The Hunger Pains

Gr 7 Up—Caricature, turnabouts, puns, and gross-out gags are the order of the day in this broad parody of all three books in the "The Hunger Games" trilogy (Scholastic). Skanky Ratkiss Everspleen volunteers to take her sister's place in the entirely optional televised death match put on annually in the country of Panslam. She is in it solely for the prizes, but to win, she will need to overcome the teams from Ditch Disney, Ditch Glee, and nine others, not to mention her comrade Peeka (as in Peeka Choo). The angular, overstated caricature style recalls the long-form cartoon parodies featured in MAD Magazine, and, like those parodies, every panel is packed with sight gags and written jokes. Some of them are real groaners, and a few approach actual wit. Full-color printing in a bright but reasonably harmonious palette keeps each page lively, making up for the book's somewhat staid layout. A competently written, well-drawn, mostly tasteless parody for kids who like this kind of thing—and there are many.—Paula Willey, Baltimore County Public Library, Towson, MD