Module 15- The Hunger Games

A. In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. Long ago the districts waged war on the Capitol and were defeated. As part of the surrender terms, each district agreed to send one boy and one girl to appear in an annual televised event called, "The Hunger Games," a fight to the death on live TV. Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives alone with her mother and younger sister, regards it as a death sentence when she is forced to represent her district in the Games. The terrain, rules, and level of audience participation may change but one thing is constant: kill or be killed. B. Collins, S. (2010). The hunger games. New York: Scholastic Press. C. I would be lying if I said this wasn’t one of my new favorite books and that I hadn’t read it more than four times. I LOVE this book! The idea was very unusual to me and it took me awhile to agree to read it, despite urging from those that had. When I started it I was done a few hours later. I absolutely devoured The Hunger Games! It’s hard to explain the addiction I have to the entire series. Is it the author’s style? The storyline? The characters? It’s all of the above and more! Such a great read and so compelling. D. I’ll admit it, I read The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins because my wife did and I didn't… we can’t have that now. Can we? I can certainly see why the book was such a hit. The novel struck many chords and many themes (teenage anguish, love, work, poverty and more), was an easy and quick read, as well as full of action. Ms. Collins built a fantastical and believable world where the United States is no more and instead the country is now called Panem which is run from “The Capital” and divided into 12 districts. The story progresses quickly and fluently with well-defined characters who have lame names. Don’t tell me that the baker’s son is named Peeta (Pita) by accident. I can certainly understand how the YA crowd fell head over heels for this novel. For me though, and I understand perfectly well I’m not the target audience, the love triangle was cliché, but I loved the violence and speed of this novel. The constant suspense kept me turning page after page as, I assume, most of those who read the book. Once I got over my name prejudice, I even liked the protagonist – a bow and arrow wielding female Wilhelm Tell, how can you not like her? Ms. Collins’ prose is efficient in a no-nonsense style filled with humor which causes the book to become addictive. Like any good story, you are immersed in the universe built around you, yet you know it is not real but you can’t stop reading. That being said, there were some aspects of the book which were too convenient, when Katniss babysits Peeta in the second half of the book, the stuff she needs floats down from the sky. That might be passable for the intended audience, but not for me. Also the ending was a bit disappointing. I especially disliked the mutated werewolves but, since this is part of an extremely successful trilogy and the audience certainly stuck around to find out what happens – who am I to say anything? E. This novel would be the perfect addition to my “Survival” theme book showcase. There are so many youth interested in this series due to the release of the movies right now, that it would be a sure-fire hit with older, more reluctant readers. The Hunger Games competition is fascinating despite its violence and many high school or middle school students might be tempted to participate in some library activities modeled in the same way. (Same style, less violence that is!)