‘Hunger Games’ prequel ‘The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes’ coming out in 2020

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – What happened before the Hunger Games? 

It’s a world that’ll soon be explored in print after author Suzanne Collins announced Tuesday, June 18, that a prequel to her bestselling youth adult series The Hunger Games will be coming out on May 19, 2020. The prequel will be published by Scholastic. 

On Friday, October 4, The Hunger Games’ Facebook page released the long-awaited title and cover of the upcoming novel, entitled The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes will revisit the world of Panem 64 years before the events of The Hunger Games, on the morning of the reaping of the Tenth Hunger Games.” Panem is a post-apocalyptic world in North America comprised of 12 Districts that work (some, toil) in specific industries, mostly for the lavish Capitol. 

The book series takes its title from the annual “hunger games,” during which a pair of children from each district is chosen by lots and made to fight to the death in an outdoor arena. The entire “battle” is aired all over Panem to watch. The novels follow Katniss Everdeen, a girl from District 12 who later becomes a symbol of rebellion against the Capitol. In the movie adaptation of the books, Katniss is played by Jennifer Lawrence. 

“With this book, I wanted to explore the state of nature, who we are, and what we perceive is required for our survival. The reconstruction period ten years after the war, commonly referred to as the Dark Days – as the country of Panem struggles back to its feet – provides fertile ground for characters to grapple with these questions and thereby define their views of humanity,” said Collins of the upcoming prequel. 

Her book series was a global phenomenon, spawning a franchise that included 3 full-length movies. The final novel in the series, Mockingjay, was released in 2010. – Rappler.com