The Hunger Games.

Wow.

It’s easy to dismiss a teen fiction book as just that, teen fiction, but more and more it appears that there are great stories being told in this arena.

And for us here at The Mind Reels, The Hunger Games is one of those.

We’re very passionate about it, and of course when detractors are heard from, we can’t help but leap to defend it.

The detractors complain that it’s nothing but a rehash of previous tales told in the classic Lord of the Flies, and the Japanese phenomena Battle Royale.

Games is set in a dystopian, not too far off, and not so unbelievable future, where the country (what’s left of it) is ruled and controlled by the powerful and wealthy 1% (that sounds kinda familiar) from the Capitol. They keep the rest of the country, divided into 12 self-contained, and guarded districts in line through brute force and fear, while in return each district specializes in products for the Capitol, such as grain, livestock, electronics, and the like.

To keep the power in their hands and to quash any thought of rebellion, the law dictates that each year one boy and one girl from each of the 12 districts be sent to the Capitol for the annual Hunger Games.

The games are brutal, pitting 24 youths, from ages 12 to 18, against each other in a battle to the death, in which there can be only one survivor, and all of it is televised, for the viewing pleasure of those in the Capitol, who make it an event with interviews, sponsors and parades, and one of torture for those in the districts forced to watch those they love battle for their lives… And viewing is mandatory.

For those who say its simply Lord of the Flies, I question whether you’ve read both stories. In Flies, which like most I read in high school is about a group of British school boys who crash land on an island, and attempt to govern themselves. It’s a reflection of human nature and group mentality, common good and individuality.

While Hunger Games is about society’s failings, the inherent wrongness of power and wealth lying with the top 1%, the commercialization of violence, ruling through fear but it also contains stronger counter themes embodied in the lead characters of Katniss and Peeta, determination, compassion and hope for change.

And honestly, I don’t remember those counter themes playing a huge part in Battle Royale which I also enjoyed.

Battle Royale, sees the annual event of 42 school children being gassed and waking up with a collar (containing a microphone and explosive) around their necks. Each one is given a bag of supplies and random weapons, an idea admittedly reflected in the Cornucopia of Games, and are given 24 hours to eliminate one another until there is only one survivor. Once again, there is the shared theme of ruling through fear, the Program as it is called in BR is put in place by a government attempting to quell any rebellion from its people, because once a year, 42 of their children, from any of the provinces ruled by the Republic of Greater East Asia could be taken.

But BR never seems to go beyond that concept for me, we don’t spend time with any of the characters for extended periods of time before they wake up with their collars on.

In Hunger Games you get to know Katniss, the residents of District 12, where she lives, and despite the fact that you know she’s gonna be selected for the games, when it happens, or rather how, is such a kick to the gut that it can render you to tears.

And that is where the real power of The Hunger Games trilogy comes from, the author Suzanne Collins has crafted her world so well, and invests you so quickly and so securely into the character of Katniss that many times the book will absolutely wreck you. (It’s very interesting reading this book while on a street car, cause I can imagine someone watching me seeing my face swap from a smile, to panic, to repressing tears).

If we’re really going to draw comparisons the author who came closest to the themes of commercialization of violence is probably Richard Bachman (read as Stephen King) in The Long Walk, featuring an annual sporting contest following a group of boys on a grueling walk where they must maintain a speed of 4mph at all times, until only the winner remains.

In The Running Man, Ben Richards is on a game show fighting for his survival as he is chased down by Hunters.

Both of them are entertaining, but once again lacks the emotional punch of Katniss’ tale.

I know there have been some issues about people thinking that Games is inappropriate for younger readers. I think that is a decision best left to parent and child on an individual basis, but no parent should ever be clamoring that it be removed from a library or curriculum. Any parent who claims it glorifies violence and that it will desensitize their child to it should probably read it themselves. None of the characters are left untouched by what they go through, there are repercussions for all of them and they will carry the scars of them, emotionally, physically, mentally for the rest of their days.

That to me would have the reverse effect of desensitizing one to violence – it shows there are consequences to your actions, and in this series no one knows that better than Katniss and my weepy eyes.

READ THESE BOOKS!