The Hunger Games (The Hunger Games, #1) The Hunger Games discussion


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Appropriate for an 11 year-old?

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Atlantic Gem A family friend had recently asked me if this book was appropriate for her 11 year-old daughter, after I had mentioned that I had read the book, while my mom had not. She said her daughter really wanted to read it, but she was not sure. I said no just to be on the safe side, but I'm curious to what other people think.


Kristen It really depends on the kid...but I'd say no. My nephew's 11 and there's no way I'd recommend the book to him.
13 is probably the youngest that I'd go with this one. Too much to absorb much younger than that. I think, anyway.


SHINY It depends on the child's maturity.


Lindsay Atlantic Gem wrote: "A family friend had recently asked me if this book was appropriate for her 11 year-old daughter, after I had mentioned that I had read the book, while my mom had not. She said her daughter really w..."

It depends on the maturity of the child, but I'd lean towards no. I think 13 or so is the youngest I'd recommend this book to.


Atlantic Gem Unfortunately, I keep forgetting she's 11. The last time I had seen her, she was seven. ^_^;


message 6: by Amara (last edited Jan 06, 2014 08:50PM) (new) - rated it 4 stars

Amara I agree with Kristen and Lindsay. It totally depends on the kid, if he/she is mature enough to handle the book. :)


Albert I think 13 is a safe age to read this. Though some kids turn 18 and are as immature as a 10 year old.


Georgia I read it at 11, but one of my friends tried reading it at the same time, and they were like, 'What are you reading?'. As everybody else has said, it depends on the maturity of the kid, and also on their reading level, I suppose.


Sammy Young I would say so I used to hate it when I was younger and someone would tell me that a book I wanted to read was out of my reading group/age. Obviously some books are far too mature but I definitely wouldn't say a teen fiction book is too mature for an 11 year old :)


sonya marie madden I think there is too much violence for 11. But then again my parents had let me read whatever I wanted.


Shion Cook I am not aloud to read the books till im 13 but I have almost read the first chapter I recomand the first chaper then wait till your 13.


message 12: by L (new) - rated it 5 stars

L Absolutely not an 11 year old. No mature how mature it doesn't matter. This kind of literature is too much for an 11 year old to full absorb. A 13 year old is best. 12 is pushing it but 11. No.


Shion Cook Mrs. LiannaHerondale;) wrote: "Absolutely not an 11 year old. No mature how mature it doesn't matter. This kind of literature is too much for an 11 year old to full absorb. A 13 year old is best. 12 is pushing it but 11. No."

but I was 9 when I read the first chapter


message 14: by Lynn (new) - rated it 4 stars

Lynn If the child is determined to read it, I would get two copies, read it with her, and discuss it. Most kids that age find ways to read a book if they really want to.


message 15: by Drew (new) - rated it 3 stars

Drew No. I think 13 (that was when I read the books), maybe 12 if she's mature enough.


Chanin Malley in my thoughts in depends on her maturity and if you feel okay releasing her into that world filled with truths and other realities


Sammy Young I don't think that there is anything at all that would confuse or hurt an 11 year old's innocence in this novel. Personally I think your best bet is to ask the girls parents what they think of her reading a book that does contain some degree of violence and romance and they'll come to the most suitable decision for their daughter.


Mochaspresso I think it's more appropriate for older kids, maybe 13 and up.


message 19: by Jennifer (new) - added it

Jennifer Well it really depends what other kinds of books this kid has been exposed to and their maturity to handle things like death. I know I read it when I was twelve and had no problem, because really its not like Suzanne Collins really made the book graphic. Ok it about a girl in a government where they send 24 kids to fight to the death, and only what happens to her is in the book. I would say that the books are fine but I would wait until 13 to see the movies


message 20: by Mochaspresso (last edited Jan 12, 2014 06:57AM) (new) - rated it 5 stars

Mochaspresso I think there is a distinct difference between the questions "Can I do this?" and "Is it appropriate for me to do this?". Just because something can be done, that doesn't automatically mean it's a good idea. I've encountered kids as young as 3rd graders who have seen the movies in the "Saw" franchise several times and are perfectly fine. That doesn't mean that those movies are actually appropriate for that age group.

Can a mature, intelligent 11 year old handle reading "The Hunger Games"? Sure, probably, but that doesn't mean that the book is actually appropriate for that age group in general.


Bridgette My friend read this book in school when she was in 5th or 6th grade. So she was... I'm not sure :) Like the others have said before me it depends on the maturity of the 11 year old. I read this book when I was about 10-11 and I loved it!


Nyssa My 5th grade (10 year old) son read it with his reading group in class.
While he handled the book very well, there were a few things that upset him (just not enough to make him stop reading). His twin sister (who has a higher reading level than her brother) found it a bit emotionally taxing.
I also read it at the same time they did.
Based on they're reactions and mine, I agree with those who've stated that it really depends on the child, and I also agree with those who suggest age 13 and older.


Theauburngirl Not with some of those scenes no. Too much gore and romance scenes for 11 year old. It is a dystopian world after all It might upset her with the deaths too.


Tammy is not a good idea, children will need to be more mature to understand the argument of the book


message 25: by [deleted user] (new)

It depends on the maturity of the child - I read it when I was 10, didn't do me any harm.


Sammy Young I think the child's parents are the best people to decide this. We can comment our thoughts on the book but none of us actually know the kind of things the girl likes to read, her maturity level, her reading capabilities and her parents would know these things and therefor make the best decision for her. So I think you should give her parents a basic overview of the book and allow them to come to a decision instead of strangers to the girl who know nothing about the kind of things she reads.


