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The Hunger Games

Submitted by rthomas on Fri, 09/26/2008 - 13:57.

AT–A–GLANCE
What is it?

The award-winning and bestselling futuristic series for teen readers by Suzanne Collins

Who’s it for?

Readers ages 12 to adult

VISIT THE SITE

scholastic.com/hungergames
Hunger Games on Facebook

Author Photos & Downloads

Click here for hi-res cover images, official Suzanne Collins author photos, and more.

Release Date

The Hunger Games was released in September 2008. Catching Fire, the second book of The Hunger Games series, was published September 1, 2009. Mockingjay was released August 24, 2010, and The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes was published May 19, 2020.

More Information

Tracy van Straaten
tvanstraaten-consultant@scholastic.com

Sunrise on the Reaping - Coming March 18, 2025

The Hunger Games Illustrated Edition - Coming October 1, 2024

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes

#1 USA Today Bestseller
#1 New York Times Bestseller
#1 Wall Street Journal Bestseller
#1 Publishers Weekly Bestseller

“A home run of a best seller by publishing’s standards.”

             -The New York Times

“The top [selling] book in the first half of 2020.”

             -Publishers Weekly

“It is a steep challenge to write a book whose hero is, everyone knows, destined to become deeply evil. Do we want to hear — now, after we know the endgame — that the young Voldemort was unfairly saddled with a demerit in class or that the adolescent Sauron fretted because he had to wear hand-me-down clothes? Yes, please.”

             -The New York Times

“[M]esmerizing…Collins once again proves that she is a master of building a fascinating world around complex characters.”

             -The Associated Press

“The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes builds on the original series’ overt critique of violence and those who perpetuate it, again in terms that speak to a more mature audience than their young-adult marketing might suggest. For true fans of The Hunger Games, Collins shines most as she weaves in tantalizing details that lend depth to the gruesome world she created in the original series and Coriolanus’s place in its history.

             -TIME

MOCKINGJAY:


#1 USA Today Bestseller
#1 New York Times Bestseller
#1 Wall Street Journal Bestseller
#1 Publishers Weekly Bestseller
A New York Times Notable Children's Book of 2010
A New York Times Book Review Editors' Choice
A 2010 Booklist Editors' Choice
A 2010 Kirkus Best Book of the Year
A Publishers Weekly Best Book of 2010

“Fans will be happy to hear that Mockingjay is every bit as complex and imaginative as Hunger Games and Catching Fire."

             -Entertainment Weekly

“Suspenseful... Collins' fans, grown-ups included, will race to the end."

             -USA Today

“At its best the trilogy channels the political passion of 1984, the memorable violence of A Clockwork Orange, the imaginative ambience of The Chronicles of Narnia and the detailed inventiveness of Harry Potter."

             -New York Times Book Review

CATCHING FIRE:

#1 USA Today Bestseller
#1 New York Times Bestseller
#1 Wall Street Journal Bestseller
#1 Publishers Weekly Bestseller
A Time Magazine Top 10 Fiction Book of 2009
A People Magazine (Top 10) Best Book of 2009
A New York Times Book Review Editor's Choice
A Los Angeles Times Best Children’s Book of 2009
A Publishers Weekly Best Book of 2009
A Booklist Editors' Choice 2009
A Kirkus Best Book of 2009

“Whereas Katniss kills with finesse, Collins writes with raw power."

            -Time Magazine

“Collins expertly blends fantasy, romance and political intrigue (so who needs vampires?)."

             -People Magazine

 

THE HUNGER GAMES:

#1 USA Today Bestseller
#1 New York Times Bestseller
#1 Wall Street Journal Bestseller
A Publishers Weekly Bestseller
A Horn Book Fanfare
A Publishers Weekly Best Book of 2008
A School Library Journal Best Book of 2008
A Booklist Editors’ Choice
A New York Times Notable Book of 2008
A Kirkus Best Book of 2008
A New York Times Book Review Editors’ Choice 

“I couldn't stop reading."

