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3.7 AVERAGE
3.7 AVERAGE
This collection of (predominantly) excellent essays about a variety of themes present in the Hunger Games series is well-worth the read for any super-fan or educator. Bio-ethics, politics, the science of Post-Traumatic-Stress-Disorder, celebrity-culture, and the respective powers of Love, Community, and Fashion are investigated by the authors in this collection.
Of particular interest were the essays "The Inevitable Decline of Decadence" (Adrienne Kress), "Community in the Face of Tyranny" (Bree Despain), "Your Heart is a Weapon the Size of Your Fist" (Mary Borsellino), and "Why So Hungry for the Hunger Games?" (Sarah Rees Brennan).
I found many essay topics opened doors to conversations and perspectives I hadn't considered before during my read of the novels and will assuredly be useful in my future conversations with students, parents and staff.
Of particular interest were the essays "The Inevitable Decline of Decadence" (Adrienne Kress), "Community in the Face of Tyranny" (Bree Despain), "Your Heart is a Weapon the Size of Your Fist" (Mary Borsellino), and "Why So Hungry for the Hunger Games?" (Sarah Rees Brennan).
I found many essay topics opened doors to conversations and perspectives I hadn't considered before during my read of the novels and will assuredly be useful in my future conversations with students, parents and staff.
I didn't recognize any of the authors and the essays read a bit like required classwork, but it was interesting to read about some of the themes that others focused on in the Hunger Games Trilogy. I found the PTSD, post-traumatic stress disorder, comparison to be particularly interesting and not something I'd remotely considered while reading the trilogy.
Reading this made me think that I missed a lot of nuance in Mockingjay. I may have to reread that one now.
Reading this made me think that I missed a lot of nuance in Mockingjay. I may have to reread that one now.
interesting to read. Although I didn't agree with all of the authors, I did enjoy it. If you love the Hunger Games, you'll love this.
Reading this book was like reading a collection of essays by an incredibly articulate college class.
It's been a long time since I've read "critical reviews" like this, and it seems perhaps I've lost the taste for it. I guess I just expected something different than for a bunch of YA authors to write there Hunger Games Theses, complete with quotes and citations throughout. What did I want? Maybe something edgier, more personal, more impactful. As it was, the essays were interesting -- I especially liked those that examined the human brain and PTSD in its relationship to the Hunger Games -- and I think they gave me a deeper appreciation for the trilogy. But perhaps I would have gotten more out of them if it hadn't been a few years since I'd read the original books -- I seem to remember them well, but these essays called out specific details that I did not remember.
I think I have greater respect for the choices Suzanne Collins made, especially in Mockingjay, but the book didn't make me want to revisit the original. Although I recognized a handful of the authors included, none of them make my "faves" list, and in some ways this book feels like a way for lesser known authors to get some free press by riding on the coat-tails of a more popular series. Now that I officially feel like a bad person, I think I'd better wrap up this review.
It's been a long time since I've read "critical reviews" like this, and it seems perhaps I've lost the taste for it. I guess I just expected something different than for a bunch of YA authors to write there Hunger Games Theses, complete with quotes and citations throughout. What did I want? Maybe something edgier, more personal, more impactful. As it was, the essays were interesting -- I especially liked those that examined the human brain and PTSD in its relationship to the Hunger Games -- and I think they gave me a deeper appreciation for the trilogy. But perhaps I would have gotten more out of them if it hadn't been a few years since I'd read the original books -- I seem to remember them well, but these essays called out specific details that I did not remember.
I think I have greater respect for the choices Suzanne Collins made, especially in Mockingjay, but the book didn't make me want to revisit the original. Although I recognized a handful of the authors included, none of them make my "faves" list, and in some ways this book feels like a way for lesser known authors to get some free press by riding on the coat-tails of a more popular series. Now that I officially feel like a bad person, I think I'd better wrap up this review.
I remember falling for The Hunger Games way back in 2010 (shortly before the release of Mockingjay) and being so pleased to have the rest of the world catch on to what us bookish folk already knew when the movie came out earlier this year. I feel like The Hunger Games is definitely one of the more thought-provoking YA series and was excited to check out this collection especially as some of my favorite authors contributed pieces. One thing these essays did a great job at is making me want to reread Mockingjay which I did not enjoy the first time around and which I have never read again. So kudos!
