A few years ago, bored while waiting for my brother, I picked up his Kindle and started reading the first book on there. I didn't even know what it was. By the time he came back a few minutes later, I was already hooked on The Hunger Games, and I devoured the entire series in a matter of days. While the two sequels were only okay- I found them harder to follow and their narrative arc wasn't as tight- this first book is vividly imagined, well written, and perfectly paced. It was the best thing I read that year.

Given to my niece.