The Hunger Games ignited a dystopian trend within publishing and captivated a generation of readers. Whether you’re eager to read The Hunger Games books in order for the first or fifteenth time, it can still be confusing to know where to begin, especially if you’ve watched the movies first.
That’s partly because the original Hunger Games books are a trilogy, even though Mockingjay was split into two movies, and Suzanne Collins later returned to Panem with two prequels. For most readers, publication order is still the best place to start, and I’ve included the chronological order below as a secondary option for rereads.
Jump to:
- The Hunger Games Recommended Reading Order
- The Hunger Games Books in Chronological Order
- The Hunger Games Movies Order
- The Hunger Games Books FAQ
The Hunger Games Recommended Reading Order
The best way to read The Hunger Games books in order is to follow the publication order. That’s the recommended reading order for any first-time reader because the original trilogy introduces Panem through Katniss’s story first, and the later prequels are more effective once you already understand the world, the Capitol, and the power structure behind everything.
Starting with the trilogy also gives the prequels more weight. The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes and Sunrise on the Reaping both add important context to Panem’s history, but they work best after you’ve already seen where the story leads. For most readers, this is the order I’d recommend.
- The Hunger Games (2008)
- Catching Fire (2009)
- Mockingjay (2010)
- The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (2020)
- Sunrise on the Reaping (2025)
The Hunger Games Books in Chronological Order
This order is better saved for a reread, not a first read. Both The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes and Sunrise on the Reaping tell the backstories of important characters from the original trilogy, so it’s better to read the original books first to get the full emotional impact if this is your first read-through.
The Hunger Games Movies Order
The Hunger Games movies mostly follow the same path as the books, with one big difference: Mockingjay was split into two films instead of one. The newer prequel movies also expand the timeline by going back before Katniss’s story, so the full movie order now includes both the original four films and the two prequels.
- The Hunger Games (2012)
- Catching Fire (2013)
- Mockingjay Part 1 (2014)
- Mockingjay Part 2 (2015)
- The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (2023)
- Sunrise on the Reaping (November 20, 2026)
The Hunger Games Books FAQ
What age are The Hunger Games books for?
The Hunger Games is generally aimed at readers ages 12 and up, but it’s a better fit for mature tween and teen readers because the series deals with violence, trauma, and heavy political themes.
Is The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes about President Snow?
Yes. The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes follows 18-year-old Coriolanus Snow long before he becomes President Snow, which is one reason many readers prefer to save it until after the original trilogy.
Is Sunrise on the Reaping about Haymitch?
Yes. Sunrise on the Reaping centers on Haymitch Abernathy and goes back to the 50th Hunger Games, also known as the Second Quarter Quell.
Looking for more books in order?
If you want more science fiction authors and reading-order guides like this one, start with my Science Fiction Books in Order index.