Scribbled Thoughts: Hunger Games

Author: Suzanne Collins

Title: The Hunger Games

Genre: Dystopian

Collins, Suzanne. The Hunger Games. Scholastic, 2009.

Grade Level: 8th - 9th

Pages: 374 pages

The Hunger Games is a dystopian novel that is set in a fictionalized world if the 13 colonies had rebelled and lost during the Revolutionary War. It follows the perspective of Katniss Everdeen from district 12 as the Capitol and the districts prepare for the 74th annual Hunger Games. When Katniss's sister's name is drawn to compete in the Hunger Games, Katniss volunteers herself to take her sister's place and represent district 12.

Possible Teaching Concerns:

There is a lot of violence in this novel. I think teachers should be aware of that when they decide to teach this in a class. I think when teaching this novel, it is important to talk about dehumanization and how that is seen in this novel and throughout history. For the most part, the book is fairly clean when it comes to language and sexuality. There are parts of the book where Katniss alludes to prostitution being common in the Capitol, but it is only briefly mentioned. Haymitch is an alcoholic due to the trauma that he has endured and seen, being the only Victor in district 12.

Personal Reactions:

I loved this book when I read it in 7th grade. My teacher paired it with the Giver which made the Giver all the more interesting when I read it. The movie was also coming out at the time that I originally read it, which made it all the more exciting to read. I think this novel is a great way to get kids interested in reading. I think personally I would teach this book to an older grade level (8th/9th) because I think there is so much to talk about.

Canonical Work:

Animal Farm by George Orwell is violent satire that focuses on a revolutionary uprising about farm animals that uprise against the tyrannical rule of the farmer. Although Animal Farm and The Hunger Games have completely different plot lines, they both have themes that address tyrannical societies that oppress other individual groups. Both show the violent aftermath when societies, such as these seen in these novels, go awry.

The Hunger Game Trailer (2012)