Hunger Games #0: The Ballads of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins

My name is Coriolanus, and I cannot fully describe the importance of becoming a mentor in the Hunger Games. It was embarrassing to be assigned the female tribute from District 12, the worst district of all, but it was soon evident that Lucy Gray Baird had "star quality". I succumbed to her charms and began to envision how my life might change if she could survive to be among the final tributes. We made a good team, and the reporters and public loved us. However, I noticed that Lucy Gray's physical condition was deteriorating, but I was stunned when she said it would help if I started thinking she might actually win the Games, not just survive. I'm now starting to have thoughts we might have a future together. 

This book is a prequel to The Hunger Games. It's interesting to contrast the Games in this book with the Games described in the rest of the series. A focus of the organizers is to figure out ways to increase interest and viewership from the citizens of Panem. The most compelling aspect of the story is knowing Coriolanus will become the tyrannical president of the future Panem. In this book, he's initially driven by ambition to get a scholarship while trying to maintain some dignity after his family's fall into poverty. He also has compassion for others, but he's afraid it may imply weakness and result in punishment from the people he's trying to impress. As a result, much of the story takes place inside Coriolanus's mind, as he contemplates conflicting thoughts and emotions. Rest assured, in the end he exhibits the type of behavior you've come to expect in his character. The Capitol exhibits governmental oppression and entitlement, and there are clashes between values and ethics. The Headmaster of the Games presents controversial advances in science that explain some future events in the series. Overall, the Hunger Games are a part of this book, but it's not the whole story. I found it very entertaining, and I can envision a Hunger Games .5 being written. Give this book a shot.