''Catching Fire'' is a 2009 science fiction young adult novel by the American novelist
Suzanne Collins
Suzanne Collins (born August 10, 1962) is an American author and television writer. She is known as the author of the book series '' The Underland Chronicles'' and ''The Hunger Games''.
Early life
Suzanne Collins was born on August 10, 1962, i ...
, the second book in
''The Hunger Games'' series. As the sequel to the 2008 bestseller ''
The Hunger Games
''The Hunger Games'' is a series of young adult dystopian novels written by American author Suzanne Collins. The first three novels are part of a trilogy following teenage protagonist Katniss Everdeen, and the fourth book is a prequel set 6 ...
'', it continues the story of
Katniss Everdeen and the
post-apocalyptic
Apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic fiction is a subgenre of speculative fiction in which the Earth's (or another planet's) civilization is collapsing or has collapsed. The apocalypse event may be climatic, such as runaway climate change; ast ...
nation of
Panem
''The Hunger Games'' is a series of young adult dystopian novels written by American author Suzanne Collins. The first three novels are part of a trilogy following teenage protagonist Katniss Everdeen, and the fourth book is a prequel set ...
. Following the events of the previous novel, a rebellion against the oppressive
Capitol
A capitol, named after the Capitoline Hill in Rome, is usually a legislative building where a legislature meets and makes laws for its respective political entity.
Specific capitols include:
* United States Capitol in Washington, D.C.
* Numerous ...
has begun, and Katniss and fellow tribute
Peeta Mellark
Peeta Mellark is a fictional character from ''The Hunger Games'' trilogy by Suzanne Collins.Collins, Suzanne. The Hunger Games. London: Scholastic, 2009. Print. He is portrayed by actor Josh Hutcherson in ''The Hunger Games'' film series.
Pe ...
are forced to return to the arena in a
special edition of the
Hunger Games
''The Hunger Games'' is a series of young adult dystopian novels written by American author Suzanne Collins. The first three novels are part of a trilogy following teenage protagonist Katniss Everdeen, and the fourth book is a prequel set 6 ...
.
The book was first published on September 1, 2009, by
Scholastic, in hardcover, and was later released in
ebook and
audiobook
An audiobook (or a talking book) is a recording of a book or other work being read out loud. A reading of the complete text is described as "unabridged", while readings of shorter versions are abridgements.
Spoken audio has been available in sc ...
format. ''Catching Fire'' received mostly positive reviews, with reviewers praising Collins' prose, the book's ending, and the development of Katniss's character. According to critics, major themes of the novel include survival, authoritarianism, rebellion and interdependence versus independence. The book has sold more than 19 million copies in the U.S. alone.
A film adaptation, ''
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire'', was released on November 22, 2013.
Plot
Six months after winning the
74th Hunger Games,
Katniss Everdeen and
Peeta Mellark
Peeta Mellark is a fictional character from ''The Hunger Games'' trilogy by Suzanne Collins.Collins, Suzanne. The Hunger Games. London: Scholastic, 2009. Print. He is portrayed by actor Josh Hutcherson in ''The Hunger Games'' film series.
Pe ...
have returned home to
District 12 District 12 may refer to:
*District 12 (Ho Chi Minh city), Vietnam
* Schwamendingen, Zürich, Switzerland, also known as District 12
* District 12, an electoral district of Malta
*District 12 (Hunger Games), fictional district in the Hunger Games ...
, the poorest sector of
Panem
''The Hunger Games'' is a series of young adult dystopian novels written by American author Suzanne Collins. The first three novels are part of a trilogy following teenage protagonist Katniss Everdeen, and the fourth book is a prequel set ...
. Prior to Katniss and Peeta's "Victory Tour" of the country,
President Snow
The following is a list of characters in ''The Hunger Games'' novels, a series of young adult science fiction novels by Suzanne Collins whose original trilogy was later adapted into a series of four feature films. The actors who portray these c ...
visits Katniss and tells her that her televised acts of defiance in the previous Games have inspired rebellion among the districts. Snow demands that Katniss convince the country that she was acting out of love for Peeta, not against the Capitol, or her entire family and best friend
Gale Hawthorne
The following is a list of characters in ''The Hunger Games'' novels, a series of young adult science fiction novels by Suzanne Collins whose original trilogy was later adapted into a series of four feature films. The actors who portray these c ...
will be executed. Katniss reveals this threat to her mentor,
Haymitch Abernathy
The following is a list of characters in ''The Hunger Games'' novels, a series of young adult science fiction novels by Suzanne Collins whose original trilogy was later adapted into a series of four feature films. The actors who portray these c ...
