Citation:
Collins,
Suzanne. The Hunger Games. New York:
Scholastic Press, 2008. Print.
Annotation:
Children age 12-18 years gather in the middle
of an old town square. Parents wait anxiously, roped off from them. They all
hold their collective breath as an official from the government draws the name
of a single boy and girl name. This is not a time you want to win the lottery. Katniss,
already rebelling against the power structures, takes the place of her younger
sister after her name is drawn. Peeta,
the baker’s son, stands as the boy from his district. They must prepare for the
fight of their lives literally.
Nomination Thoughts:
Unless you live under a rock, you may be
aware that The Hunger Games book was
released as a movie earlier this year. I strongly encourage reading the book
even if you saw or plan to see the movie for the biggest reason you can “hear”
Katniss thinking. She lives in Panem, a post-revolution America taken over by tyrants
bent on maintaining a status quo where only a few live comfortably. The rest of
the people live in districts radiating from the new Capital in what was once
the central area of America. Due to extreme inequalities, the folks from the
outlaying districts produce the goods and services that make the Capital a
gleaming wonder while they suffer with starvation and cruelty.
The powers-that-be wield any and all tools
they can to maintain control. As part of that goal, every year one boy and one
girl age 12-18 years from each of the 12 districts is “offered” up as tribute to
fight to the death until only one stands. It is shown on live. It is mandated
to watch. And it is brutal. Into this game of life and death, Katniss and Peeta
struggle to maintain their humanity as they bond trying to stay alive. Unlike
the movie, the book brings Katniss’s inner thoughts into complete view. She
works as a complicated character. You can read her as a cold calculating person
who has no trust in anyone or anything. That changes as the book progresses. Help
for the duo comes from surprising places though their mentor, Haymitch. The
supporting characters add to the complex dynamics of the book. It is easy to
fall in love with Katniss and Peeta but sad to know for them to live, others
must all die. In the end, the game dictates only one winner. Katniss and Peeta team
up in a most brilliant way to show the people of Panem cracks in the power
structure. All this is possible only once Katniss takes a leap of extreme
faith.
Nominate?
Yes! The
Hunger Games has crisp dialog and a fast pace. The main characters grow as
the book progresses. Salient issues in a YA’s life such as friendship, loyalty,
injustice and love are tackled with unflinching honesty. Due to the nature of
the book (the whole fight to the death thing!), background information should
be given to prepare both the student and parent if the this is to be read in
class. There are great conversations and historical context that can be
discussed. I recommend this book because of the issues it raises and how it has
drawn so many reluctant readers to tear through a book.
Genre:
Challenged or Censored Title, Dystopian
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