Featured Book

The Hunger Games

This year, our selection for both adult and teen readers is The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. In a future America, the country's twelve districts are forced to send teenaged "tributes" to take part in televised games devised by the totalitarian government to crush any hope of resistance. The novel follows the harrowing adventures of Katniss, who volunteers to take her sister's place in the competition-a wilderness contest only one teen may survive.

This award-winning 2008 novel is both a gripping survival story and a thought-provoking critique of our society. Collins explores very contemporary themes of poverty, privation, political repression, media culture, and violence, as well as triumphant themes of self-sacrifice, human dignity, love, and compassion.

What would you do to survive or to save someone you love? What risks would you take for freedom? The Hunger Games will inspire readers from different generations to consider these unsettling questions.

"Never before have there been so many options when it comes to reading. The sheer number of books released in a year is incredible.

With all those choices, there's a lot that's good and a lot that's mediocre. Every once in a while, however, there's something fantastic that comes along. Such is the case with "The Hunger Games" and its sequel, "Catching Fire," by Suzanne Collins.

Published by Scholastic Press, the books are billed for young adults. However, adults should not let this age suggestion keep them from reading Collins' novels." read more Except from The Deseret News

Suzanne Collins' enthralling, imaginative and creepy novel "The Hunger Games" (Scholastic: $17.99, ages 12 and up) takes place after an apocalyptic war has reshaped the remains of North America into the nation of Panem. The central government rules brutally over 12 outlying districts. Once a year, as a reminder of their bondage, the districts are forced to offer up one teenage boy and girl for the Hunger Games, in which the 24 "tributes" fight one another to the death in a ritual battle that combines the brutality of the Roman gladiators with the exotic locales and elaborate social strategies of "Survivor." The whole thing is televised for the nation, complete with gushing interviews, sneak-peek tests of skill and personal background stories on the participants. Viewing is mandatory. read more Except from the Los Angeles Times

Collins hasn't tied her future to a specific date, or weighted it down with too much finger wagging. Rather less 1984 and rather more Death Race 2000, hers is a gripping story set in a postapocalyptic world where a replacement for the United States demands a tribute from each of its territories: two children to be used as gladiators in a televised fight to the death.

Katniss, from what was once Appalachia, offers to take the place of her sister in the Hunger Games, but after this ultimate sacrifice, she is entirely focused on survival at any cost. It is her teammate, Peeta, who recognizes the importance of holding on to one's humanity in such inhuman circumstances. It's a credit to Collins's skill at characterization that Katniss, like a new Theseus, is cold, calculating and still likable. She has the attributes to be a winner, where Peeta has the grace to be a good loser.

It's no accident that these games are presented as pop culture. Every generation projects its fear: runaway science, communism, overpopulation, nuclear wars and, now, reality TV. The State of Panem-which needs to keep its tributaries subdued and its citizens complacent-may have created the Games, but mindless television is the real danger, the means by which society pacifies its citizens and punishes those who fail to conform. Will its connection to reality TV, ubiquitous today, date the book? It might, but for now, it makes this the right book at the right time. Except from Publishers' Weekly

Suzanne Collins

Since 1991, Suzanne Collins has been busy writing for children's television. She has worked on the staffs of several Nickelodeon shows, including the Emmy-nominated hit Clarissa Explains it All and The Mystery Files of Shelby Woo. For preschool viewers, she penned multiple stories for the Emmy-nominated Little Bear and Oswald. She also co-wrote the critically acclaimed Rankin/​Bass Christmas special, Santa, Baby! Most recently she was the Head Writer for Scholastic Entertainment's Clifford's Puppy Days.

While working on a Kids WB show called Generation O! she met children's author James Proimos, who talked her into giving children's books a try.

Thinking one day about Alice in Wonderland, she was struck by how pastoral the setting must seem to kids who, like her own, lived in urban surroundings. In New York City, you're much more likely to fall down a manhole than a rabbit hole and, if you do, you're not going to find a tea party. What you might find...? Well, that's the story of Gregor the Overlander, the first book in her five-part fantasy/​war series, The Underland Chronicles.

At present, Suzanne is hard at work promoting her third book in The Hunger Games series.

She currently lives in Connecticut with her family and a pair of feral kittens they adopted from their backyard.

