As The Hunger Games gets released into theatres this weekend, all of the hoopla over the film can make it easy to forget there was ever a book to begin with. But not so for the tweens and teens who got immersed in those pages starting in 2008, when the first book in the trilogy was published.
For each generation, there seems to be a series that is utterly tied to their identity -- for the age group right before this one, it was obviously Twilight, and before that, Harry Potter. But it's a tradition that goes back many years, with peers feeling equal parts nostalgic and territorial about their personal libraries.
We took a look at some of the most beloved kids' books series over the past few generations. Was yours in there? Let us know in the comments below, or on Twitter at @HuffPostCaLiv.
The Book Series That Define Us
Nancy Drew(01 of19)
The series: Nancy Drew Mystery StoriesPublication dates: 1929 to 2003, with TV shows and movies interspersed sinceThe premise: Girl detective uncovers mysteries, causes mischief with friends, solves mystery. Every. Time.(Photo courtesy of Flickr/Average Jane) (credit:Flickr:Average Jane)
Little House On The Prairies(02 of19)
The series: Little HousePublication dates: 1932 to today -- the eight books in the series have never ceased publication. Plays and TV adaptations have followed.The premise: Laura Ingalls Wilder's memories of growing up in the American midwest in the 19th century. (Photo courtesy of Flickr/Silly Eagle Books) (credit:Flickr:Silly Eagle Books)
Diary Of A Wimpy Kid(03 of19)
The series: Diary of a Wimpy KidPublication dates: Released online in 2004, the six books started to be printed in 2007, spawning two movies so far.The premise: Greg Heffley is a kid, like anyone else, and just wants to be popular -- which he expresses by way of drawing in his diary.(Photo courtesy of Flickr/lisaclarke) (credit:Flickr:lisaclarke)
Choose Your Own Adventure(04 of19)
The series: Choose Your Own AdventurePublication dates: 1976 to now, with various publishers taking over throughout.The premise: Known as 'gamebooks', this series let you follow whichever path you so chose at the bottom of each page, leading you down new adventures every time. Inevitably, reading it from first page to last would result in utter confusion.(Photo courtesy of Flickr/mediafury) (credit:Flickr:mediafury)
Lord Of The Rings(05 of19)
The series: Lord of the RingsPublication dates: Written between 1937 and 1945, with many reissues since -- and of course, a massive movie trilogyThe premise: The classic battle between good and evil, written in the midst of World War II, spawning innumerable comparisons and pop cultural references that are still in the conversation today(Courtesy of Flickr/General Wesc) (credit:Flickr:General Wesc)
Anne Of Green Gables(06 of19)
The series: Anne of Green GablesPublication dates: The eight books -- which consisted of Anne of Green Gables and its sequels -- were published between 1908 and 1921, with a posthumous book published in 2009.The premise: A red-headed female orphan in Prince Edward Island is adopted by an older brother and sister pair -- even though they wanted a boy to help on their farm. It follows Anne and her friends through the adventures, the Depression and beyond.
Time Quintet(07 of19)
The series: Time QuintetPublication dates: 1962 to 1989The premise: The Murry family uses their father's scientific knowledge to travel through time and get into mischiefCORRECTION: This post originally stated the books were published starting in 1973.
The Baby-Sitter's Club(08 of19)
The series: The Baby-Sitter's ClubPublication dates: 1986 to 2000, with republication in 2010The premise: Each book is told from the perspective of the eight or so eighth-graders who are part of a babysitting club -- tales of their problems, friendships and lives make for a surprising compelling series
Madeline(09 of19)
The series: MadelinePublication dates: 1939 through to today, with films and a TV seriesThe premise: The rhyming children's books take place at a Catholic boarding school in Paris, with the girls travelling to exotic locations, landing in the hospital with appendicitis, and more.