, but not to Peeta.
The tour’s first stop is District 11, home of Katniss's Hunger Games ally
Rue
''Ruta graveolens'', commonly known as rue, common rue or herb-of-grace, is a species of ''Ruta'' grown as an ornamental plant and herb. It is native to the Balkan Peninsula. It is grown throughout the world in gardens, especially for its bluis ...
. Peeta announces that he will give part of his winnings to the families of Rue and fellow tribute
Thresh
Thresh may refer to:
*Threshing, in agriculture
**Threshing machine
* A minor character in the novel ''The Hunger Games'' and its film adaptation
*Thresh (gamer)
Dennis Fong (), better known by his online alias Thresh, is an American businessm ...
, and Katniss delivers an impromptu, heartfelt speech expressing her gratitude to the fallen tributes. An old man
salutes
A salute is usually a formal hand gesture or other action used to display respect in military situations. Salutes are primarily associated with the military and law enforcement, but many civilian organizations, such as Girl Guides, Boy Sco ...
Katniss, joined by the crowd; to her horror, the old man is immediately executed. Katniss tells Peeta of Snow’s threat, and they continue the tour as normal. Hoping to placate Snow, Peeta proposes to Katniss during a televised interview in the Capitol. Katniss accepts, but Snow is dissatisfied with her performance, leaving her afraid for her loved ones.
Returning to District 12, now overrun with harsher Peacekeepers to enforce the Capitol's rule, Katniss discovers an
uprising
Rebellion, uprising, or insurrection is a refusal of obedience or order. It refers to the open resistance against the orders of an established authority.
A rebellion originates from a sentiment of indignation and disapproval of a situation and ...
has broken out in District 8. Gale is caught poaching and is whipped in the town square until Haymitch intervenes. While hunting in the woods, Katniss meets Bonnie and Twill, refugees from District 8, whose uprising has failed. They plan to reach District 13 – believed to be destroyed in the first rebellion against the Capitol – in the hope that the residents are actually underground. Katniss is injured climbing back over District 12’s now live electric fence. Preparing for her upcoming wedding, Katniss learns that Districts 3 and 4 have also risen up against the Capitol.
The Capitol announces the 75th Hunger Games, with a twist – tributes will be selected from the surviving victors of the previous Games. As District 12's sole female victor, Katniss realizes she must compete alongside either Haymitch or Peeta. Haymitch is chosen and is unable to stop Peeta volunteering in his place. At the Capitol, Haymitch urges Katniss to find allies, but she bonds with the weakest tributes. In the televised interview, Katniss's stylist Cinna transforms the white wedding gown Snow insisted she wear into a black dress of feathers resembling a mockingjay, a symbol of the rebellion. Before Katniss is sent into the arena, she watches helplessly as Cinna is beaten and dragged out by Peacekeepers.
Katniss and Peeta ally themselves with
Finnick Odair
The following is a list of characters in ''The Hunger Games'' novels, a series of young adult science fiction novels by Suzanne Collins whose original trilogy was later adapted into a series of four feature films. The actors who portray these c ...
from District 4 and
Mags, his 80-year-old mentor. Peeta is knocked out by the jungle arena’s
force field, and the party later has to flee from a
poisonous fog. Mags sacrifices herself to allow Finnick to save the weakened Peeta. Katniss and Peeta ally with
Johanna Mason from District 7 and “exceptionally smart”
Beetee and Wiress from District 3. Wiress reveals that the arena is arranged like a clock, with each danger occurring at a fixed time and place for one hour. Wiress is killed, and in retaliation Katniss and Johanna kill the District 1 tributes. The remaining members of Katniss's group work on Beetee's plan to harness lightning to electrocute the District 2 tributes, who later interfere and disrupt the plan. Katniss uses her bow and arrow to direct the lightning into the force field, destroying it and knocking her unconscious.
Katniss wakes up en route to District 13 with Finnick, Beetee, and Haymitch. She learns from Haymitch and Plutarch Heavensbee, the Head Gamemaker, that there had been a secret plan to rescue Katniss, now the living symbol of the rebellion. Peeta, along with Johanna and District 2 tribute Enobaria, have been captured by the Capitol. She later learns from Gale that, though her family and some other residents have escaped,
District 12 has been destroyed.
