Thursday, September 17, 2009

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Two students are reading the Hunger Games. Please read their comments.

2 comments:

Unknown said...

This novel is set in the future, and North America has become Panem. It is seperated into 12 districts that are all control by the Capitol. The Districts had once rebelled against the Capitol, but lost, and now every year the Capitol reminds everyone of its power. The Hunger Games are a yearly televised event. Each district must give up two tributes - a boy and a girl between the ages of 12 and 18. Every child is required to put their name in once a year, and the names are chosen at random. The Hunger Games forces the contestants to fight until only one remains alive.

We follow Katniss, a 16 year old girl who volunteers as a tribute to save her little sister. Katniss's journey involved more than phyiscal survival. She must also deal with the emotional impact that the Hunger Games will have on the contestants.

This novel would be very useful as a text to study in the classroom. It deals with many issues including poverty, control, and indiviuality. Students can connect with Katniss as she struggles to survive and to understand why she must submit to the Capitol and its rules. It also explores the confusion emotions that a 16 year old would go through in terms of crushes and relationships.

burnt red said...

Hi Danielle, your book sounds really interesting - a sort of dystopian view of the world. You have mentioned connections that students could make to personal and to broader social issues .
H