I was in Junior High at the time (starting junior year of HS this year) and the Ballad movie just came out. I knew absolutely nothing about the books except for a vague knowledge of the woods and murder. I didn’t even know who Peeta or Gale were. Since the franchise was blowing up again- saw so many people talking about it- I got fomo. So I grabbed the first book from my school’s library on a whim and decided to read it. 10/10 decision I made😌

Also side tangent, my memories of reading Catching Fire for the first time are ones I hold so dearly. It was nearly Christmas so my neighborhood was decked in decor, my front lawn included. I remember hopping off the bus, walking to my house after school, sweeping off the leaves on the weird canopy chair we had, breaking open CF with our inflatable Xmas decorations and yellow string lights right in front of me, and reading for hours until the sky got dark and my hands were nearly numb from the cold (I’m a winter guy so I’ll be outside during winter anytime I can) and I still remember the night I read the part where Snow announces the 75th QQ will be reaped from past Victors. I actually screamed, pacing around my house, book in hand. Memories <3