Warning: Here be spoilers. Not major ones, but spoilers nonetheless.
I had an interesting discussion with a friend about the "appropriateness" of The Hunger Games for its intended audience-- teens. She railed against the violence, the suffering, the idea that adolescents should read about kids killing other kids. "If they're going to read stuff like this, I'd rather they read stories about the Holocaust," she said. "At least they're learning history. At least that's real."
I didn't really understand this point, and told her so. Kids reading The Hunger Games know it's fantasy, that it never happened, and most likely never will happen. The Holocaust, on the other hand, is a lesson on how evil people really can be. Facts are definitely scarier than fiction here.
I don't like talking about something I haven't read, so of course, after this conversation I had to read the book in order to see what I had been theoretically defending. The Hunger Games, it turns out, isn't about kids killing kids. That's what happens, but that's not what it's about. It's about keeping your humanity in the face of this horror, as expressed by Peeta, "I don't want them to change me in there. Turn me into some kind of monster that I'm not," a sentiment he is able to uphold throughout the ordeal. We see it when Katniss forms an alliance with Rue, when she covers Rue's body in flowers, when she takes the approach to hide from the others rather than hunt them.
I didn't really understand this point, and told her so. Kids reading The Hunger Games know it's fantasy, that it never happened, and most likely never will happen. The Holocaust, on the other hand, is a lesson on how evil people really can be. Facts are definitely scarier than fiction here.
I don't like talking about something I haven't read, so of course, after this conversation I had to read the book in order to see what I had been theoretically defending. The Hunger Games, it turns out, isn't about kids killing kids. That's what happens, but that's not what it's about. It's about keeping your humanity in the face of this horror, as expressed by Peeta, "I don't want them to change me in there. Turn me into some kind of monster that I'm not," a sentiment he is able to uphold throughout the ordeal. We see it when Katniss forms an alliance with Rue, when she covers Rue's body in flowers, when she takes the approach to hide from the others rather than hunt them.
In fact, the book is full of examples of human kindness and loyalty: Gale and Katniss providing for their families at great risk to themselves, with Gale continuing to care for the Everdeens in Katniss's absence; Peeta feeding a starving Katniss and saving her life; Thresh sparing Katniss in gratitude for her care of Rue; and of course, Katniss's ultimate act of courage and sacrifice, by volunteering to take Prim's place at the Reaping. Even the fact that Haymitch is driven to alcoholism by his victory in the 50th Hunger Games shows that brutality destroys humanity, and that there is no "victory," not even for the victor, in the Hunger Games. That's what I, as an adult reader, took away from The Hunger Games.
The question remains, though: Why do kids read these books? At the ages of 12-16, kids aren't often known for their ability to discern theme and symbolism from a novel. These are skills they are just learning in high school English. Why would they want to read a story about a post-apocalyptic world where horrors are unleashed against children their own age? Why doesn't it give them nightmares?
While The Hunger Games takes the idea further, I think kids read it for the same reason younger children read The Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew. They are attracted to stories where teens can take care of themselves, where they can even do better than the adults around them. It gives them a sense of power in a world where, in reality, adults have the control. I sure as a heck wouldn't let my kids run around solving mysteries like the Drews and the Hardys do, and in the real world, Nancy, Joe and Frank would likely get killed. But it's not surprising that kids like to read about other kids who can take care of themselves and succeed where adults fail.
Another attraction in The Hunger Games is the interpersonal angle. Go past the family relationships, past Katniss's resourcefulness and courage, and it becomes a love story. What teenage girl wouldn't want boys like Peeta and Gale in love with them? What are her feelings for each of them? Who should she end up with? (Obviously I've only read the first book-- Catching Fire and Mockingjay have long waiting lists at the library.) Even the secondary characters show caring, affection, and kindness. Madge gives Katniss the mockingjay pin. Mr. Mellark brings Katniss cookies before she leaves for the Capitol. Cinna gives Katniss both hope and courage. Even Haymitch does his part, giving his tributes a fighting chance by making them worthy of sponsors.
Yes, it is a violent book. Twenty-two children die, forced into combat by a government determined to show its citizens that their lives, literally, are in the government’s hands. Life in the districts is a struggle for survival. But the over-arching theme of The Hunger Games is humanity in the face of brutality. A little girl saving an older girl she hardly knows; the older girl trying to return the favour, and grief-struck by her failure. A woman mourning the loss of a husband. The love of a pet. The love of two sisters. Love, in spite of all attempts to repress it, in spite of all attempts to hold oneself back because the pain of loss will be too great. Love, self-sacrifice, and bravery lie at the heart of The Hunger Games. And these are values kids can never read about enough.