Jasmine Honey I read it when I was 11, and I thought it was an awesome book at the time. I think it is okay for an 11 year old to read it.


AurorainBookland Sammy wrote: "I think the child's parents are the best people to decide this. We can comment our thoughts on the book but none of us actually know the kind of things the girl likes to read, her maturity level, h..."

Agree it should be up to the parents. If I were a parent this series would be off limits until at least age 13 (the movies based on the books are pg 13).
I hate the plot line of these books and there is a lot of death and main character who everyone seems to be giving praises is forced to fight and kill other kids or be killed while the people watch, I think its one of the worst books people are recommending for middle school age kids but that's just my opinion.


Jacquelyn Personally I think it's a little bit violent, and when I say violent I mean descriptive. I'd say 13 definitely but 11 maybe not.


message 30: by AurorainBookland (last edited Jan 18, 2014 07:45PM) (new) - rated it 1 star

AurorainBookland Jacquelyn wrote: "Personally I think it's a little bit violent, and when I say violent I mean descriptive. I'd say 13 definitely but 11 maybe not."

A little violent? When all those people die?? A little violent is something like Twilight where there is one fight with James and even those books are age 13 depending on maturity and what the parent says and the fights aren't even described in Twilight they happen off screen so to speak except in Eclipse but even that book only has one fight not counting the thing with the newborns because it happens off screen.


message 31: by M (new) - rated it 4 stars

M I read this book when I was ten. Mind you, I was very mature at my age but most of my class read it and had no problem. I think if you're younger than 13, then you should be allowed to read it. It has very mild language and some violence (but who doesn't see violence on T.V. anyway, right?). This book was my absolute favorite book at that time, and my parents had no problem with me reading it. I even suggested that my mom read it, and she got hooked too. Again I see absolutely no problem with someone younger than 13 reading this series. But in the end, it's up to the parents. And if parents feel they are too young to read it, that that's perfectly fine.


message 32: by AurorainBookland (last edited Jan 19, 2014 02:19PM) (new) - rated it 1 star

AurorainBookland Actually not all kids watch violent tv the most violent thing I saw in elementary school was the first two harry potter movies. Most of the time when I wasn't doing homework I read or played outside with gasp toys and dolls that didn't require batteries which lead to me still having a great imagination. Most parents from other book reviews for books in the 8 - 12 age range according to the listing on Amazon wouldn't want their kids reading the hunger games and savvy at this age. It's amazing how graphic books are becoming for kids at a younger age.


Angel Rodriguez I read it when I was 10, but it definitely depends on the kids maturity level :)


Lindsey B. I'd say it would be ok


message 35: by Kirbs2327 (last edited May 07, 2014 07:20PM) (new) - rated it 5 stars

Kirbs2327 I will not lie, I am still at a very young age, but very mature and excel in both reading and math state assessments. How ever you feel that if the subject has a high vocabulary, and can absorb what is going on, they should read the exiting tale. But if you feel that she has a week stomach, I would suggest that you recommend the city of ember. Ether way, bolth are exiting tails that will fill the mind with wonder. But watch for a new mind set of voilence and the need to fight, as this can come from reading a book that is dyothipian with a lead of the same gender.


message 36: by Tris (new) - rated it 5 stars

Tris prior yep! i was 9 when i read it, really awesome!


Kelly Brigid ♡ Hmm...depends on the kid. I read it when I was 11, but I was mature for my age. Based on my parents standards, they were okay with me reading this book, because reading violent things isn't as bad as visually seeing it. The only thing really that prevents me from reading more dystopian books like this, is sexual content. So, if she can handle the violence, I think The Hunger Games should be fine. Catching Fire and Mockingjay have a little bit of suggestive content, so you may want to check in on that before she reads those. :)


Emma Belle It REALLY depends on maturity and whether she can take the violence. This book is is very non-sexual. It has some kissing parts and that is it. The violence is the only thing that might be to much and even then it isn`t to bad. I read it when I was 10 but I was mature for my age. Catching Fire is less violent than the first but it is much more sexual and Mockingjay is right in the middle with violence(less than the first book but more than the second) and it is the cleanest out of all three with sexual content. It would more than likely be fine for her. Hope this helps:)


Emma Belle Another thing, you can tell the girls mom that she can look up ANY book or movie on this website called Common Sense Media. Its much more reliable than IMDb because it gets more into what happened, covers more things that happened, and parents and kids/teens comment on their thoughts.


message 40: by Emily (new)

Emily Correia i read it at 11, i was honestly fine


message 41: by Emily (new)

Emily Correia yea i agree


message 42: by Lucy (new) - added it

Lucy Depends


message 43: by Bri (new) - rated it 5 stars

Bri I'm never one to limit what a child wants to read based on age. I read whatever I wanted when I was a child (except a weird bout when someone hear that Harry Potter was "of the Devil," but that's another story) and I think I was more well-rounded for it. This is a book that I would hand to an 11-year-old without hesitation, but I would also tell them that it might be a little intense and that they should put it down if they need to do so. I would also tell them to talk to me about whatever they don't understand. Censoring books has never been helpful, only hurtful, in my experience.


Della catalyst i read it when i was 12, and i was okay with it. i think it just depends on the maturity level of the kid. if they already watch pg13 movies and stuff like that, then they will be fine. you could also ask their reading teacher what they think on the subject. good luck!


Crazyroosterman honestly I think it depends on the kid and how well there able to deal with dark stuff like this(and since there's dark stuff in the books which don't get brought up in the films due to time and them trying to pander by making the films pg I don't really factor weather they've watched the films or not to be honest into my opinion)


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