Citation: Collins, Suzanne. The Hunger Games. New York: Scholastic Press, 2008. Print.
Annotation: Locked in an arena for a fight to the death, Katniss doesn't really expect to see her family again, but she must ask herself, what is she willing to do in order to get home?
Justification for Rejection:
In The Hunger Games, Collins crafts an intriguing, fast-paced plot that hooks readers, both avid and reluctant. The characters experience danger and adventure which appeals to readers while an unconventional female protagonist manages to cross any lines of gender-based appeal. Katniss makes for an authentic, yet admirable protagonist. She sacrifices her own safety repeatedly for the safety of her family and those weaker than her, even in the arena. Yet, Katniss makes for a fierce contender who is not limited by her gender or her size. Katniss balances very difficult ethical dilemmas and somehow comes out a winner. Collins' settings and plot mirror reality enough to be convincing but the story slips into a striking departure from the reader's reality into a horrific, yet captivating dystopian universe. In Katniss' world, the reader sees characters not much different from their own family and friends. Her world is different from the reader's but it is not difficult to imagine how our own world could take just such a striking and terrifying turn. Collins takes aim at important social commentary on politics, ethics and the importance of family life but falls just short and the buzz of action drowns out the potential message. The Hunger Games is a well-written and highly readable book, particular useful for reluctant readers, but the book's potentially meaningful resonance with adolescent development falls prey, like many of The Hunger Games' characters, to the slaughter of the games. For this reason, The Hunger Games comes up short as a “best book” contender.
Genre: Coming of Age, Science Fiction, Challenged Books.
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