Why So Hungry for the Hunger Games by Sarah Rees Brennan: I enjoy Brennan's writing a lot as there are always some witty remarks; this one is no exception as she touches on the popularity of this series, including the fascinating issues that series brings up, the romantic wish-fulfillment angle, and the author's insight into reality and illusion.
Team Katniss by Jennifer Lynn Barnes: Another author I enjoy tackles the fan perception of the series as solely choosing between Team Peeta and Team Gale, making some great arguments for focusing on Katniss as a person herself who is so much more than the person she chooses to love. I especially loved the discussion of her love of Prim because Katniss' love for her sister is what drew me into the books (it reminded me of my love for my younger sister-I'd try to win the Hunger Games for her).
Your Heart Is a Weapon the Size of Your Fist by Mary Borsellino: This essay, from an unfamiliar author, looks at the power of love in The Hunger Games especially as compared to one of its inspirations Nineteen Eighty-Four. What does Katniss know about love and integrity that allows her to keep going and to ultimately carve out her (scarred but) happy ending?
Smoke and Mirrors by Elizabeth M. Rees: Looks at the realities and the illusions perpetrated by the Capitol and others throughout the series and how the main characters negotiated them.
Someone to Watch Over Me by Lili Wilkinson: This examines surveillance, drawing parallels from our own world where someone is pretty much almost always watched (or could be watched) and the balance of power in Katniss' world. There are the Watchers, the Watched, and the Engineers who must be balanced and the worst that happens when that delicate balance is disrupted.
Reality Hunger by Ned Vizzini: This essay looks at media training, the kind underwent by Katniss as well as Vizzini's real-life experiences doing promotion for his writing. Some humorous stories are included in this writing as it seems that Vizzini does not have the same heroic authenticity as Katniss.
Panem et Circenses by Carrie Ryan: Ryan draws some troubling connections from the series to our own world. Namely she looks at our (well your as I eschew reality television) willingness to watch reality tv but always needing an escalation of the stakes just as in the Reaping every year. This impulse to catch eyeballs also influences the narratives given to us (such as fake romances and how moments are edited together to present one story that we then buy as truth). Very thought-provoking and one of my favorite essays!
Not So Weird Science by Cara Lockwood: Did you think the muttations were terrifying and yet totally implausible? Maybe you were wrong about that second part as Lockwood looks at what our world has been doing with genetic engineering as well as our long and troubled history with creating things with the best intentions that are quickly turned against us.
Hunger Game Theory by Diana Peterfreund: This explores game theory, something I've heard about before but was not very familiar with. Using examples from the series as well as drawing from Harry Potter and Ender's Game, she helps to illuminate the theory as well as that the best results come from human cooperation, which tends to end in refusing to play the game at all (or in other words rebelling against the gamemakers.)
Crime of Fashion by Terri Clark: I love to read about the clothes in books (I blame Ann M. Martin and the BSC's outrageous fashion statements from Claudia) so this essay was of great interest to me. How do the clothes Cinna designs for Katniss help to spark revolution? What does each outfit say that is so needed to hear at that particular moment? Another fabulous essay on a topic near and dear to my heart!
Bent, Shattered, and Mended by Blythe Woolston: This one was a little more science-y than some of the other essays have been as it looks at the brain, memory, and PTSD symptoms. Clearly all of the tributes undergo significant mental trauma due to their forced participation in the games and Woolston draws out those feelings and memories.
Did the Third Book Suck? by Brent Hartinger: This provocatively title essay kind of aligns with my initial impression of Mockingjay-it just did not meet my expectations. However after mulling the book over for going on two years and especially after reading these essays, I am willing to reassess my thinking. I still think I prefer the first two books but I don't think I fully appreciated the differences in Mockingjay and the way Collins pursued her own idea for an ending instead of trying to meet reader expectations for a traditional conclusion.
The Politics of Mockingjay by Sarah Darer Littman: Another really awesome essay, especially to me who has been thinking about a lot of these issues in anticipation of the American presidential election. Collins obviously has seriously followed and thought about the War on Terror in contrast with many of us who prefer the circus to serious consideration.
