Book 13 The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Summary

This book is about the future, and what would happen when the world falls into chaos. A new country called Panem is born. There is the main city, called the Capitol which controls 13 districts. The people of the 13 districts did not like the new world order of things, so they rose up in rebellion against the Capitol. The Capital managed to squash the rebellion and district 13 was completely destroyed. To punish the remaining 12 districts, and to remind the people of what would happen if they rebelled again, a new law was established. Once a year a boy and a girl would be chosen to participate in what was called the hunger games. The hunger games would be televised throughout Panem. This is a competition to the death. The winner will be richly rewarded, but there can be only one winner.

Participants are chosen from each district through a televised raffle drawing. All the names of children from ages 12 and up are placed in a large glass container and a representative from the Capital will choose one name each from the boy's container and the girl's container.

District 12 is the coal mining district. It is one of the poorest districts. Most of the population work for and in the coal mines. Food rations are limited and so is the ability to trade for more. Hunting in the forest is not allowed and there is an electrified fence that surrounds the area. Katniss learned to hunt with a bow and arrow from her father. He used to take her into the forest to hunt for animals and to fish. This is how their small family was able to survive. When Katniss' father died in a mine explosion, her mother was unable to care for anyone. So Katniss took up the bow and arrow and learned to fend for herself and provide for her family.

At the new drawing for the Hunger Games, Primrose, Katniss' sister was called. Katniss would do anything to protect her sister, so she volunteered to take her sister's place. The boy that was chosen was the baker's son, Peeta. He had once saved Katniss' life by tossing her loaves of bread when she

and her family were starving, right after her father's death. Katniss knew that in order to survive the games, she would have to kill Peeta. On the day that they were leaving, Katniss had visits from her family and friends. One of her friends brought her a mockingjay pin to wear.

Impressions

The Hunger Games is all about a new world order and how people use technology for good and evil. It also tells of the triumph of good over evil. Katniss outwitted the Capitol in the end. She shared her poisoned berries with Peeta because she did not want to kill Peeta. The Capitol did not want two winners of the games, only one should survive. But the speakers opened up at the last minute and permitted two winners in an unprecedented event. This made enemies for Katniss, but she was just happy to have survived the games. Although Katniss is skilled at the bow and arrow, and is willing to kill to defend herself and Peeta, she is still very naive when it comes to love. She remained blissfully unaware of Peeta's devotion to her, sometimes thinking that he made up the story of his school boy crush just to please the watchers of the televised show. Katniss is confused about her feelings because Peeta had once saved her and her family from starvation by throwing her loaves of burnt bread meant for the pigs. Peeta shows a depth of kindness that makes Katniss feel that he would not survive the hunger games. Yet Peeta aligns himself with the cruelest bunch of contestants led by a man named Cato. This helps keep Peeta alive in the early days since Cato believes that Peeta can lead him to Katniss. Peeta uses his cunning to keep Cato from finding Katniss. Peeta is as strong a character as Katniss in the story.

Use in the library

One activity that will get the students to read the book is to print out book markers with different and significant quotations from the book. Pass out the book markers and ask students to identify the page where the quote can be found.

Another activity that can be used with this book is to have students prepare for a televised interview in Panem. Students should work in teams and one person should be chosen as the host of the show while the others in the group are contestants. The host should ask questions that will interest the audience in the individual. The contestants must make responses that will garner sympathetic response from the audience and a chance for sponsorship at the games. This can be recorded so that the class can choose who among them had the best interview and would get their support during the games.

Reviews

From Booklist

" This is a grand-opening salvo in a new series by the author of the Underland Chronicles. Sixteen-year-old Katniss poaches food for her widowed mother and little sister from the forest outside the legal perimeter of District 12, the poorest of the dozen districts constituting Panem, the North American dystopic state that has replaced the U.S. in the not-too-distant future. Her hunting and tracking skills serve her well when she is then cast into the nation’s annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death where contestants must battle harsh terrain, artificially concocted weather conditions, and two teenaged contestants from each of Panem’s districts. District 12’s second “tribute” is Peeta, the baker’s son, who has been in love with Katniss since he was five. Each new plot twist ratchets up the tension, moving the story forward and keeping the reader on edge. Although Katniss may be skilled with a bow and arrow and adept at analyzing her opponents’ next moves, she has much to learn about personal sentiments, especially her own. Populated by three-dimensional characters, this is a superb tale of physical adventure, political suspense, and romance." Reviewed by Francisca Goldsmith

From 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 counter- part, Peeta, the son of the town baker who seems to have all the fighting skills of a lump of bread dough, will be pit-ted 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." Reviewed by Jane Henriksen Baird, Anchorage Public Library, AK

Resources

Baird, J. (2008). [Review of the book The hunger games by S. Collins]. School Library Journal, 54(9), 176-177. Retrieved from Retrieved from http://www.slj.com/

Goldsmith, F. (2008). [Review of the book The hunger games by S. Collins]. Booklist, 105(1), 97.

Retrieved from http://www.booklistonline.com/

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