The Hunger Games

Title: The Hunger Games

Arthur:  Suzanne Collins

Publisher: Scholastic Books

Genre: Adventure

Summary: Have you considered what the World will look like in the future?  When in the future?  Well that’s one of the detail left to the readers’ imagination.  The World as we know has changed and everything pertaining to it.  Imagine a futurist World called Panem where everyone has been reduced to survival of the fittest.  There are only 12 districts and each one produces something different and their living conditions differ.  There is a capitol that lies in the middle of the district that controls the district.  There once was a 13^th district insurrection rose up and they were defeated.  In order to keep the other 12 districts in line the capitol host the annual Hunger Games.  The games pit the 12 districts against one another in a fight to the death.  Yes a fight to the death.  Two people are selected from each district to compete in the Hunger games that are televised to every citizen in Panem.  The startling thing is that kids are selected to participate in the hunger games.  Yes kids and they are expected to kill one another until only one survives.   You journey with the tributes as they fight to stay alive in the game.  You follow the lives of the tributes of district 12 quite possibly one of the poorest districts.  Katniss and Peeta are the tributes from district 12.  How did Katniss become a tribute?  What relationship goes Peeta and Katniss have before the games?  Will they survive?  Can they win coming from one of the poorest districts?  If you want to know the answers to these questions you have to read this fast pace, well written and creative story.

Reaction: While this story is entertaining it deals with a lot of underlying issues of society.  Acceptance, survival and courage are all concepts dealt with in this wonderful story.  What is the government's role in the life of its citizens?  Are we more than our address and location?  As I read this book I had self reflection of my hometown Macon, GA.  Although I could list numerous accomplishments of this city they have been marred by the recent crime and economic decline.  Are we any less civilized or able to succeed?  I think not but as outlined in this book it is always interested to see how people view you because of where you live.  If you pick it up you may not be able to put it down.

Application:  I used this book and its recent movie release to spark allow my students to create a marketing campaign for the book.  The students created a commercial, posters and ads to help promote the book.