The thing I hate most about first-person narrative is, aside from the obvious author "I wish this was me" is the incessant way they tell you things. "I did this then I did that then this happened and info dump because that's how a mind works and then this happens and ooh he's got nice eyes (but he could be my brother)" etc etc. 
 I saw the film and didn't really like it, but wanted to see if the book could grab me in a way the film never. The plot (speaking from the film) seemed pointless to me and didn't ever seem to be explained properly why these this were happening, as if we should just accept that these kids are just going to fight each other because they have no choice (certain death for refusing or almost certain death at the hands of a child?). The book explains this (of course it does, we have thoughts and feelings in books you cannot get in films except with mindless voice overs) but it still seems pointless to me. 
 The book has not grabbed me and all I see is a decently written (I. E. Doesn't contain the terrible 12 year old writing ability and grammar mistakes of usual) first-person piece of YA nonsense.