Harry Potter(10 of19)
The series: Harry PotterPublication dates: 1997 to 2007, with a massive action film made for each of the seven booksThe premise: Author J.K. Rowling created a rich land of magic and wizardry with her characters, language and pretty adult themes, inspiring a bit of a cult-like phenomenon that still lasts today
Goosebumps(11 of19)
The series: R.L. Stine's GoosebumpsPublication dates: Sixty-two books published between 1992 and 1997The premise: Any child can get themselves into a terrifying situation, don't you know? These horror stories for kids took the place of any ghost stories for the 1990s, showcasing imaginative plotlines that showcased the supernatural.
Bobbsey Twins(12 of19)
The series: R.L. Stine's GoosebumpsPublication dates: Seventy-two books published between 1904 to 1979, with an additional 30 books published between 1987 and 1992The premise: Two sets of fraternal twins -- Bert and Nan, and Flossie and Freddie -- go through a set of adventures on their summer vacations, and then increasingly (around the same time as Nancy Drew got popular) become detectives
The Chronicles Of Narnia(13 of19)
The series: The Chronicles Of NarniaPublication dates: 1949 to 1954, they've also been adapted for radio, TV, theatre and filmThe premise: The seven books focus on the Pevensie children, and the wonderland they find via a wardrobe -- and their vows to save it
Twilight Series(14 of19)
The series: TwilightPublication dates: 2005 to 2008 -- and we certainly don't need to tell you about the moviesThe premise: A teenage girl in Forks, Washington falls in love with a vampire and enters in his and his family's world -- much teen angst and soulmate-inspired conversation ensues
Sweet Valley High(15 of19)
The series: Sweet Valley HighPublication dates: 1983 to 2003 -- with 152 books in the series. Diablo Cody is said to be making a movie of the booksThe premise: Sixteen-year-old identical twins Jessica and Elizabeth Wakefield live in California, living sunny lives filled with boyfriends, convertibles and career ambitions. It is literally impossible to resist. (credit:sweetvalleytenyearslater.com)
Enid Blyton(16 of19)
(By reader request)The series: The Famous Five, The Secret Seven, etc.Publication dates: 1922 to 1975The premise: It's almost impossible to pick just one of Blyton's many series of children's adventure books from the dozens, but if there's one that's continually mentioned, it's The Famous Five. Julian, Dick, Anne, George and Timothy provided endless entertainment on their summer holidays in picturesque English towns -- so much so that the series, originally meant to be six books, spiraled into 21.(Photo courtesy of Flickr/corrieb) (credit:Flickr:corrieb)
The Hardy Boys(17 of19)
(By reader request)The series: The Hardy BoysPublication dates: In various incarnations, from 1927 to now, with several TV adaptations and branded merchandise galoreThe premise: Brothers Frank and Joe Hardy are the sons of a detective, and take it upon themselves (or are sometimes asked by their dad) to get involved in dangerous and exciting cases. The series has been reworked through the years to account for racial issues (from the earlier books) and new audiences (in the Clues Brothers). Creator Edward Stratemeyer was also behind the Nancy Drew series, who was crafted as a female counterpart to the Hardy Boys.(Photo courtesy of Flickr/cdrummbks) (credit:Flickr:cdrummbks)
V.C. Andrews(18 of19)
(By reader request)The series: Twenty-four different ones, by this account, with the most memorable belonging to the Dollanganger SeriesPublication dates: 1979 to present (for Dollangangers, it was 1979 to 1986)The premise: Known for being both addictive and creepy, Andrews` Gothic tales of step-families, coming into money, religion, thinly veiled incest and various other taboos have kept people engaged and vaguely disgusted for decades. (credit:GoodReads.com)
Edgar Rice Burroughs(19 of19)
(By reader request)The series: Tarzan, Barsoom and more from Edgar Rice BurroughsPublication dates: 1912 to 1970, with a spattering continuing until the 1990s (Rice Burroughs passed away in 1950)The premise: Space exploration, the jungle and war were all covered in these various series, basically covering every facet of a child's imagination -- it was easy to find one that suited your particular interest(Photo courtesy of Flickr/Gwydion M. Williams) (credit:Flickr:Gwydion M. Williams)