The ‘Hunger Games’ returns with a new book

It has been 10 years since one of the best movie-and-book franchises, The Hunger Games trilogy, came to its glorious conclusion.

But here’s some good news! On May 19, Scholastic will be releasing Suzanne Collins’ long-awaited Hunger Games prequel, The Ballad Of Songbirds And Snakes.

As a Hunger Games fan myself, I was thrilled to hear about this new release as I loved the way Suzanne Collins painted her characters. From the relatable and sassy female protagonist, Katniss Everdeen, to the underappreciated and talented designer, Cinna, the trilogy was filled with unique and bold personalities.

Since the last release of the best-selling trilogy in 2010, this long-awaited prequel will be the first Hunger Games book to be released in a decade.

In The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, the story is set in the same post-apocalyptic dystopia of Panem, also known as ‘The Dark Days’. Readers will be brought back a whopping 64 years to the failed rebellion of the Districts against the Capitol.

This means the story starts even before the happenings of The Hunger Games and birth of the rebels’ Mockingjay, Katniss Everdeen.

The highly-anticipated prequel centres around President Coriolanus Snow as his young and ambitious eighteen-year-old self, before his rise to power as Panem’s future dictator.

Fuelled by a desire to prove himself worthy of his reputable status, Snow is livid when he finds out he is assigned to mentor the female tribute of the piteous District 12 in the 10th Hunger Games.

Aside from this new release, what’s more exciting is that Lionsgate Entertainment also announced plans to produce and develop the movie adaptation!

Even though it will most likely be an entirely new cast for the movie, the filming will be led by returning director Francis Lawrence, who also filmed the original Hunger Games movies.

Other members of the original production are also said to be returning, such as producers Nina Jacobson and Brad Simpson, as well as Michael Arndt, the scriptwriter for Catching Fire.

While we wait for more confirmed details about the movie, check out the new book that is now available for pre-order via online and retail bookstores in Singapore. Or you can wait for the hardcopy’s official release on May 19.

Instead of panic buying groceries at the supermarkets or crying over limited bubble tea delivery slots, why not spend your time and money on this instead?

I’m sure the experience will be just as satisfying.