Think back to the early 2010s. It was a simpler time, wasn’t it? From the world of books to the big screens of Hollywood, it was a time when young-adult dystopia was everywhere. From The Selection, Uglies, The Maze Runner to Divergent, teens and adults alike were hooked on the genre. However, no series arguably came close to matching the cultural imprint of The Hunger Games, written by Suzanne Collins.
The Hunger Games set the formula that the majority of teen dystopian novels follow, depicting the story of Katniss Everdeen living in an apocalyptic North America known as Panem. Every year, Panem hosts a tournament called The Hunger Games, where teens fight to the death as penance for a previous uprising. As the series progresses, Katniss grows from an unlikely hero into a full-blown revolutionary leader. The first book was published in 2008 and was followed by two sequels and a prequel.
With over 100 million copies sold, The Hunger Games series is one of the most popular in the literary world. But, there are two ways of working through the series, each with its benefits. So, whether you’ve been a long-time fan of the books or hopped on board thanks to the film adaptations, check out What We Reading for our guide on how to read The Hunger Games books in order!
How To Read The Hunger Games Books In Release-Date Order
There are two options when it comes to reading The Hunger Games books in order: in order of publication and chronological order.
The first book in the series is over fifteen years old now but shot back into the headlines following the publishing of The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, a prequel which hit shelves in May 2020 and received a film adaptation in November 2023.
In terms of release dates, this is how The Hunger Games series stacks up:
Books
1. The Hunger Games (2008)
2. Catching Fire (2009)
3. Mockingjay (2010)
4. The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (2020)
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes serves as a prequel to the main trilogy, being set 64 years before the events of The Hunger Games. It delves much more into the history of Panem and the games themselves. It does stand as its own story, but still very much retains the feel of the main trilogy.
One of the main benefits of reading the original trilogy in the order they were written is the sense of mystery that comes from having things unfold. For example, why would anyone in the Districts go along with such a brutal event like The Hunger Games? Reading Songbirds and Snakes first serves as a guide to questions like these, which does subtract away from a lot of this intrigue as many of these issues are answered in that book.
Coriolanus Snow is the malevolent leader of Panem in the original trilogy, hating on him as a villain was one of the most fun parts of going through the main trilogy. However, Songbirds and Snakes depicts a much younger version of the character, adding a depth to him that had been hidden in the first three books. By reading Songbirds and Snakes first, Snow becomes much less of a flat character and therefore harder to dislike. We’re not saying whether or not that’s a bad thing, but it is one of the big differences between Songbirds and Snakes adds.
How To Read The Hunger Games Books In Chronological Order
Much like a fantasy series like Star Wars, some fans prefer to consume a series like The Hunger Games in the order of the events that happen. In this case, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes has to be read first. As mentioned, it is set 64 years before The Hunger Games and follows Coriolanus Snow as he tutors a young woman called Lucy Gray Baird as she prepares to enter the 10th annual Hunger Games.
To read The Hunger Games books in chronological order, you’ll need to read them as follows:
Books
1. The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (2020)
2. The Hunger Games (2008)
3. Catching Fire (2009)
4. Mockingjay (2010)
Beginning with Songbirds and Snakes completely transforms how readers view Panem and Snow. By the time they are introduced to Katniss and co. in The Hunger Games, they are equipped with a more thorough understanding of what happened during the Dark Days aka. The conflict between the Capitol and the Districts.
Snow’s motives are also given more explanation by reading Songbirds and Snakes first, as readers are introduced to his family, showcasing his more human traits and demonstrating that he was, at least at some point, capable of empathy and love.
He is still undoubtedly a villain in the opening book and its sequels, but the added backstory does make him far less one-sided than many had him down as previously.
Ultimately the characterisation and development of Coriolanus Snow is one of the most significant changes in how you read The Hunger Games books in order. Reading the books in the order they were written continues to provide a sense of intrigue over this apocalyptic world and its chief baddie is far more detestable. Reading The Hunger Games books in chronological order gives readers a fuller understanding of Panem and the events that take place in it, and also makes Snow a more fleshed-out and nuanced character with an added humanity that explains more of his actions in the main trilogy.
Check Out The Best Books Like The Hunger Games
Part-time reader, part-time rambler, and full-time Horror enthusiast, James has been writing for What We Reading since 2022. His earliest reading memories involved Historical Fiction, Fantasy and Horror tales, which he has continued to take with him to this day. James’ favourite books include The Last (Hanna Jameson), The Troop (Nick Cutter) and Chasing The Boogeyman (Richard Chizmar).