If you enjoyed The Hunger Games, or if you want to learn more about the themes and topics in the book check out these titles:

Classics
Fahrenheit 451 - Ray Bradbury A totalitarian regime of the future has ordered all books to be destroyed, but one of the book burners comes to realize their merit. The Lord of the Flies - William Golding One of the first modern novels to explore violence among children, this is a story of schoolboys who must survive on a deserted island as their social order breaks down. Brave New World - Aldous Huxley This work of dystopian literature describes the socialized horrors of a futuristic “utopia” devoid of individual freedom. The Lottery - Shirley Jackson A town gathers for a mysterious lottery. Now regarded as a classic and available in many short story collections, Jackson's tale horrified readers when it first appeared in 1948. 1984 - George Orwell The seminal novel envisioning a grey, totalitarian future. A meek man who has always obeyed Big Brother privately begins to resist.
Adult Fiction
The Handmaid's Tale - Margaret Atwood Atwood's satirical tour de force describes life in what was once the United States, now a shockingly repressive and intolerant mono-theocracy. Parable of the Sower - Octavia Butler This novel of dystopian America has a hopeful note. It follows the travels of a teenager who is forced to journey north after the destruction of her family unit by desperate scavengers called "paints." No Blade of Grass - John Christopher A small group of adults and children struggle to reach safety after a bio-weapon destroys the world's grain supply. One of the major themes is the rapid breakdown of society, and how far civilized people will go to protect themselves and their families The Bachman Books: Four Early Novels - Stephen King Two of these early, pseudonymous novels, The Long Walk and Running Man, tell chilling, futuristic tales of teenagers forced to compete to the death, in a marathon and a TV game show. The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon - Stephen King Another gripping survival story by King. On an afternoon hike with her dysfunctional family, nine-year-old Trisha becomes hopelessly lost and spends the next nine days in the woods trying to stay alive. The Road - Cormac McCarthy This is another recent example of the literary post-apocalyptic novel, a grim and violent commentary on human nature. A father and young son make their way through the ruins of a devastated America, struggling to survive and preserve the last remnants of their humanity. The King Must Die - Mary Renault This novel retells the legend of Theseus and the Minotaur, one of the stories that helped inspire Suzanne Collins to write The Hunger Games. Divided Kingdom - Rupert Thomson A government redistributes its citizens into regions according to personality type, partitioning the country with barricades and razor wire, until a boy taken from his family embarks on a voyage that will change his life and his country. Wastelands: Stories of the Apocalypse A collection of postapocalyptic short stories by modern authors which vary from bleak hopelessness to rays of hope in a living nightmare—a good introduction to the genre.
Teen Fiction
Feed - M. T. Anderson Titus never questions the Feed-the transmitter in his brain that connects him to society-till he meets an unusual girl called Violet, who is home schooled and has a completely different view of their world. The White Mountains - John Christopher The capping ceremony marks the end of childhood—and of freedom—in this exciting novel of teenagers resisting alien overlords and thought control. The sequels are The City of Gold and Lead and The Pool of Fire, and the prequel When the Tripods Came. The Silenced - James Devita Year's ago, Marena's mother was “disappeared” by their oppressive government for public dissent. Deciding to follow in her mother's footsteps, Marena begins a grassroots resistance movement, but will she find the success her mother hoped for, or suffer her mother's fate? AK - Peter Dickinson This imagined life is based on all-too-real recent history. Paul is a boy who was raised as a child soldier and knows nothing but violence; where does that leave him when peace is declared? Vivid, shocking, and intensely readable. Little Brother - Cory Doctorow After terrorist attacks on San Francisco, high school tech genius Marcus is caught up in a counterterrorist sweep and arrested by Homeland Security. He decides to fight their totalitarian control of his city by every means he can, hacking into computer systems and raising a resistance movement. The City of Ember - Jeanne Duprau The city of Ember has sheltered humans underground for so long that its residents don't even know there is an outside world. But now the infrastructure is decaying and resources are scarce. Two teens must question tradition and find the way out before their whole city goes dark forever. Among the Hidden - Margaret Peterson Haddix Luke is an illegal third child and would be killed if discovered. In strict hiding, he glimpses a face at a window in the new housing development next door. He's not the only illegal child, and must choose whether to come out of hiding in a bid for freedom. The Carbon Diaries 2015 - Saci Lloyd Global warming has led to strong storms and droughts, so the UK institutes carbon rationing to cut emissions. Everyone is issued monthly carbon points for power, transportation, and heat. Laura’s life is changed dramatically, but her journal shows that ordinary life continues. Island of the Blue Dolphins - Scott O´Dell Karana is a twelve-year-old Native American girl whose tribe is being removed from an island. In the confusion of leaving, she remains behind to find her young brother. He dies shortly after, leaving Karana alone to struggle for survival as she waits eighteen years for rescue. The Giver - Lois Lowry Imagine an orderly world where everyone's life goes smoothly. Unless you're different. Jonas, whose incredible memory qualifies him to train as Keeper of Memory, begins to learn what his society has given up for its sensible ways. The sequels are Gathering Blue and Messenger. Hatchet - Gary Paulsen Thirteen-year-old Brian, going to visit his divorced dad, is the sole survivor of a small plane crash in the Canadian wilderness. He has only a hatchet to help him survive, and each decision he makes may be his last. Truesight - David Stahler Jacob lives on Harmony, where everyone is genetically engineered to be blind, since sight is believed unreliable. His thirteenth birthday is near, and he will be assigned a career. But he is experiencing mysterious symptoms and realizes he is developing sight—a secret with terrifying consequences. Uglies - Scott Westerfeld Almost sixteen, Tally is facing the operation that will turn her from an Ugly into a Pretty. A friend tries to persuade her to resist. Tally is at first revolted by the unmodified rebels, but as she learns the truth about the operation, she must make a choice about whether to go back. Pretties and Specials follow.
Adult Nonfiction
Reality TV Presents the pros and cons of the current reality craze and its cultural effects. Taking Back Childhood: Helping Your Kids Thrive in a Fast-Paced, Media-Saturated, Violence-Filled World - Nancy Carlsson-Paige Based on renowned early childhood development expert Carlsson-Paige's thirty years of research, this groundbreaking book helps parents navigate the cultural currents shaping the lives of kids today, to restore childhood to the very best of what it can and should be. Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder - Richard Louv The author advocates reconnecting children to knowledge of the natural world. Savage Pastimes - Harold Schechter A look at violence in the media, with an emphasis on the effects on children. Growing up Empty: The Hunger Epidemic in America - Loretta Schwartz-Nobel The author of the 1981 study Starving in the Shadow of Plenty looks at current hunger and homelessness in America. Closing the Food Gap - Mark Winne An examination of poverty, hunger, and food activism in a land of plenty. Foxfire 11: The Old Homeplace, Wild Plant Uses, Preserving and Cooking Food, Hunting Stories, Fishing, and More Affairs of Plain Living One of the classic Foxfire volumes on southern Appalachian life. The SAS Guide to Tracking - Bob Carss How to track anything, anywhere. Outdoor Survival Guide - Randy Gerke Each year millions of people venture into the world's beautiful but unpredictable wilderness, and thousands of them encounter unexpected natural dangers and disasters. Outdoor Survival Guide provides practical information to create a sensible survival plan and be prepared for any hazardous situation. Into the Wild - Jon Krakauer The account of a young man who decided to leave society behind and exist off the land in Alaskan wilderness, with disastrous results. The Outdoors Almanac - Len McDougall For backpackers, campers, paddlers, and outdoor enthusiasts of all stripes, here is an almanac of practical information certain to be a trusted reference. The Complete Wilderness Training Manual - Hugh McManners Are you a survivor? Basic equipment, living in the wild, finding water, finding and preparing food, and navigation are all covered in this guide.
Survival and Nature
A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier - Ishmael Beah Beah was a child guerilla during Sierra Leone's civil war, and this is his account of being raised in violence.
Mythology, Literature and History
Dystopian Literature: A Theory and Research Guide - M. Keith Booker A history and guide to the genre. Bullfinch's Mythology - Thomas Bulfinch One of the classic retellings of myths and legends. The Gladiators: History’s Most Deadly Sport - Martin Griffin, ed. A historical look at the most famous form of violence as entertainment, the Roman gladiatorial games. Mythology - Edith Hamilton Another classic mythology collection. The Resistance - Russell Miller A Time/Life history of the resistance to Nazism.
Teen Nonfiction
Ending World Hunger - Nathan Aaseng Food production methods and the causes of food shortages and are the focus of this look at the world-wide problem. Poverty: Opposing Viewpoints – Karen Balkin Opposing Viewpoints series teen Part of a popular teen series that looks at both sides of the issue. The Hero and the Minotaur: The Fantastic Adventures of Theseus - Robert Byrd Written for children, this is an engaging and beautifully illustrated retelling of the myth. Media Violence: Opposing Viewpoints - David Haugen and Susan Musser, eds. Another title in this popular teen series on controversial issues. A Roman Gladiator - Don Nardo For readers interested in the original “bread and circuses.”
Teachers, if your students love the Hunger Games, here are some activities that you could try:

