The Hunger Games Books in Order: How to Read the Series
Read them in publication order: The Hunger Games, Catching Fire, Mockingjay, then the prequels The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes and Sunrise on the Reaping.
The first three books are the original trilogy. The two prequels are set decades earlier.
| Book | Published | Order |
|---|---|---|
| The Hunger Games | 2008 | Book 1 |
| Catching Fire | 2009 | Book 2 |
| Mockingjay | 2010 | Book 3 |
| The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes | 2020 | Prequel |
| Sunrise on the Reaping | 2025 | Prequel |
The Hunger Games books in publication order
The Hunger Games (2008), Catching Fire (2009) and Mockingjay (2010) form the original trilogy and follow Katniss Everdeen. The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (2020) and Sunrise on the Reaping (2025) were written later and go back in time.
↑ Back to the topThe Hunger Games books in chronological order
Going by story time, the order is: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (the 10th Hunger Games), Sunrise on the Reaping (the 50th Hunger Games), then The Hunger Games, Catching Fire and Mockingjay.
↑ Back to the topWhich order should you read them in?
Publication order is the one most readers choose, and it is the order Suzanne Collins wrote the books in. The prequels reveal things about the world and its characters that are more rewarding once you have read the trilogy.
If you are curious about the world first, the chronological order also works, since each book is its own story.
↑ Back to the topDo you need to read the prequels?
No. The trilogy tells Katniss's story complete, and you can stop after Mockingjay. The prequels are for readers who want more of Panem and its history.
↑ Back to the topWhat about the Hunger Games films?
The trilogy became four films: The Hunger Games (2012), Catching Fire (2013), and Mockingjay Part 1 (2014) and Part 2 (2015). The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes was filmed in 2023.
↑ Back to the topRead the series in order
The five Hunger Games books are all by Suzanne Collins. The first three follow Katniss. The last two are prequels set in earlier Games.
Catching Fire
Mockingjay
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes
Sunrise on the ReapingMore about The Hunger Games
This guide covers the books only. Events in the films differ in places.