Hunger Games

Book Cover:

Book Title: Hunger Games

Book Summary:

In the future way in the future, we are split in to 12 districts and each is required to participate in what is known as the Reaping.  Where one girl and one boy are sent to fight to the death in the Hunger Games, this is suppose to keep the population down and to establish a health dose of fear in to the people in the districts.  Katniss’s sister is finally old enough to be put in the pot, and what are the odds of her being chosen?  So well that Katniss decides to volunteer so her sister doesn’t have to go.  As she is getting ready to fight and show off her skills you learn that the Capital is corrupted and that this is just a game to them.  Katniss does not take to this light and starts to defy the rules and the capital is trying to subdue her while the districts are trying to rally behind her.          

APA Reference:

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

My Impressions:  This book reminded me of The Lottery, with how parents can accept that their child may be picked and then killed just because their name was drawn out of a hat.  Makes me really glad that I don’t live there and I hope that we never start something like that.  I really enjoyed reading this book it made we want to rebel a little and kind of sad that I didn’t rebel a lot as a teen-ager.  Katniss is a strong female lead that we aspire to be like and want to impress so she will be our friend.   

Professional Review:

School Library Journal

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.

Citation:

Baird, J. (2008, September). The Hunger Games. [Review of  the book The Hunger Games by S. Collins] School Library Journal, 54(9),

          176-177.

Library Uses: I would have the students compare and contrast The Lottery and this book, then at the end have them finish The Lottery what happens next.