Speculative Fiction

Choice Novel: The Hunger Games, Suzanne Collins

Summary

The novel take place at some unspecified time in the future in a North American dystopia, where the land has been divided into 12 districts. There is no communication between any of the districts. The Capitol controls everything. The 13th was supposedly destroyed after an attempt at rebellion.  Each district is only able to gain information about the others by what the see on TV, and the media is completely controlled by the capitol. Each year, to remind the districts not to rebel, there is a lottery, called the reaping, where 2 names are drawn- one boy and one girl between the ages of 12-18.  The tributes are thrown into the Hunger Games, where they are forced to fight to the death on national TV with friends, family, the capitol watching for entertainment.  Only one tribute can survive. The protagonist, Katniss Everdeen volunteers to take her little sister's place. She ends up in the games along with Peeta Mellark, a boy who has apparently had a crush on her since they were little.  He admits this on National TV and their romance becomes a media sensation. People at home can sponsor them by sending them gifts, so it’s just as important for them to be likable to the audience as it is to fight well, hunt well, etc. The novel chronicles their fight to survive the Games.

Wild child by TabithaEmma and Daily Bread by Padgett cFeely

 Child's Smile by CodyPendent

Automated Daydreamer by TillyBloom and Static by SixHours

What are You Looking At? by PeteKDesign and Reverence for Raven by Jason Tennant

 

Free Spirit and Sheltered by Shirae

 

1. Girl Sleeping on Train by SophieBlackall. She is the woman who does illustrations of Craigslist Missed Connections, a very cool idea, so check out her shop.

2. Spring by Lovliette

Do these women look particularly capitolesque to you? ...Because that's what I was going for.

Pure and Real and Rosie and her Bee by PeggyWolfDesign 

  

The Thick and Above by Erin Tyner and Bird Girl by SixHours

 

Twilight by IreneSuchocki and A Wish by PalePreoccupation. Her work is really cool and worth checking out.  

Noted Themes and Questions
The novel examines media manipulation and propaganda. It raises some interesting questions about reality T.V. and media in general: What is real in reality T.V.? Is news as a reliable source? The text also raises political questions pertaining to revolution and the cost of freedom. These issues are fleshed out in the final book, Mockingjay. The Hunger Games also raises questions about social and class issues.  Collins poses questions about humanity and survival: To what extent do we maintain our humanity when we are simply fighting to survive?  In the spirit of Shirley Jackson's "The Lottery," she calls attention to spectacle. The Games cause the reader to question which aspects of our culture (past or present) seem totally inhumane but are still supported by the general public.  Further, which code of ethics do we maintain during times of war, revolution, or in other times when survival is the only goal? The novel examines the nature and effects of trauma, social, historical, and personal trauma. The reader questions if there a chance for recovery, and what are some of the positive things we can gain through traumatic experiences (if any)? 
Reflection
I've read this book a couple of times and hope to be able to teach it the future. With every read I discover new layers, themes, and questions. I've convinced many friends and family members to read it, and it's sparked a lot of interesting questions about the characters' motives, about their authenticity, and their struggles.  In some way, the novel could be viewed as a critique of our current culture. However, more than that, I think it's a warning and perhaps a meditation on past horrific events in history.  I would love to teach this novel alongside Maus, because both texts pose complex ethical questions related to survival. 
Student Reaction
I suspect students would really enjoy this text. It has romance and action. The reality T.V. aspect would be relatable and interesting for them.
Grade
I think middle school kids could handle reading this; however, I think some of the deeper issues might be lost on them. It could be taught in curriculum alongside other classic dystopian texts, (1984, for example). I would probably teach this in 9th or 10th grade. 


*For interested parties, the other book choices this week were Feed, Graceling, and The Lightning Thief.