Everybody is talking about Suzanne Collins’ young adult novel, The Hunger Games, but I have to admit, when I first heard the premise of the book, I didn’t want to read it. Apparently most other people have the opposite reaction. As of today, it’s ranked number five on Amazon’s top sellers list.
Here’s the premise: In a futuristic, dystopian society, 24 children, two from each district of what once was North America, are chosen to fight to the death to earn glory for their home district. Curious about the hype, my book club read The Hunger Games over the summer, and when we met to discuss it, I seemed to be the one most disturbed by its content. But then again, I’m usually the one most disturbed. (I refused to read The Lovely Bones and was appalled by the intimate encounter of two sisters in Into the Forest).
I can see why kids enjoy the fast pace of The Hunger Games. Katniss, the protagonist, tells her story in easy to read prose, and the plot unfolds much like a video game, as Katniss faces one trial after the next and the stakes get increasingly higher. But she also deals with some grave moral and emotional dilemmas. Should she obey the authority of a corrupt government? Should she sacrifice her own life to save one of her peers? Is she justified in taking another life to save her own? Unlike the evil forces in other popular kid lit stories like Harry Potter, the evil in this story is ambiguous, and Katniss’s enemies constantly shift.
My oldest son is 11 and more than intellectually capable of reading The Hunger Games, but I don’t think he has the emotional maturity or life experience to fully understand Katniss’s predicament. Nor do I want him to take the loss of life described in this book too casually. One of my friends who read The Hunger Games with her 14 year old daughter said, “It’s not so bad, as long as you forget that the kids are actually dying.” Katniss herself makes a similar comment in her narrative. But, the fact remains, the kids do die.
I know some of you are out there are thinking, “Relax Julia, it’s just a book.” But I believe that a good novel should do more than just entertain us. It should inform, inspire, remind us of what we hold dear, or cause us to think about the beliefs that guide our lives. For the right reader, The Hunger Games will definitely do that. And when my son is older and ready to read the book, I look forward to a prolific discussion with him about the themes, dilemmas and characters of The Hunger Games.
Now it’s your turn to contribute. When do you think kids should read The Hunger Games and what kind of conversation do you think the book requires, if one at all? Post your comments below. Thanks!
Michaela, Thank you for your thoughtful and articulate comment from the young adult perspective! I think you hit on why so many people want to read about Katniss- bravery and perseverance always make a good hero.
I devoured The Hunger Games when my mother told me to read them. For me, I couldn’t forget that the kids were dying. I cried for many of them.That was what really made me love the books. Katniss is fighting against the evil of the world she lives in, showing true bravery, love, and selflessness in the face of adversity. She didn’t give up through all her struggles, and she didn’t lose herself, either. The books have a mysterious way about them that I love. I have read them numerous times, and I just can’t seem to stop. There’s an elusive pull that made me stay up until 2:00 am to finish Mockingjay! I’m not sure if it’s just that they appeal more to younger readers who are more around the age of Katniss, or that different people take the material different ways. Whatever the case, I know I loved them!
Susan, The book has its merits, and it will provide good conversation fodder for you and your daughter. Sometimes it’s good to read outside of your comfort zone. Good luck with it!
I’m glad to see your review. My daughter’s boyfriend, a cadet at West Point, recommended it too. It’s not the feel-good writing I’m usually drawn to, so I’m looking forward to the brain stretch!
Thanks, Julia!