wholeheartedly in the Jacob camp).
Oh I would LOVE this!
I would LOVE to read this book!
This book looks awesome!
I'm a first time commenter, but I love your blog!
I loved, loved, loved, these books! I actually just started the series about a month or so ago and have not yet finished Mocking Jay. I have looked forward to finishing each book and then reading your review!
Regardless of me winning (which would be awesome), I will be getting this book!
-Melissa
mjdelue(at)yahoo(dot)come
I would love to read this book. Thanks!
I would love to win! I wrote an essay on HG last Winter, but at that time there was essentially no criticism published on the series.
Loved these books and turned Team Peeta about halfway through Catching Fire.
Please please please!? I have been itching to read this book since you recommended it to me a month or so ago. And since I am totally an English Teacher (retired) and live for good analysis of good books, I think I need to own this one.
I've been Team Peeta from the beginning, but I am nerdily excited for this book. Several of my students are into the Hunger Games, and I really hope I can convince them to read this, too.
You are crazy for never being on Team Peeta before now…he's obviously the better choice. I'll read this book just to reaffirm my love for Peeta.
I don't live in the USA or Canada but I can give you an American address to send it to..I hope that's good enough 😉