It’s early on a Friday morning when students start filing into Ms. Doree Rodgers’ eighth grade honors English class. As the Tommie Kunst Cougars settle into their desks, Ms. Rodgers announces that there’s been a slight change in today’s plans. The class is supposed to be taking a test on John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men, but that will have to be put on hold.
“There’s a special guest here to see you today,” Ms. Rodgers tells her students. “She’s a reporter with the newspaper … and she wants to talk to you about The Hunger Games.”
Immediately, the class starts to chatter excitedly. Giggles abound. One girl lets out an enthusiastic gasp of surprise.
What could possibly elicit such a reaction from a bunch of 13- and 14-year-olds? Maybe a movie starring teen heartthrobs Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez? Nope. Try again.
The Hunger Games is the first book in a wildly popular young adult series by Suzanne Collins, an American sci-fi and fantasy writer. The fictional trilogy tells the story of Katniss Everdeen, a brave and resourceful 16-year-old girl who lives in a futuristic country called Panem. The country, which spans all of North America, is divided into 12 districts, each of which specializes in a trade. In District 12, where Katniss lives, it’s coal mining.
Early in the book, readers learn that there were originally 13 districts. However, the government—referred to simply as the Capitol—bombed District 13 into oblivion after it staged an unsuccessful rebellion. To quell additional uprisings, the Capitol created the Hunger Games, a morbidly glamorized event in which children battle each other to the death. Every year, the districts must sacrifice two “tributes” each—a boy and a girl between the ages of 12 and 18—to fight in a giant arena rigged with deadly booby traps and genetically modified creatures. The games are the highlight of televised entertainment for the Capitol, similar to the present-day Olympics, but with much more guts and gore.
When The Hunger Games begins, it’s the day of the reaping. All district residents are required to watch as two children’s names are randomly selected out of giant glass bowls. Katniss is frightened her name will be called because she’s entered it numerous times to secure food for her family. However, it’s her sister, 12-year-old Primrose, who’s chosen. Overcome with love for her sister, Katniss volunteers as the tribute instead. Soon, she’s whisked off to the Capitol, along with fellow tribute Peeta Mellark, where the deadly games await.
English teacher Rodgers said she decided to teach a yearly lesson on The Hunger Games after the school’s librarian suggested she read it.
“I thought, ‘Wow, what a creative book.’ It reminded me a little of The Giver,” she said. “I liked that Katniss’ focus was justice, not only for herself and her family, but for the people who are being oppressed by the government.
“I also liked that the main character wasn’t perfect. She made some bad decisions, but when she got discouraged, she didn’t give up. She showed great fortitude,” she said.
The book encourages young readers to stand up for what’s right, she added, “which is something we’re always trying to teach.”
For the last two years, Rodgers has assigned the book as required reading over Winter Break.
“And both years, when they came back from the holiday, all the kids had read it,” she said, adding that finding a book that resonates with all of her students is an ongoing challenge. “The Hunger Games grabbed everyone’s interest.”
The students were also required to display their knowledge of the book in a group project. Last year, they turned the story into a children’s book. This year, in anticipation of the upcoming movie, they made theatrical posters featuring information about the plot, character development, literary devices, and more.
“I loved the book! It was amazing. It had so much detail; I didn’t want to put it down,” Andrea Frausto, 13, said. “It was surprising to me that they would take young children at the reaping and make them fight and kill people. In this country, we don’t do those types of things.”
Classmate Jacob Limon, 14, said he was impressed by Katniss’ hunting abilities. Limon said his dad often takes him hunting for deer, duck, pheasant, and squirrel.
“Katniss was more masculine than Peeta,” he said. “I think some girls can do that in the real world, so it was a good thing to have that in the book for girls.”
Anel Gutierrez, 13, agreed, adding, “I like it when there’s a strong female lead because most people think the guys are the stronger ones in the relationship, but I think we’re in control, like it says in that Beyoncé song.”
The book also taught Gutierrez, who said she’s never been camping, a lot about survival.
“If I was in a deserted place, I don’t know what I would do. It made me realize I’m more dependent on things than I thought, like toilets. I’m dependent on people, too, because I don’t like being alone,” she said.
Rodgers plans to take all 60 of her honors English students to see the movie on opening day, March 23.
Valerie Orozco, 13, said the thing she’s most looking forward to in the movie is “Josh Hutcherson [Peeta] shirtless.”
So, maybe the heartthrob guess wasn’t too far off?
Managing Editor Amy Asman is excited to see Woody Harrelson play Haymitch Abernathy, with or without his shirt on. Send comments to aasman@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in Mar 22-29, 2012.