I think you're reading the wrong books. I just picked up 10 random books on my shelf, pubbed and prepub, and not one was present tense.

I have to say, I see the same amount of submissions with narration in present tense after Hunger Games that I saw beforehand. I don't know anyone making that choice to ape Suzanne Collins in that aspect consciously.

I think it's tucked away somewhere in some "how to write YA" website or SCBWI handout or something.