The Hunger Games Book Review

Part One: 

Book Information: Collins, S., Falco, P., & Scolastic Press (2008). The Hunger Games. New York: Scholastic Press.

Genre: Young Adult, Challenged Book

Grade Level: 6th Grade and Up

Part Two: 

Response to Book: My predictions and response to the book's themes
Before reading the book, I had already watched the movie along with hearing how great the book was so I already knew what to expect. Just like the movie, I loved it! The book is great because it goes into more detail than the movie and I was able to get more out of the story compared to just watching the movie. 

The book takes place in the totalitarian nation of Panem which is divided between 12 districts and the Capitol. Each year two young representatives from each district are selected by lottery to participate in The Hunger Games. The 24 participants are forced to fight against their competitors until only one is remaining. When 16 year old Katniss volunteers to take her sister's place when her name is called, she becomes the female participant for District 12. The story goes on to show how her and Peeta (the other competitor from District 12) compete with the other participants throughout the games. Throughout the book, there are many themes that take place. One major theme that takes place is love and sacrifice. Katniss makes a huge personal sacrifice and shows her love when she takes her sister's place at the Hunger Games. Katniss and Peeta sacrifice themselves for each other at the end of the Games when they pop berries in their mouth as they were willing to die for each other. Another theme of society and class are shown in the book. In the book, it shows the differences in every class, where some districts have more money than others and those are the ones who usually will win the Games. The Capitol is wealthier than all of the districts and they hold the Hunger Games to show their power over all of the districts. The novel shows how money can change things for you and change how you see the world. Another theme of strength and skill is shown in the Games as each competitor has their own set of strengths and skills that help them to survive the games. Just like in life, everyone has their own kind of strength and skill. The book shows what really makes someone strong inside and out of the arena to make it through the Games.

Part Three:

Critique

I was surprised to see this book on the Challenged Book list. I think that the many important themes that are shown throughout the book make it an excellent read for students. The story is told through the eyes of a 16-year-old girl, Katniss, who goes through many struggles to fight for her life. The reader is able to connect with the book and learn about the difficulties of living in a totalitarian nation. I think that it is important for students to read books like this because they are able to learn so much through the themes of love, sacrifice, society, class, power, strength and skill.

Part Four:

Lesson Sketch

Grade:
8th Grade

Standards
Literary Response and Analysis:
3.4  Analyze the relevance of the setting (e.g., place, time, customs) to the mood, tone, and meaning of the text.
3.5  Identify and analyze recurring themes (e.g., good versus evil) across traditional and contemporary works. 

Speaking Applications:
2.2  Deliver oral responses to literature:
      a. Interpret a reading and provide insight.
      b. Connect the students’ own responses to the writer’s techniques and to specific textual
      c. references.
      d. Draw supported inferences about the effects of a literary work on its audience.
      e. Support judgments through references to the text, other works, other authors, or
      f. personal knowledge. 

Lesson Outline

After students have read the book, they will work in groups of four to create their own propaganda poster for the Hunger Games. Each group will be assigned a District (1-12) and they will have to make a poster based on the information from the book about their assigned District. In order to create their posters, students will have to analyze the relevance of the setting to the mood, tone, and meaning of the text. They will also have to identify the recurring themes throughout the story and incorporate this into their posters. After finishing the posters, they will share them with the class and discuss what they chose to put on their poster and why. They will also turn in a 2-3 page paper about their poster, explaining the process along with the theme that is shown in their poster. The teacher will be able to assess what students have learned  through their posters and 2-3 page paper. 

Here is an example of a poster:

Discussion Questions

• If you were in the Hunger Games, what would you consider your strongest fighting or survival skills? What sort of score would you earn from the judges?
• What makes the Capitol so powerful?
• Would you make the sacrifice for a sibling like Katniss did for her sister?
• Why does Katniss pull the berry trick? Why does she risk her life to get the medicine for Peeta? Does she do these things out of love (or friendship) for Peeta, or does she have some other motive?
• What District does your poster represent and what did you choose to express that district?

Links to Outside Resources

http://www.shmoop.com/hunger-games/strength-skill-theme.html (information about the book)
http://popwatch.ew.com/2012/03/29/hunger-games-propaganda-posters-panem-wants-you/ (Hunger Games Propaganda Posters)
http://historytech.wordpress.com/2013/10/09/8-hunger-games-lesson-plans-resources-and-activities/ (lesson plans)