The Hunger Games is a fast-paced YA novel with a plot that pulls readers along. There's never a dull moment. Combine this with an interesting, dystopian battle royale for survival - and the action is unstoppable. Gripping and exciting, I didn't want to put this book down. 
 The downside of having a plot this fast-paced? Almost no character development. Katniss's character doesn't change: she doesn't grapple with the aftermath of killing someone because she doesn't kill anyone except for revenge, she flip-flops between Gale and Peeta fast enough to get whiplash, and, miraculously, the plot saves her from grappling with death up close and personal with an interjection from the Gamemakers, allowing for two winners. The cliches and contrived bits detract from the gripping speed of the plot. Katniss's love for fragmented sentences in her narration is also irksome - why can't she use full sentences?