             -Stephen King, Entertainment Weekly

“The Hunger Games is amazing.”

-Stephenie Meyer, www.stepheniemeyer.com

“Brilliantly plotted and perfectly paced.”

-John Green, The New York Times Book Review

Highlights

  • There are more than 100 million copies in print of all four books in the series—The Hunger Games (2008), Catching Fire (2009), Mockingjay (2010), and The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (2020)—in print and digital formats worldwide.
  • The Hunger Games spent more than 260 consecutive weeks/more than five consecutive years on The New York Times bestseller list, and the total series has been on the series bestseller list for more than 329 weeks to date. 
  • Lionsgate has successfully adapted each of The Hunger Games books into five feature films that collectively grossed more than $3.3 billion worldwide in theatrical ticket sales. Released by Lionsgate Entertainment, The Hunger Games is a global blockbuster film franchise that has spawned five record-breaking films that collectively have grossed over $3.3 billion at the global box office. The films boast a star-studded cast including Academy Award® winner Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Academy Award® nominee Woody Harrelson, Elizabeth Banks, Lenny Kravitz, Stanley Tucci, and Donald Sutherland. The world of The Hunger Games that Suzanne Collins created continues to grow as theme park attractions, experiences, and live events including The World of the Hunger Games at Motiongate Dubai and a major stage production set to debut in London from Olivier Award-winning playwright Conor McPherson (“Girl from the North Country”) and directed by Matthew Dunster (“2:22—A Ghost Story,” “Hangmen,” “The Pillowman”). The most recent film in the franchise, The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes, opened on November 17, 2023, taking in over $348 million in global box office.
  • The Hunger Games trilogy has been sold into 54 territories in 52 languages to date.
  • Suzanne Collins named to the Entertainment Weekly 2010 Entertainers of the Year list (December 3, 2010)
  • Suzanne Collins named to the 2010 TIME 100 list (April 29, 2010)
  • List of awards and citations for The Hunger Games trilogy
  • Year of the Jungle, Suzanne Collins’s picture book based on the year her father was deployed in Viet Nam, with illustrations by James Proimos, was published September 10, 2013.

Announcements/News

Scholastic Reveals Cover for New Book in the Worldwide Bestselling Hunger Games Series by Suzanne Collins
(October 16, 2024)

Scholastic to Publish New Novel in the Worldwide Bestselleing Hunger Games Series by Suzanne Collins, Sunrise on the Reaping to be Published March 18, 2025
(June 6, 2024)

Scholastic to Publish Illustrated Edition of Suzanne Collins' Worldwide Bestseller The Hunger Games
(January 18, 2024)

Scholastic to Publish a Trade Paperbck and a Movie-Tie-In Edition of Worldwide Bestselling Hunger Games Prequel, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins
(April 13, 2023)

Scholastic Releases New Interview with Suzanne Collins, Author of the Worldwide Bestselling Hunger Games Series
(May 19, 2020)

Scholastic Announces Tony Award-Winning Actor Santino Fontana as Narrator for Audio Edition of The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins
(April 8, 2020)

Scholastic Announces Title and Cover for New Novel in the Worldwide Bestselling Hunger Games Series by Suzanne Collins
(October 4, 2019)

Scholastic to Publish New Novel in the Worldwide Bestselling Hunger Games Series by Suzanne Collins
(June 17, 2019)

Scholastic to Publish The Hunger Games Special Edition by Suzanne Collins to Celebrate the Tenth Anniversary of The Hunger Games
(April 19, 2018)

Scholastic to Publish Year of the Jungle, an Autobiographical Picture Book by Suzanne Collins in Fall 2013
(November 29, 2012)

Scholastic Announces Updated U.S. Figures for Suzanne Collins's Bestselling The Hunger Games Trilogy
(July 19, 2012)

Scholastic Announces Updated U.S. In-print Figures for Suzanne Collins' Bestselling The Hunger Games Trilogy
(March 28, 2012)

