The Hunger Games

In a dystopian future where the United States has collapsed and brutal regime has taken its place, young Katniss must participate in the Hunger Games. The games are a yearly spectacle, a televised fight to the death between 24 teenagers selected by lot. Think Gladiators + American Idol + Survivor. Katniss was forced to volunteer for the games in order to save her younger sister. It is basically a death sentence. This story is sad, violent, at times touching, at times even a bit humorous (in a ghoulish way), and often terrifying. I will have to read the entire series.

(One minor quibble with way the story is presented: From the description of the geography, the districts of the new country, Panem, are obviously the size of medium to large states or smallish countries. So why were both of the 12th District participants selected from just Katniss's home town. In fact, I got the feeling that the district consisted of just one town and surrounding lands. An artifact of viewpoint perhaps? Slightly annoying, but it didn't stop me from enjoying the story.)