Geography
  • Map out where Capitol City is, and where the 12 regions are in relation to present day North America; compare places in the United States with the same places in the futuristic Panem. (8th grade)
  • Explain how the environment influences the way people live in different places & consequences of modifying the environment. (6th-8th)
  • Analyze geographic changes brought about by human activity using appropriate maps and other geographic data. (9th-10th)
  • Evaluate the consequences of geographic and environmental changes resulting from governmental policies and human modifications to the physical environment. (11th-12th)
People in Societies
  • Analyze the factors that contributed to the enslavement of African-Americans and the resistance to slavery. (8th)
  • Analyze the consequences of oppression, discrimination and conflict between cultures. (9th-10th)
  • Identify the causes of political, economic and social oppression & analyze ways individuals, organizations and countries respond to resulting conflicts. (11th-12th)
History/Government
  • Describe the political, religious and economic aspects of North American colonization and compare to those involved in the creation of Panem, for example
    • Interaction between American Indians and European settlers
    • Indentured servants and slavery
    • Early governments
    • Conflicts among colonial powers for control of North America
    • American Revolution (8th)
  • Explain how the U.S. Constitution protects the rights of citizens, regulates the rights of citizens, regulated the use of territory, manages conflicts and establishes order and security. (8th)
  • Explain how parts of the U.S. Constitution (The Bill of Rights) limit powers of the government in order to protect the rights of individuals. (8th)
Citizenship Rights & Responsibilities
  • Evaluate the roles of historical figures & political bodies, and the impact on the rights of the individual. (6th-8th)
  • Analyze ways people achieve governmental change, including political action, social protest and revolution (9th-10th).
  • Evaluate various means for citizens to take action on a particular issue and how the exercise of a citizen's rights and responsibilities help to strengthen a democracy (11th-12th).
Economics
  • Explain why trade occurs and how historical patterns of trade have contributed to global interdependence. (6th-8th)
  • Identify connections between government policies and the economy (6th-8th)
  • Compare how different economic systems answer the fundamental economic questions of what goods and services to produce, how to produce them, and who will consume them. (9th-10th)
  • Analyze how scarcity of productive resources affects supply, demand, inflation and economic choices. (11th-12th)
Science
  • Describe the processes that contribute to the continuous changing of the earth's surface. (6th-8th)
  • Describe the finite nature of Earth's resources and those human activities that can conserve or deplete Earth's resources. (9th-10th)
  • Explain that humans are an integral part of the Earth's system and the choices humans make today impact natural systems in the future. (11th-12th)
  • Describe the characteristics of an organism in terms of a combination of inherited traits and recognize reproduction as a characteristic of living organisms essential to the continuation of the species. (6th-8th)
  • Explain how extinction of a species occurs when the environment changes and its adaptive characteristics are insufficient to allow survival. (6th-8th)
  • Explain how evolutionary relationships contribute to an understanding of the unity and diversity of life. Explain the structure and function of ecosystems and how ecosystems change over time. And explain how human activities can impact the status of natural systems. (9th-10th)
  • Explain how humans are connected to and impact natural systems. Explain how human choices today will affect the quality and quantity of life on earth. (11th-12th)

