Does "The Hunger Games" belong in a middle-school library?

[Anonymous]

It's not the best book they will ever read, but there are many opportunities as you read the book to jump off and have discussions about class, race, social structure, political control, cultural control, resource allocation...and the list goes one. Worth a read, I think, if only for those reasons.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: ^ should be "early-teens crowd"

MS teacher here -- I agree that this book is much more suitable for young teens, but I would never advocate removing it from an MS library. That said, if your 6th or 7th-grader is determined to read the book, it's a good idea to read along with her/him. Try to get a discussion going about some of the themes in the book and your child's reaction to them. What you often find at this age is that kids will read a book with themes that are too mature or sophisticated for their understanding and then absorb only the plot. (This is true of Harry Potter as well, particularly the later books in the series.) Unfortunately, the kids rarely go back to re-read the book when they're a little older and more prepared to grapple with the theme in a more thoughtful way.

[Anonymous]

Actually it's more a mash up of Enders Game.

I love banned books. It really is what motivates kids to read sometimes! Nothing creates demand like banning something.

[Anonymous]

Yes. It is a pretty good book and does not glorify the killing.

[Anonymous]

Someone gave it to my daughter for her 9th birthday in 4th grade. I told her I was putting it away for when she was older.

I will put it in her bookshelf when she's going into 7th grade. She's not mature, and she will not pick up on the nuances within the book now, as a 5th grader.

I think 7th grade and above, 6th grade for mature kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here, OK, an overwhelming consensus. I'm convinced. Thank you.

Very graceful response. Thank you.

[Anonymous]

Yes. The series is actually intended for young adults.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A dad here who hasn't read the book and doesn't anything about the story except it includes kids killing each other. Just learned it was in the library in our middle school. I don't know.

Well, if you don't know, I suggest reading it.

It is a very, very good book. The ten love story stuff aside, it is about loyalty, cruelty, and the ways oppressive governments warp people and force hard choices.

[Anonymous]

Yes - my mom was a middle school librarian and she told me about these books years ago when the first one came out. You should at least read a book before you get all worked up about it.

[Anonymous]

My ten year old (5th) has his nose stuck in book two as we speak.

[Anonymous]

Yes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A dad here who hasn't read the book and doesn't anything about the story except it includes kids killing each other. Just learned it was in the library in our middle school. I don't know.

Well, if you don't know, I suggest reading it.

It is a very, very good book. The ten love story stuff aside, it is about loyalty, cruelty, and the ways oppressive governments warp people and force hard choices.

Oh, let's be clear about something: It is NOT a "very, very good book."

It's fine. It's not harmful. But it's not particularly well-written. It's not exactly great literature. But it will hold a middle schooler's attention.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes - my mom was a middle school librarian and she told me about these books years ago when the first one came out. You should at least read a book before you get all worked up about it.

I don't think OP is worked up about it. OP asked a question.

The answer is good: Read the thing for yourself. Only you know your kid.

But I'm sick of people treating this book like it's quality literature. It's not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
But I'm sick of people treating this book like it's quality literature. It's not.

Lots of YA books aren't quality literature. Lots of adult books aren't quality literature either. I think that it's possible for a self-respecting reader to enjoy both "The Hunger Games" and "The Brothers Karamazov".

[Anonymous]

I was also concerned about the violence in the book - kids killing other kids (yikes!). So I read the first book in the series before I would allow my son to read it.

Hunger Games may not be great literature but it is a good story and it is thought provoking. And I do think that it is age appropriate for middle schoolers and probably many late elementary kids.