Banned And Challenged Books I’ve Read: The Hunger Games

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Read Banned Books

The Hunger Games

Suzanne Collins

My daughter suggested I read this one and I loved it. It does have a lot of violence in it, but so do most dystopian stories. It’s a great opening for discussion with your readers. The movie, however, was even more intense and I wouldn’t recommend that for young people.

Winning means fame and fortune. Losing means certain death. The Hunger Games have begun. . . . In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. The Capitol is harsh and cruel and keeps the districts in line by forcing them all to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV. Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen regards it as a death sentence when she steps forward to take her sister’s place in the Games. But Katniss has been close to dead before-and survival, for her, is second nature. Without really meaning to, she becomes a contender. But if she is to win, she will have to start making choices that weigh survival against humanity and life against love.

The Hunger Games has been banned and challenged for its violent and graphic content, including themes of child violence and rebellion against authority. Other reasons cited for challenges include perceived “anti-family” and “anti-ethic” messages, offensive language, and references to sexuality or occult themes. However, many critics argue that these challenges stem from a misunderstanding of the book’s true themes, which highlight societal issues and encourage readers to question oppressive governments.