“The Hunger Games” Hoopla is in full swing and the closer it gets to the March 23 opening, the more hoopla you will hear. With the “Hunger Games” movie coming out soon, the books are flying off the shelves, with those just discovering the series or those who want to finish the saga before the movie comes out. The marketing of this movie has perplexed me as a parent, as did “Twilight” since most of the hard core fans of these popular books & movies seem to be women in their 30-40s, but maybe it’s just me. Nonetheless it has parents wondering if their children are mature enough for “Hunger Games,” and ultimately the next books in the trilogy, “Catching Fire” and “Mockingjay.
I first heard of the “Hunger Games” just about two weeks ago and decided to find out what all the fuss was about. I initially thought it was for kids ages 10-14, just because of the preview clip I had seen briefly.
I downloaded into onto my Nook E-reader Tablet and set to reading. I am not a Sci-fi fan, or adventure type and most of the books I read have a lot more romance, but I thought I would give it a try since I had heard so much about it. About half way through the book, I decided I was reading the remaining two books in the series and bought them immediately on my e-reader and read all three in less than a week, but I am an avid reader. I was very intrigued by the story, the plot and Author Suzanne Collins’ easy to follow narration of her story through the main character, Katniss Everdeen.
I found that her descriptions placed me right into her world as if I was right in the thick of things all the time and not lounging on the futon in my house. That is a very rare occurrence for me as a reader. I also enjoyed her character growth and how she allowed us to learn about them, become intrigued or interested and then grow in our allegiance to them as well as the main character. This impressed me as initially, you may root for one person, but as you develop a deeper sense of who these characters are and what they are truly about, you may be shocked to find yourself leaning one way or the other. I was very impressed with the character struggles and contrasts. I was reminded in a few ways of a favorite book of mine, “Fahrenheit 451” by Ray Bradbury. It had some themes in common, futuristic tones that I enjoyed in both books. Therefore my reviews of the series as an adult is that, I absolutely loved it. I found it thrilling, touching, gut twisting, sweet, fierce and heart pounding and I had to take deep breaths on occasion because my heart was racing along with the characters in the last book especially.
But I am also a mother to four children, two of whom are in the marketing age range of this movie that happens to be rated PG-13. A 140-year-old boy and an almost eleven year old girl. After reading several chapters, I bought the paperback for my son and my husband to read, because I knew it was appropriate enough for my 14-year-old, who is six months away from 15. I did initially tell my daughter that I wanted to wait and see how it plays out in the remaining books. I then talked to some other parents who had let their 10-year-old daughters read the book and learned that they thought it was more appropriate than “Twilight” is. (I think Twilight is fine up to Eclipse for my daughter to read at age 10) But I was and still am ambivalent about her age. She is mature enough, not overly mature for her age or immature, but being a girl she does have the advantage of being more mature as a gender for that time period. Plus the main character is a 16-year-old girl who is telling the story and therefore it may be more relateable for them. I ended up allowing her to read them, but I have been discussing it with her daily and will continue to so that she understands what it all means and why the characters are behaving they way they are or why they feel the way they do.
The books are questionable for the ages 10-12 I would say, and my best advice is to read them yourself. It depends on your child, as we all know children vary in what they can deal with, handle and frankly at that age, what they know and have been told. But the real issue here is violence. There is nothing in the books that concerns me as a mother, except a lie that was told towards the end of the series. You as an adult should read the book and see the movie prior to allowing your children to see this if you think you have any questions about the appropriateness of this movie, and don’t let what other parents are allowing their children to see, sway you from what you know is best for your children. Parents know their kids best and age isn’t always the determining factor when measuring the maturity of a child to see a movie, because my eight year old son enjoys watching scary movies and my fourteen year old does not and it has nothing to do with their maturity, but more the way the look at the world, their sensitivities and how they handle and process images and ideas.
The story is not particularly gory-violent, but it is violent in a shocking way towards other children, which is what many critics and parents take issue with. Yet the premise of “The Lord of the Flies” by Nobel Prize Winning Author William Golding is quite similar in nature being that there are children involved and controversial savagery, while initially not well received, it was named one of the top 100 novels between 1923-2005 by Time Magazine and it is recommended reading in schools between 6-8th grade, which is the age group of 11-13. (Might I add, I was bored out of my mind with “Lord of the Flies” and wish “Hunger Games” was around as a kid to read instead). Therefore if we are ok with our kids reading “Lord of the Flies,” I see no difference in this book, and in fact I think this book sends a more clear message behind all the meanings. I believe this book is unique and the Author’s perspective is very refreshing.
I am going to see the movie before I let my daughter see it. Because movies are more realistic and we know that directors go bigger rather than use moderation in violence quite often and therefore the decisions on whether children under 13 should see the movie, or read the book should be weighed separately because they are two different versions of a story entirely.
But one great thing, if you read it as a family, look forward to make-shift book club like conversations in the hallway late at night with your children whispering about what is going to happen next and which characters they like. I prefer that to violent video gaming together any day of the week. So go on and read them first, you won’t regret it and “may the odds ever be in your favor”!