Themes
The main themes of ''Catching Fire'' include survival, sacrifice, and the conflict between
interdependence and
independence
Independence is a condition of a person, nation, country, or state in which residents and population, or some portion thereof, exercise self-government, and usually sovereignty, over its territory. The opposite of independence is the statu ...
. As reviewer Margo Dill noted, "In
'Catching Fire'' Katniss and Peeta are definitely interdependent. They are both helping each other to survive. As a matter of fact, they want the other one to survive more than they do themselves." Dill goes on to explain how this likely increases the chances of each character dying.
Government control is another important theme, both within the book and throughout the entire trilogy. After suppressing the first rebellion, the Capitol establishes rules in order to restrict and control the citizens' lives. examples noted by Dill include that, "the 75th annual Hunger Games have 'new' rules that cause Katniss and Peeta to be in danger once again. More 'Peacekeepers' are placed in districts to diminish any hope that the citizens started to have after the last Hunger Games."
Another major theme throughout the trilogy is the media and the influence or power that popular culture has over the emotions, wishes and views of society. Other themes in the book include morality, obedience, sacrifice, redemption, love, and law.
Publication history
''Catching Fire'' had a preliminary hardcover release date of September 8, 2009, which was moved up to September 1 in response to requests by retailers to move the release to before
Labor Day and the start of school for many readers.
It was also published as an
audiobook
An audiobook (or a talking book) is a recording of a book or other work being read out loud. A reading of the complete text is described as "unabridged", while readings of shorter versions are abridgements.
Spoken audio has been available in sc ...
on the same day.
Advance reading copies were available at
BookExpo America
BookExpo America (commonly referred to within the book publishing industry as BEA) was an annual book trade fair in the United States. BEA is almost always held in a major city over four days in late May and/or early June. Nearly all significan ...
in New York City,
and were sent out to some booksellers, and offered as prizes in
Scholastic's "How Would You Survive" writing contest in May 2009. An eBook version was also published on June 3, 2010.
''Catching Fire'' had an initial print of 350,000 copies,
a number which had grown to over 750,000 by February 2010. The release of ''
Mockingjay
''Mockingjay'' is a 2010 science fiction novel by American author Suzanne Collins. It is chronologically the last installment of ''The Hunger Games'' series, following 2008's ''The Hunger Games'' and 2009's '' Catching Fire''. The book continu ...
'', the third novel of the series, followed on August 24, 2010.
, the book has sold over 10 million copies.
Critical reception
''Catching Fire'' received mainly positive reviews from critics. ''
Publishers Weekly
''Publishers Weekly'' (''PW'') is an American weekly trade news magazine targeted at publishers, librarians, booksellers, and literary agents. Published continuously since 1872, it has carried the tagline, "The International News Magazine of ...
'' wrote, "If this second installment spends too much time recapping events from book one, it doesn't disappoint when it segues into the pulse-pounding action readers have come to expect." ''
Booklist
''Booklist'' is a publication of the American Library Association that provides critical reviews of books and audiovisual materials for all ages. ''Booklist''s primary audience consists of libraries, educators, and booksellers. The magazine is av ...
'' commented on how the "unadorned prose provides an open window to perfect pacing and electrifying world building".
''
The New York Times
''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid d ...
'' also gave a positive review, writing, "Collins has done that rare thing. She has written a sequel that improves upon the first book. As a reader, I felt excited and even hopeful: could it be that this series and its characters were actually going somewhere?" The review also praised Collins' development of the character of Katniss. ''The Plain Dealer'' wrote, "The very last sentence of ''Catching Fire'' will leave readers gasping. Not to mention primed for part three."
However, not all reviews were positive. The same review from ''The Plain Dealer '' expressed displeasure at how, "after 150 pages of romantic dithering, I was tapping my foot to move on."
A review from ''
Entertainment Weekly
''Entertainment Weekly'' (sometimes abbreviated as ''EW'') is an American digital-only entertainment magazine based in New York City, published by Dotdash Meredith, that covers film, television, music, Broadway theatre, books, and popular cu ...
'' opined that the book was weaker than the first and wrote, "Katniss pretends to be in love with her sweet-natured Games teammate Peeta Mellark, but she secretly pines for brooding Gale, a childhood friend. Except — why? There's little distinction between the two thinly imagined guys, other than the fact that Peeta has a dopier name. Collins conjures none of the erotic energy that makes ''
Twilight
Twilight is light produced by sunlight scattering in the upper atmosphere, when the Sun is below the horizon, which illuminates the lower atmosphere and the Earth's surface. The word twilight can also refer to the periods of time when this i ...