Gale: Knight. Cowboy. Badass. by Jackson Pearce: There are some hilarious moments in this essay (note watch "Firefly" and "Serenity" beforehand as she will urge you to do so over the course of the writing) as well as an exploration of Gale as an archetype. I was always a Peeta fan so this essay helped to crystallize all the reasons why.
The Inevitable Decline of Decadence by Adrienne Kress: Kress reveals our society's predisposition toward cycling through indulgence and self-denial until inevitably we fall and seek the other as a counterbalance. She cites ancient Rome and the French Revolution in particular as examples of decadence before destruction just as in the Capitol.
Community in the Face of Tyranny by Bree Despain: I loved the hook for this, which shows how President Snow thought he had everything under control but the tiny act of a boy giving a girl bread leads to community leads to Katniss rising, becoming the Mockingjay, and sparking rebellion. That one small action leads to so much upheaval. Great conclusion.
Overall: I loved it-I'm asking for a hardcopy for Christmas because I want to reread the whole series and then contend with these essays some more. Great for fans of the series!
Why So Hungry for the Hunger Games by Sarah Rees Brennan: I enjoy Brennan's writing a lot as there are always some witty remarks; this one is no exception as she touches on the popularity of this series, including the fascinating issues that series brings up, the romantic wish-fulfillment angle, and the author's insight into reality and illusion.
Team Katniss by Jennifer Lynn Barnes: Another author I enjoy tackles the fan perception of the series as solely choosing between Team Peeta and Team Gale, making some great arguments for focusing on Katniss as a person herself who is so much more than the person she chooses to love. I especially loved the discussion of her love of Prim because Katniss' love for her sister is what drew me into the books (it reminded me of my love for my younger sister-I'd try to win the Hunger Games for her).
Your Heart Is a Weapon the Size of Your Fist by Mary Borsellino: This essay, from an unfamiliar author, looks at the power of love in The Hunger Games especially as compared to one of its inspirations Nineteen Eighty-Four. What does Katniss know about love and integrity that allows her to keep going and to ultimately carve out her (scarred but) happy ending?
Smoke and Mirrors by Elizabeth M. Rees: Looks at the realities and the illusions perpetrated by the Capitol and others throughout the series and how the main characters negotiated them.
Someone to Watch Over Me by Lili Wilkinson: This examines surveillance, drawing parallels from our own world where someone is pretty much almost always watched (or could be watched) and the balance of power in Katniss' world. There are the Watchers, the Watched, and the Engineers who must be balanced and the worst that happens when that delicate balance is disrupted.
Reality Hunger by Ned Vizzini: This essay looks at media training, the kind underwent by Katniss as well as Vizzini's real-life experiences doing promotion for his writing. Some humorous stories are included in this writing as it seems that Vizzini does not have the same heroic authenticity as Katniss.
Panem et Circenses by Carrie Ryan: Ryan draws some troubling connections from the series to our own world. Namely she looks at our (well your as I eschew reality television) willingness to watch reality tv but always needing an escalation of the stakes just as in the Reaping every year. This impulse to catch eyeballs also influences the narratives given to us (such as fake romances and how moments are edited together to present one story that we then buy as truth). Very thought-provoking and one of my favorite essays!
Not So Weird Science by Cara Lockwood: Did you think the muttations were terrifying and yet totally implausible? Maybe you were wrong about that second part as Lockwood looks at what our world has been doing with genetic engineering as well as our long and troubled history with creating things with the best intentions that are quickly turned against us.
Hunger Game Theory by Diana Peterfreund: This explores game theory, something I've heard about before but was not very familiar with. Using examples from the series as well as drawing from Harry Potter and Ender's Game, she helps to illuminate the theory as well as that the best results come from human cooperation, which tends to end in refusing to play the game at all (or in other words rebelling against the gamemakers.)
Crime of Fashion by Terri Clark: I love to read about the clothes in books (I blame Ann M. Martin and the BSC's outrageous fashion statements from Claudia) so this essay was of great interest to me. How do the clothes Cinna designs for Katniss help to spark revolution? What does each outfit say that is so needed to hear at that particular moment? Another fabulous essay on a topic near and dear to my heart!
