Module 8: The Hunger Games

The Hunger Games
by Suzanne Collins

Book Summary:

Set in a future world, in what remains of North America, is a country called Panem, consisting of 12 districts and the Capitol. Locked in and completely controlled by the Capitol, the people survive with little money or food and are helpless to escape their dire futures. Each year the people of the different districts are reminded of a long ago uprising against the Capitol and the defeat of the districts and destroying of district 13 by being forced to compete in the Hunger Games. Each district must send two children to compete in the televised event. Only the winner survives. Being chosen to go to the Hunger Games is akin to a death sentence for the people of the districts. The winner will return a hero and be awarded a life of luxury for themselves and their family, but at the cost of causing the death of so many others. Katniss Everdeen, a young girl in the coal mining district 12, volunteers to compete in the Hunger Games after her younger sister’s name is drawn from the lottery. Katniss leaves her district and is thrown into a world of war cruelties, lost innocence, miscalculations, and suspicion. Throughout training for the games and developing friendships with Peeta, Katniss gains perspective of the importance of relationships and her role in personal sacrifice for a broader gain. Against all odds, Katniss and Peeta are able to beat the Capitol at their own game – but their victory does not come without a price. The Hunger Games is the first book in a three book series.

Collins, S. (2008). The hunger games. New York, NY: Scholastic Press.

My impressions:

My new favorite series! That’s right, I couldn’t stop at reading just The Hunger Games, I had to read them all! The Hunger Games is set in a culture so dramatically different from our own, yet it felt completely plausible. The nonstop action, suspense, touches of fantasy and science fiction, and hint at a love story allowed something for every reader to find enjoyment in. Older readers will find warnings of falling into a society that devalues human life and lacks compassion for the less fortunate, while the intended audience will be captivated by the fast pace and still find themselves contemplating the larger moral tragedy of the events. Readers will relate to the large spectrum of emotions present throughout the book including love, hate, and greed and find themselves emotionally invested in the story and thinking of the dynamic characters long after the book has been set down.  

Professional reviews:

Gr 7 Up- In a not-too-distant future, the United States of America has collapsed, weakened by drought, fire, famine, and war, to be replaced by Panem, a country divided into the Capitol and 12 districts. Each year, two young representatives from each district are selected by lottery to participate in The Hunger Games. Part entertainment, part brutal intimidation of the subjugated districts, the televised games are broadcasted throughout Panem as the 14 participants are forced to eliminate their competitors, literally, with all citizens required to watch. When 16-year-old Katniss's young sister, Prim, is selected as the mining district's female representative, Katniss volunteers to take her place. She and her male counterpart, Peeta, the son of the town baker who seems to have all the fighting skills of a lump of bread dough, will be pitted against bigger, stronger representatives who have trained for this their whole lives. Collins's characters are completely realistic and sympathetic as they form alliances and friendships in the face of overwhelming odds; the plot is tense, dramatic, and engrossing. This book will definitely resonate with the generation raised on reality shows like "Survivor" and "American Gladiator." Book one of a planned trilogy.

Baird, J. (2008, Sep. 1). [Review of the book The hunger games, by S. Collins]. School
        Library Journal, 54(9), 176. Retrieved from http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com

Katniss Everdeen is a survivor. She has to be; she's representing her District, number 12, in the 74th Hunger Games in the Capitol, the heart of Panem, a new land that rose from the ruins of a post-apocalyptic North America. To punish citizens for an early rebellion, the rulers require each district to provide one girl and one boy, 24 in all, to fight like gladiators in a futuristic arena. The event is broadcast like reality TV, and the winner returns with wealth for his or her district. With clear inspiration from Shirley Jackson's "The Lottery" and the Greek tale of Theseus, Collins has created a brilliantly imagined dystopia, where the Capitol is rich and the rest of the country is kept in abject poverty, where the poor battle to the death for the amusement of the rich. Impressive world-building, breathtaking action and clear philosophical concerns make this volume, the beginning of a planned trilogy, as good as The Giver and more exciting. 

[Review of the book The hunger games, by S. Collins]. (2008, September 1). Kirkus Reviews, 76(17), 941.
       Retrieved from http://www.kirkusreviews.com

Library Uses:

The librarian could hold a Hunger Games movie premiere party, in line with the upcoming release of the movie based on the book. There would be stations set up around the library displaying information about the different trades in each of the districts (a coal mining presentation, agriculture, etc.) and students would be assigned a district to be a citizen of. Based on the district each student is assigned to they would be given a certain amount of Capital money that they could use to bargain for different prizes (mockingjay pins, book marks, posters, etc.) and food. After an initial socialization and eating period and the student’s exploring information about that district’s trade, each district would choose 1 student to participate in The Hunger Games trivia challenge. Students missing questions “die” and must return to their groups. The last survivor wins the challenge and wins a set of The Hunger Games trilogy and movie tickets for 4 to the upcoming movie along with popcorn and candy.