An Illustrated Version of ‘The Hunger Games' Will Release in October: What Author Suzanne Collins Says

Tributes, may the odds be ever in your favor, because a brand-new illustrated edition of Suzanne Collins’ best-selling series The Hunger Games is hitting shelves nationwide later this year. To learn what the author herself has to say about it and get a special sneak peek at some of the illustrations, keep reading!  

All about the illustrated ‘Hunger Games’ book  

Scholastic Publishing announced that the special edition of the first illustrated version of The Hunger Games would be released on Tuesday, October 1. It will contain the same text as the original book written by Suzanne Collins, but this time with added illustrations by artist Nico Delort.    

“Those of us who have been enthralled by the world of The Hunger Games for the past 15 years will have new reason to be spellbound, as this new illustrated edition gives us both a reason to reread the novel (which continues to resonate) and a chance to see it with new eyes, through the extraordinary vision of Nico Delort,” VP, Publisher, and Editorial Director for Scholastic, David Levithan, said in a statement.   

The Hunger Games was originally released in 2008, and the movie adaptation starring Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Woody Harrelson, Elizabeth Banks and Donald Sutherland came out four years later.  

It was the first in a three-book trilogy that soon became a national phenomenon.  

“Certain illustrations made an indelible impression on me growing up, and the images are forever linked to books I love, including John Tenniel’s classic drawings for Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Fritz Eichenberg’s wood engravings for Wuthering Heights,” said Collins in the same statement. “I’m thrilled with Nico Delort’s striking black-and-white scratchboard artwork for The Hunger Games and feel it will have the same lasting influence on a new generation of Panem readers.”   

  Collins also announced earlier this year that she would be releasing another Hunger Games prequel, Sunrise on the Reaping, in March 2025. It is expected to tell the tale of the 50th Hunger Games, which famously featured fan-favorite character Haymitch Abernathy.  

What is ‘The Hunger Games’ about?  

The Hunger Games is a young adult dystopian book series that is currently celebrating its 339th week on The New York Times best-seller list. The first book — entitled The Hunger Games — follows Katniss Everdeen, who volunteers to compete in the deadly Hunger Games to protect her younger sister. Directly after that, she is transported to the Capitol alongside fellow competitor Peeta Mellark. But only one of the 24 tributes can win — the rest will die. Katniss has the skills to win but love soon complicates everything.  

The other books in the trilogy are Catching Fire and Mockingjay. There is also a prequel that follows the book's main villain, President Coriolanus "Coryo" Snow, called A Ballad of Songbird and Snakes.  

All of the books have been adapted into a movie over the last 12 years, with Collins telling The New York Times in 2018, “The actress who looks exactly like my book Katniss doesn’t exist. Jennifer looked close enough and felt very right, which is more important. She gives an amazing performance. When I think of the books, I still think of my initial image of Katniss. When I think of the movies, I think of Jen.”   

“Those images aren’t at war any more than the books are with the films. Because they’re faithful adaptations, the story becomes the primary thing. Some people will never read a book, but they might see the same story in a movie. When it works well, the two entities support and enrich each other.”   

All of The Hunger Games movies are available to stream on Sling.  

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