A Message from Suzanne Collins about The Hunger Games Movie
(March 1, 2012)

Scholastic to Add new Title to The Hunger Games Movie Tie-in Program
(November 3, 2011)

Lionsgate Joins Scribd, Donorschoose.org, and Scholastic for The Hunger Games National Literacy Month Campaign
(September 1, 2011)

Scholastic Introduces Gift Edition of The Hunger Games (Holiday 2011), To Be Followed by Movie Tie-In Program (Spring 2012)
(June 16, 2011)

Scholastic announces Powell’s Books in Portland, Oregon, is winner of Mockingjay display contest with prize of store visit by Suzanne Collins
(October 21, 2010)

Mockingjay tops all national bestseller lists with sales of more than 450,000 copies in its first week of publication, and Scholastic goes back to press for an additional 400,000 copies
(September 2, 2010)

Scholastic Increases First Printing of Mockingjay, the Final Book of The Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins, to 1.2 Million Copies and Announces Fall Tour Markets
(July 1, 2010)

Suzanne Collins's Third Book in The Hunger Games Trilogy to be Published on August 24, 2010
(December 3, 2009)

Scholastic Publishes Catching Fire

Scholastic Publishes The Hunger Games

LionsGate Acquires Worldwide Distribution Rights for The Hunger Games Film
(March 17, 2009)

