The poverty is complete with no going outside the gates that surround the districts, no hospitals or clinics not even medical supplies and little food at all makes them little more then slaves. The lucky district with the winning child gets food supplies for a year, only a year. Needless to say life is hard and with no way to get out of it.
This book is fast paced and unpredictable as Katiniss prepares for the games. She makes it to the games and finds out a lot about herself as she fights for her life. In short this is a fast paced book and if you don't mind reading of people deaths in an inescapable arena and an ending that is totally weird and conflicting, then this is a great book for you.