Bent, Shattered, and Mended by Blythe Woolston: This one was a little more science-y than some of the other essays have been as it looks at the brain, memory, and PTSD symptoms. Clearly all of the tributes undergo significant mental trauma due to their forced participation in the games and Woolston draws out those feelings and memories.
Did the Third Book Suck? by Brent Hartinger: This provocatively title essay kind of aligns with my initial impression of Mockingjay-it just did not meet my expectations. However after mulling the book over for going on two years and especially after reading these essays, I am willing to reassess my thinking. I still think I prefer the first two books but I don't think I fully appreciated the differences in Mockingjay and the way Collins pursued her own idea for an ending instead of trying to meet reader expectations for a traditional conclusion.
The Politics of Mockingjay by Sarah Darer Littman: Another really awesome essay, especially to me who has been thinking about a lot of these issues in anticipation of the American presidential election. Collins obviously has seriously followed and thought about the War on Terror in contrast with many of us who prefer the circus to serious consideration.
Gale: Knight. Cowboy. Badass. by Jackson Pearce: There are some hilarious moments in this essay (note watch "Firefly" and "Serenity" beforehand as she will urge you to do so over the course of the writing) as well as an exploration of Gale as an archetype. I was always a Peeta fan so this essay helped to crystallize all the reasons why.
The Inevitable Decline of Decadence by Adrienne Kress: Kress reveals our society's predisposition toward cycling through indulgence and self-denial until inevitably we fall and seek the other as a counterbalance. She cites ancient Rome and the French Revolution in particular as examples of decadence before destruction just as in the Capitol.
Community in the Face of Tyranny by Bree Despain: I loved the hook for this, which shows how President Snow thought he had everything under control but the tiny act of a boy giving a girl bread leads to community leads to Katniss rising, becoming the Mockingjay, and sparking rebellion. That one small action leads to so much upheaval. Great conclusion.
Overall: I loved it-I'm asking for a hardcopy for Christmas because I want to reread the whole series and then contend with these essays some more. Great for fans of the series!
Can I add an additional five stars to the above rating?? These thirteen essays are articulate, thoughtful and thought-provoking, emotional insights into the major themes and ideas put forth in Suzanne Collins' The Hunger Games trilogy. Incredible. Passionate. Persuasive. Insightful. My copy is highlighted, with margin notes and dog-eared corners because while reading, I was constantly overwhelmed by the depth to which these authors would take their commentary. After I read each book, I felt compelled to engage in a conversation about what I'd read, and this anthology pulls all the topics I wanted to discuss with someone together. It's amazing, and it should sit next to every copy of the trilogy on bookshelves around the world.
I bought this book for a few reasons. One, I enjoyed the "Mapping the World of Harry Potter" so much. Two, the eBook version had some bonus material based on the movie. Three, I'd just seen the Hunger Games movie and wanted to sound smart when talking about it.
I don't think these essays are as good as the Harry Potter ones, for a few reasons. One, the authors weren't as well-established. They seemed too New York Times snobby (they certainly aren't my "favorite authors"). Two, a lot of the essays kept covering the same material over and over -- Katniss is a strong woman, Peeta vs. Gale, social stratification. It could also be that there's less material to cover, given that there's only three books. And each of those books tend to repeat each the same material.
I don't see any real reason to read this one. Unlike Harry Potter, I think The Hunger Games is too contemporary to become a legend. It's a sign of our times, and those times, they are a-changing. And don't think this revelation makes me happy. But I don't see a real reason to recommend this.
I don't think these essays are as good as the Harry Potter ones, for a few reasons. One, the authors weren't as well-established. They seemed too New York Times snobby (they certainly aren't my "favorite authors"). Two, a lot of the essays kept covering the same material over and over -- Katniss is a strong woman, Peeta vs. Gale, social stratification. It could also be that there's less material to cover, given that there's only three books. And each of those books tend to repeat each the same material.
I don't see any real reason to read this one. Unlike Harry Potter, I think The Hunger Games is too contemporary to become a legend. It's a sign of our times, and those times, they are a-changing. And don't think this revelation makes me happy. But I don't see a real reason to recommend this.
honestly DNF some of the essays, but there were some absolutely stellar – particularly the first two (Barnes & Brennan) – that deserve 5 stars on their own.
This will be great if we can ever get Hunger Games approved to teach. So many good essays to use as supplemental material.