The countdown clocks are running. Reservations are being made for midnight bookstore parties. Costumes are being readied. The debate rages on: Gale or Peeta? And what happens to Katniss?

Anticipation for the August 24 release of Suzanne Collins' Mockingjay has reached a fever pitch. The finale to the trilogy that began with The Hunger Games and continued with Catching Fire, is being released this week amidst great secrecy and fanfare. It's a kind of madness that is reminiscent only of the most popular book series, like J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter and Stephenie Meyer's Twilight. Publisher Scholastic Press is printing 1.2 million copies of Mockingjay in anticipation of huge demand.

Originally written for teens, The Hunger Games tells the tale of Katniss Everdeen, a young woman who rebels against her dystopian government as she participates in a televised fight-to-the-death competition against other teens. The series has devoted fans across all age groups, with fansites, podcasts and blogs dedicated to the books. A film based on The Hunger Games is currently in pre-production, with veteran screenwriter Billy Ray finalizing Collins' original script for Lionsgate.

Don't worry--there's no shame in being an adult fan of this Character Approved series. WORD bookstore in Brooklyn is throwing a midnight release party for customers 21 and older, complete with trivia, costume play, Nerf archery and cocktails (including "The Haymitch," in honor of a character with a fondness for alcohol). They expect the party to sell out.

If you haven't yet read this series, I recommend starting with the first book, The Hunger Games, and I warn you against picking it up just before bed. You may find yourself reading into the wee hours and missing the next day of work. Intrigued? You can download the first chapter as a free .pdf from the Scholastic website, and get your own copy of Mockingjay from your favorite bookstore on August 24th.

[Image: Scholastic Press]