Suzanne Collins

Suzanne Collins

Suzanne Collins is an American author and television writer, best known for the young adult dystopian series The Hunger Games and the children’s fantasy series The Underland Chronicles.

Collins was born in Hartford, Connecticut, to Jane Brady Collins and Lieutenant Colonel Michael John Collins, a U.S. Air Force officer who served in both the Korean and Vietnam Wars. Her grandfather and several uncles also fought in the World Wars.

She graduated from the Alabama School of Fine Arts in 1980 as a Theater Arts major and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Indiana University Bloomington in 1985, double majoring in theater and telecommunications. After college, she worked as a news reporter for NPR and later as a country-western DJ. In her mid-20s, she returned to graduate school at NYU, specializing in playwriting. She then worked in film development before landing her first television-writing job on Hi Honey, I’m Home! and went on to spend 18 years writing for children’s television. Collins credits her background in TV and playwriting with helping her craft relatable characters and engaging narratives, noting, “My books are basically structured like three-act plays.”

Both The Underland Chronicles and The Hunger Games came to her in what she describes as “lightning-bolt ideas.” The Hunger Games series became a global phenomenon, spawning blockbuster film adaptations and selling millions of copies worldwide. A second prequel novel, Sunrise on the Reaping, is set for release in March 2025.

Recommendations For Suzanne Collins

Recommended by Dakotah Howard

There are only a few books written for young readers that I pick up for myself, and The Hunger Games

Recommended by Farah Robinson

I love, love, love The Hunger Games series. If you’re one of the few who hasn’t read it yet, you’re

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Books By Suzanne Collins

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (Deluxe Edition)

Tips and Resources From Your Suzanne Collins Book Club Friends:

From the twelve districts of Panem to the subterranean Underland, Suzanne Collins provides fictional worlds that reflect our own and appeal to all ages of readers. With young heroes like Katniss Everdeen and Gregor, she explores universal themes. Suzanne says her books examine war to help young people understand. Her Underland Chronicles series introduces topics such as biological warfare, genocide, and military intelligence. The Hunger Games too explores the concerns of war on society. She told Newsweek, “I’m a military brat. My father was career Air Force…It was extremely important to him that we understood history and the history of war. I want kids to be aware of these topics, to think about them, and really, the sooner the better.”

Despite the heavy topics, the books are also filled with action and adventure, heroism, and characters who demonstrate resilience, courage, and hope. Whether navigating the deadly arenas of The Hunger Games or uncovering secrets in the depths under New York City, Collins crafts compelling stories that challenge young readers to think critically while keeping them eagerly turning the page.

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