It’s a young-adult series of books whose heroine is a not-totally likable teenage girl. Despite her flaws, she’s beloved by two handsome hunks, both of whom are brave and noble and fascinating.<\/p>\n
But not to worry. I’m not talking about Bella, Edward, and Jacob or any of their silly, horribly written ilk. The three on my mind do one hell of a lot more than play “vampire baseball” (whatever that is). <\/p>\n
Two inadvertently spark a revolution, in which all three play a part. And never fear, macho guys, the love triangle supports the story; it doesn’t take up hundreds of pages of weep-and-mope like that Certain Other Young Adult Series. Plenty of action here. Death. Grit. Blood. Rage. Rebellion. <\/p>\n
A while back I mentioned the first book in the trilogy, The Hunger Games<\/i>. I finished up the second book, Catching Fire<\/i>, last week. And the moment I can get back to it, I’ll be devouring the last 70 pages of book three, Mockingjay<\/i>. Trust me, this is good stuff. <\/p>\n
Is it libertarian or an-cap? Not explicitly. Nobody gives speeches about the Federal Reserve or the Second Amendment (thank goodness), and the story doesn’t begin or end with hyperinflation. But in every fiber of its being it’s a tale of individuals against the state. Individuals at first oppressed, enslaved, and even forced to murder each other for the entertainment of their masters. But individuals who strike back.<\/p>\n
Not until the second book does the series really … well, catch fire. But once it does, I’m pretty sure this is a story most people here are going to like. And your teenage daughters, sons, nieces, nephews, godchildren, etc., too. They’re who the trilogy was really written for.<\/p>\n
Soon (or at least eventually) to be several major motion pictures<\/a>, of which the first is now being cast with some strong young actors, including Oscar nominee Jennifer Lawrence from Winter’s Bone<\/i> and Josh Hutcherson from The Kids Are All Right<\/i>.<\/p>\n