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

[Anonymous]

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.

[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.

Can't be worse than what goes on in the Bible.

[Anonymous]

Yes, I think it's appropriate for that age group. They're very well-paced, well-written books about political oppression, community, personal growth, among other themes. The violence isn't presented in a glorified, glamorized, consequence-free manner. Much better than the bulk of video games and action movies that are familiar to the easy-teen crowd.

[Anonymous]

Yes, it absolutely does. Interesting book with a very valuable message for young adults.

[Anonymous]

I don't remember any profanity or sex. What are the usual reasons that you censor?

[Anonymous]

^ should be "early-teens crowd"

[Anonymous]

Yes, it's a book written for middle schoolers, that's gained a lot of popularity and caused lots of kids to think and have great conversations. I would be appalled if a Middle School Library censored it.

[Anonymous]

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

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, I think it's appropriate for that age group. They're very well-paced, well-written books about political oppression, community, personal growth, among other themes. The violence isn't presented in a glorified, glamorized, consequence-free manner. Much better than the bulk of video games and action movies that are familiar to the easy-teen crowd.

+1 As a 36 year old mother, I completely agree that that series belongs in a MS library.

[Anonymous]

It's not fair to challenge books without reading them first.

[Anonymous]

Yes. It belongs in the library. It is an excellent trilogy. I recommend reading the book and not wasting your time watching the movie. It is a quick read for an adult, OP.

[Anonymous]

I read it, and when some older elementary kids at our school wanted to read it I asked a bunch of 6th, 7th, 8th graders. the 7th and 8th thought you should be as old as they are to read it. Some of the the 6th graders thought it was a little too much for them after reading it, or from what they heard, others were fine. I think a middle school library not an elementary library seems appropriate. It has some deeper underlying themes that are lost on younger kids, who pretty much only glean the "kids killing each other" message. It's a fast read - read it and see what you think.

[Anonymous]

OP, the Hunger Games is basically a poorly done mash up of Lord of the Flies and Stephen King's The Long Walk, but with a female protagonist.

It's violent, yes, but at a PG-13 level.

Again, it's not exactly quality literature, but it's written for this age group.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's not fair to challenge books without reading them first.

This x 1,000,000

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's not fair to challenge books without reading them first.

This x 1,000,000

Yes, and then feel free to challenge them but not censor them. Sheesh. Your kids will be better off if they are exposed to more and you are there to help guide them through it.