Want more information?

The publisher Scholastic's website has games and discussion questions, as well as other resources for readers of The Hunger Games.

The author's website includes an interview and information on her other books.

There are many websites with wilderness survival tips and woods lore.

The official U. S. Army survival manual is packed with information. Or try another survival manual geared toward kids. Discovery Channel has a Discovery Survival Zone on their website with lots of tips. Survival Topics has a commercial slant, but includes articles on lots of interesting topics, including how to hide in plain sight or how to make your matches waterproof. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has a Kids and Educators page with lots of links to wildlife information and to scouting and orienteering groups. Wilderness Survival Skills includes articles on many survival topics. The Sergeant Safari survival quiz is a fun self-test, though there are ads on the site.

The Utah State University Forestry Extension maintains a website describing the native trees of Utah There is also a page about the trees of Northern Utah. The Utah.com website has great information about animal and bird species in Utah.Garden Guides, a locally-based website has good information about identifying plants in Utah. For a fun, interactive page that even children would like, try this one by Network.It is a site dedicated to identifying trees by leaf, name, or fruit type.

Audubon is a great resource for all things concerning birds.

April 26 & 27, 2011 - The Hunger Games : A Community Discussion at the Davis County Library

Hate the ending?. . . .love it? Think it’s too violent?. . . Think the violence serves a purpose? Were you on team Gale. . . . or Team Peeta?

Join us at the Davis Country Library for a special event in celebration of our 2011 Davis Reads book selection: At this book discussion, you will have the chance to share your thoughts about this book and hear from others who agree (or disagree) with you.

When & Where?

April 26, 2011 7:00 PM
Central Branch
155 Wasatch Drive
Layton, UT

April 27, 2011 7:00 PM
South Branch
725 South Main Street
Bountiful, UT

May 7, 2011 - We will be having a community-wide Hunger Games! Stay tuned for more details and location. There will be fencing, edible plant identification, competitions of strength, intelligence and skill, and much more.