Interviews with Suzanne Collins

Press Coverage

  • Associated Press: "Suzanne Collins is releasing a new 'Hunger Games' novel, 'Sunrise on the Reaping' next year" (June 6, 2024)
  • Associated Press: "An illustrated edtion of the First 'Hunger Games' will come out Oct. 1" (January 18, 2024)
  • Publishers Weekly: “The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes [is] the top [selling] book in the first half of 2020.” (July 10, 2020)
  • The Associated Press: “New ‘Hunger Games’ book sells more than 500,000 copies” (May 27, 2020) 
  • Publishers Weekly: “Independent Booksellers Plan Digital Celebrations for New Hunger Games Book” (May 14, 2020)
  • The Associated Press: “The Promotion Will Be Virtual for New Hunger Games Novel” (May 14, 2020)
  • Entertainment Weekly: “Exclusive excerpt from The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes audiobook, read by narrator Santino Fontana (May 12, 2020)
  • Entertainment Weekly: Three-part feature: The Hunger Games binge-read, featuring commentary on The Hunger Games, Catching Fire, and Mockingjay from Publisher and Editorial Director David Levithan (May 8, 2020 / May 13, 2020 / May 18, 2020)
  • BookPage offers a “peek behind the curtain” of The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes with an interview with Publisher and Editorial Director David Levithan (May 2020)
  • Bustle: Exclusive audio clip of author Suzanne Collins reading an excerpt from The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (April 23, 2020)
  • Parade previews The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, including an interview with Publisher and Editorial Director David Levithan (January 30, 2020)
  • Entertainment Weekly reveals the first excerpt from The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (January 21, 2020) 
  • Today.com: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is one of "The 10 Most Anticipated Books for 2020 According to Goodreads Users" (January 6, 2020)
  • CNN.com: 20 Things to Look Forward to in 2020 (January 2, 2020)
  • New York Times calls The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes one of "20 Books We're Watching for in 2020" (January 1, 2020)
  • Glamour.com: Suzanne Collins named one of '104 Women Who Defined the Decade in Pop Culture' (December 20, 2019)
  • Entertainment Weekly calls The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes one of "The 50 Most-Anticipated Books of 2020" (December 16, 2019)
  • Good Morning America reveals cover and title for The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (October 4, 2019)
  • New York Times: “’The Hunger Games’ Prequel Is in the Works” (June 17, 2019)
  • Associated Press: “‘Hunger Games’ prequel novel coming in 2020” (June 17, 2019)
  • NPR Morning Edition “10 Years Since 'The Hunger Games' Began,” interview with Scholastic’s David Levithan (November 2, 2018)
  • New York Times: Essay by bestselling author Sabaa Tahir: “Katniss Everdeen Is My Hero.”  (October 2018)
  • New York Times: Exclusive excerpt of the Suzanne Collins interview with David Levithan from The Hunger Games Special (10th Anniversary) Edition (October 2018)
  • Entertainment Weekly First Listen: Tatiana Maslany to Narrate Hunger Games Special (10th Anniversary) Edition Audiobook  (September 2018)
  • Entertainment Weekly previews The Hunger Games Special (10th Anniversary) Edition with cover reveal and excerpt (April 2018)
  • TIME Magazine names Katniss Everdeen to the list of “The 100 Most influential People Who Never Lived” (September 2013)
  • The Associated Press announces the publication of Year of the Jungle (November 29, 2012)
  • Salon.com: The making of a blockbuster: The behind-the-scenes story of the readers and booksellers who launched the Hunger Games franchise (March 18, 2012)
  • Parade Magazine cover story: Go Inside the 'Hunger Games' Phenomenon (March 17, 2012)
  • NBC’s The Today Show: Fan Frenzy: Excitement Builds for ‘Hunger Games’ (March 16, 2012)
  • USA Today: Fans are hungry for more 'Games': Books top best-seller list (March 15, 2012)
  • People Magazine cover story: Behind the Scenes on The Hunger Games (March 14, 2012)
  • The New York Times: Peer Pressure? How About, Like, Fighting to Death? (March 9, 2012)
  • The Wall Street Journal: Gender Games,'The Hunger Games' must clear tricky marketing hurdles (March 8, 2012)
  • The Muppets spoof The Hunger Games (March 6, 2012)
  • Entertainment Weekly cover story: "The Hunger Games—Game On!" (March 9, 2012)
  • The Hunger Games trilogy represents three of the ten bestselling books in December 2011, according to USA Today (January 4, 2012)
  • The Hunger Games reaches #1 on USA Today’s bestseller list (December 29, 2011)
  • The Hunger Games included in World Book Night 2012 (December 14, 2011)
  • Three Movie Tie-in Book Covers Revealed in Entertainment Weekly (December 1, 2011)
  • Entertainment Weekly cover story: "The Men of The Hunger Games: Your first look at Gale and Peeta—and how the actors are bringing them to life." (July 27, 2011)
  • Entertainment Weekly cover story: "First Look at Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss in The Hunger Games movie" (May 18, 2011)
  • The Wrap announces Jennifer Lawrence Gets Lead Role in The Hunger Games (March 16, 2011)
  • The Atlantic weighs in on the importance of the casting of Katniss: "Katniss Everdeen is more than just a teen idol of the moment. She is a heroine for the ages… the most important female character in recent pop culture history." (March 9, 2011)
  • Entertainment Weekly Announces Release Date for The Hunger Games Movie (January 25, 2011)
  • Entertainment Weekly feature story: “Interview with Hunger Games Movie Director Gary Ross” (January 6, 2011)
  • Entertainment Weekly feature story: “The Hunger Games: Taking the book world (and Hollywood) by storm” (October 15, 2010)
  • The Associated Press on the New York City launch event for Mockingjay (August 24, 2010)
  • New York Times on the launch of Mockingjay (August 24, 2010)
  • USA Today reviews Mockingjay (August 24, 2010)
  • Los Angeles Times reviews Mockingjay (August 23, 2010)
  • USA Today anticipates “more than the usual number” of sleepy teens upon midnight publication of Mockingjay (August 19, 2010)
  • USA Today, Publishers Weekly, and Scholastic reveal the cover and title for Mockingjay (February 11, 2010). Mockingjay, the final book of The Hunger Games, will be published August 24, 2010.
  • USA Today announces Catching Fire's debut at #1 on the USA Today Bestselling Books list its first week on sale. Catching Fire simultaneously appeared at #1 on The New York Times, Wall Street Journal and Publishers Weekly bestseller lists.
  • Time Magazine reviews The Hunger Games and Catching Fire. (September 2009)
  • Publishers Weekly chronicles excitement among booksellers nationwide for the September 1st publication of Catching Fire.
  • On June 26, 2009, Scholastic announced the winner of the Hunger Games Writing Contest. For information about the winner, see coverage of the contest in Publishers Weekly.
  • Publishers Weekly reports that "Catching Fire Catches Fire" in an article on growing advance buzz for the publication of Catching Fire (September 1, 2009)
  • Publishers Weekly announces the new publication date for Catching Fire (March 12, 2009)
  • Stephen King reviews The Hunger Games in Entertainment Weekly (September 2008)
  • Publishers Weekly reports "A Dark Horse Breaks Out: The buzz is on for Suzanne Collins's YA series debut" in an article about the forthcoming publication of The Hunger Games (June 2008)
  • Critical praise for The Hunger Games
  • Critical praise for Catching Fire

