Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Wow! I can see why this young adult novel was listed by ALA as one of the best books for 2009.
Collins gripping, suspensful novel tells the story of sixteen year old Katniss Everdeen, who inadvertently becomes a contender in the annual Hunger Games, a grisly, televised survival competition where young boys and girls are forced by the Government to fight each other to the death.--Talk about Survivor on steroids! Sounds bleak, but it's a pretty exciting read.

This futuristic genre is very popular with teens- Similar titles I'd recommend is Scott Westerfeld's series: Uglies, Pretties, Specials, and Extras.