Banned Book of the Month: The Hunger Games
Photo from Amazon
Emersen Cwiklinski
About the Author: Suzanne Collins, the author of The Hunger Games, is a renowned author for her topics that cover dystopian and fantastical genres. Collins studied telecommunications, theater, and dramatic writing while in college, which propelled her down the path to becoming an author. Collins originally began her career by writing for TV shows on Nickelodeon and PBS. She had been writing for primarily children’s shows in her early days of writing. After some time writing for television, she switched to writing books. In 2008, Collins wrote her best known book(s), The Hunger Games, and the three other books in the series. Her books landed on bestseller lists and were being read by young adults all over as dystopian topics were very popular in the early 2000s. Collins’ dystopian novels helped her become recognized as a well-known author who helped young people become interested in reading.
Summary: The first book of The Hunger Games series follows a teenage girl named Katniss Everdeen. Everdeen lives in a dystopian society called Panem, and in Panem, they follow a very strict hierarchy. Depending on which of the 12 “districts”—or regions of Panem—you live in, you experience a very different day-to-day routine. For example, those who live in District 1 are rich, have nutritious food, well-paying jobs, fancy clothes, and the strongest military power. However, District 12 is poor, experiences famine, has limited job opportunities, and is known for having the weakest military force. The districts are very divided, and there is obvious marxism between members of Panem.
A tradition followed in Panem is to have an annual reaping. The reaping calls for all the members of each district to assemble at their respective capitals where a name drawing occurs. Any citizen under 18 is eligible to have their name drawn. If your name is chosen, you must fight in the Hunger Games of that year. However, someone can volunteer themselves to take your place in the Hunger Games, and that is exactly what Katniss Everdeen does. On reaping day, Katniss’ sister, Prim, is drawn and has to fight in the Hunger Games. In order to protect her sister, Katniss volunteers to take her sister's place as the Hunger Games tribute. Katniss now represents the female tribute, and a shy town boy named Peeta is drawn and now represents the male tribute. One male and one female name is drawn in each of the 12 districts, meaning there will be 24 tributes in the Hunger Games.
Peeta and Katniss now must train for the Hunger Games where they have to fight 22 other teenagers to the death. The other tributes are all stronger and more powerful due to their higher district rankings. Peeta and Katniss find their individual strengths through training though. Katniss is very skilled at using a bow and arrow from having to hunt for food at home, and Peeta is very strong due to carrying baking products to and from his family’s bakery in District 12. The Hunger Games begin, and Peeta and Katniss must use their skills, strength, and resources to survive, knowing that only one person can come out alive. The real question is “Who will be the sole survivor?”
Why it’s banned: The Hunger Games is banned due to its “insensitive” and “violent” nature. Many schools and libraries feel that The Hunger Games involves too much violence with the nature of the Hunger Games and too many offensive aspects that mock hierarchical societies. Since Katniss mocks the wealthy game leaders throughout the book, readers can relate that to the modern “Eat The Rich” ideology, which oftentimes leads to controversial conversations. This conflict of rich versus poor can be viewed as inappropriate to have in schools and libraries. Having conflicting political and moral views in books often leads them to getting banned, as has been seen in many other banned books.
If looking for where to read The Hunger Games and the other books in the series, Hamilton High School’s library offers copies. Additionally, Pauline Haass Public Library also offers copies of the series to read.