About Suzanne Collins

Bestselling author Suzanne Collins first made her mark in children’s literature with the New York Times bestselling Underland Chronicles fantasy series for middle grade readers. She continued to explore the effects of war and violence on those coming of age with The Hunger Games series. The Hunger Games (2008) was an instant bestseller, appealing to both teen readers and adults. It was called “addictive” by Stephen King in Entertainment Weekly, and “brilliantly plotted and perfectly paced” by John Green in the New York Times Book Review. The book appeared on the New York Times bestseller list for more than 260 consecutive weeks (more than five consecutive years), and the total series has been on the series bestseller list for over 345 weeks to date. There are more than 100 million copies of all four books in the series—The Hunger Games, Catching Fire (2009), Mockingjay (2010), and The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (2020)—in print and digital formats worldwide. Foreign publishing rights for The Hunger Games Series have been sold in 54 languages to 52 territories to date. Lionsgate has successfully adapted each of these books into five feature films that collectively grossed more than $3.3 billion worldwide in theatrical ticket sales. 

Year of the Jungle, Suzanne Collins’s picture book based on the year her father was deployed in Viet Nam, with illustrations by James Proimos, was published in 2013 to great critical acclaim.

Suzanne Collins also had a successful and prolific career writing for children’s television. She has worked on the staffs of several Nickelodeon shows, including the Emmy®-nominated hit Clarissa Explains It All and The Mystery Files of Shelby Woo. She received a Writer’s Guild of America nomination in animation for co-writing the critically acclaimed Christmas special, Santa, Baby!

In 2010 Suzanne Collins was named to the TIME 100 list as well as the Entertainment Weekly Entertainers of the Year list; in 2011 Fast Company named her to their 100 Most Creative People in Business; and in 2016 she was presented the 2016 Authors Guild Award for Distinguished Service to the Literary Community for exemplifying the unique power of young people’s literature to change lives and to create lifelong book lovers. It was the first time the Guild presented its annual award to a YA author. The Atlantic called Hunger Games heroine Katniss Everdeen, “the most important female character in recent pop culture history,” and TIME Magazine named Katniss to its list of “The 100 Most influential People Who Never Lived.” On The Hunger Games trilogy, The New York Times Book Review wrote, “At its best the trilogy channels the political passion of 1984, the memorable violence of A Clockwork Orange, the imaginative ambience of The Chronicles of Narnia and the detailed inventiveness of Harry Potter." The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes was published in May 2020 and debuted at #1 on the New York Times, USA Today, Wall Street Journal, and Publishers Weekly bestseller lists. The book also was the top selling book in any category for the first half of 2020. On October 1, 2024, Scholastic published The Hunger Games Illustrated Edition, a deluxe illustrated edition of Suzanne Collins' worldwide bestseller The Hunger Games, featuring more than thirty black-and-white illustrations by internationally accalaimed artist Nico Delort.

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