'', for instance, so creepily alluring."
In addition, ''
Time
Time is the continued sequence of existence and events that occurs in an apparently irreversible succession from the past, through the present, into the future. It is a component quantity of various measurements used to sequence events, ...
'' magazine placed ''Catching Fire'' at number four on its list of the top 100 fiction books of 2009, while ''
People
A person ( : people) is a being that has certain capacities or attributes such as reason, morality, consciousness or self-consciousness, and being a part of a culturally established form of social relations such as kinship, ownership of prope ...
'' magazine rated it the eighth Best Book of 2009. It also won the ''Publishers Weekly'' 2009 award for Best Book of the Year.
Film adaptation
Lionsgate
Lions Gate Entertainment Corporation, doing business as Lionsgate, is a Canadian-American entertainment company. It was formed by Frank Giustra on July 10, 1997, domiciled in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada and is currently headquartered ...
announced that ''The Hunger Games: Catching Fire'' was to be released on November 22, 2013, as a sequel to the
film adaptation of ''The Hunger Games''. In April 2012, it was announced that
Gary Ross
Gary Ross (born November 3, 1956) is an American film director, writer, and producer. He is best known for writing and directing the fantasy comedy-drama film '' Pleasantville'' (1998), the sports drama film '' Seabiscuit'' (2003), the sci-fi act ...
, director of ''The Hunger Games'', would not return due to a "tight" and "fitted" schedule.
Francis Lawrence
Francis Lawrence (born March 26, 1971) is an Austrian-born American filmmaker and producer. After establishing himself as a director of music videos and commercials, Lawrence made his feature-length directorial debut with the superhero thrille ...
was officially announced as the director for ''Catching Fire'' on May 3, 2012. The film's cast includes
Jena Malone
Jena Laine Malone (; born November 21, 1984) is an American actress, musician, and photographer. Known for her roles in both independent films and mainstream blockbuster features, she has received numerous accolades, including nominations for a ...
as Johanna Mason,
Philip Seymour Hoffman
Philip Seymour Hoffman (July 23, 1967 – February 2, 2014) was an American actor. Known for his distinctive supporting and character roles—typically lowlifes, eccentrics, underdogs, and misfits—he acted in many films and theatrical produ ...
as Plutarch Heavensbee,
Lynn Cohen
Lynn Harriette Cohen (née Kay; August 10, 1933 – February 14, 2020) was an American actress known for her roles in film, television and theater. She was especially known for her role as Magda in the HBO series ''Sex and the City'', which she ...
as Mags,
Alan Ritchson
Alan Michael Ritchson (born November 28, 1982) is an American actor, model, singer and songwriter. He made his acting debut as Aquaman / Arthur Curry on The CW superhero series ''Smallville'' (2005–2010), where he appeared as a guest star betw ...
as Gloss,
Sam Claflin
Samuel George Claflin (born 27 June 1986) is an English actor. After graduating from the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art in 2009, he began his acting career on television and had his first film role as Philip Swift in '' Pirates of th ...
as Finnick, and
Jeffrey Wright
Jeffrey Wright (born December 7, 1965) is an American actor. He is well known for his role as Belize in the Broadway production of ''Angels in America'', for which he would win a Tony Award, and its HBO miniseries adaptation, for which he woul ...
as Beetee. Production officially began on September 10, 2012 and concluded on December 21, 2012. Shooting first took place in and around metropolitan
Atlanta
Atlanta ( ) is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Georgia. It is the seat of Fulton County, the most populous county in Georgia, but its territory falls in both Fulton and DeKalb counties. With a population of 498,715 ...
. Several District 11 scenes were also filmed in the rural areas of
Macon County, Georgia
Macon County is a county located in the west central portion of the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2010 census, the population was 14,740. The county seat is Oglethorpe.
The Macon County Courthouse is located in Oglethorpe.
History
Mac ...
, and the rest of production took place in Hawaii. Some of the wooded scenes were filmed in Oakland, New Jersey.
The film was successful, grossing more than $800 million to become the fifth highest-grossing film at the box office in 2013
and receiving positive reviews from critics.
References
External links
Suzanne Collins' official websiteScholastic official website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Catching Fire
2009 American novels
Action novels
2009 science fiction novels
American post-apocalyptic novels
American science fiction novels
American young adult novels
Sequel novels
2
Children's science fiction novels
American adventure novels
Novels set in North America
American novels adapted into films
Books by Suzanne Collins
Science fiction novels adapted into films