How to Read the Hunger Games Books in Order

2025 marks 17 years since Suzanne Collins introduced the world to the brutal landscape of Panem and its defiant heroine, Katniss Everdeen. With a new prequel arriving soon, now's the perfect time to revisit the original trilogy that ignited a global phenomenon.

Set in a dystopian society where children fight to the death in the annual Hunger Games, this series sparked a YA craze and inspired countless readers. If you're ready to dive back into this captivating world, or experience it for the first time, here's the perfect reading order:

How to Read the Hunger Games Books in Order

While The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes precedes the original trilogy chronologically, experiencing the original three books first provides crucial context and enhances the prequel's impact. However, for a strictly chronological journey through Panem, start with Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes and then read the others.

### Includes All 4 Books Hunger Games Box Set

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1. The Hunger Games

### The Hunger Games

0Winning means fame and fortune. Losing means certain death. The Hunger Games have begun...See it at Amazon

This groundbreaking YA novel launched the entire Hunger Games franchise. Inspired by a blend of war coverage and reality TV, Suzanne Collins created a gripping tale of children forced to fight to the death for the entertainment of the Capitol. Katniss Everdeen, a resourceful girl from impoverished District 12, volunteers as tribute when her younger sister is chosen, embarking on a harrowing journey of survival and defiance.

2. The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

### Catching Fire

0Sparks are igniting. Flames are spreading. And the Capitol wants revenge. See it at Amazon

Following their miraculous survival, Katniss and Peeta face even greater danger. Their defiance has ignited a rebellion across Panem, and President Snow seeks to crush it. Forced onto a Victory Tour, Katniss witnesses the growing unrest and finds herself thrust back into the arena, facing new challenges and formidable opponents. This installment expands the world, introducing beloved characters like Finnick Odair and Johanna Mason, and culminates in a shocking twist that reshapes the narrative.

3. The Hunger Games: Mockingjay

### Mockingjay

0My name is Katniss Everdeen. Why am I not dead? I should be dead.See it at Amazon

The explosive finale plunges Katniss into a full-scale war against the Capitol. As the face of the rebellion, she fights to overthrow President Snow, but the path to freedom is fraught with peril and moral complexities. This installment delivers a powerful and surprisingly bleak conclusion to the original trilogy, questioning the nature of power and the cost of revolution. Note: The film adaptation was split into two parts.

4. The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes

### The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes

0Ambition will fuel him. Competition will drive him. But power has its priceSee it at Amazon

This prequel, set 64 years before the original trilogy, explores the origins of the Hunger Games and the rise of President Snow. Following young Coriolanus Snow as he mentors a tribute from District 12, the story reveals the events that shaped the Games and the man who would become their tyrannical overseer. This compelling prequel offers a fascinating look at the Games' early days and provides additional context to the original series.

Will There Be More Hunger Games Books?

Preorder the Next Novel### Sunrise on the Reaping (A Hunger Games Novel)

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Four years after The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, Suzanne Collins announced Sunrise on the Reaping, another prequel set 40 years after Lucy Gray's story and 24 years before the original Hunger Games. This new installment will feature Haymitch Abernathy and the Second Quarter Quell, with a film adaptation slated for November 20, 2026.

Looking for more book recommendations? Check out our reading lists for the Lord of the Rings, Percy Jackson, and Game of Thrones series.

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