The Hunger Games

My daughter has been desparate to see The Hunger Games. I made her a deal—instead of going to a theatre to see the movie—we would buy the DVD (released Aug 18). In turn, she had to read the whole series by Suzanne Collins: The Hunger Games, Catching Fire and Mockingjay. Published by Scholastic, this trilogy was all the talk in her grade 6 class. "Happy Hunger Games! May the odds be ever in your favour." Turns out, there is not much happy in The Hunger Games...

"This will help me make friends" she said (she being my daughter). Everyone was reading and watching The Hunger Games. It quickly become popular culture of the tween set. A commonality they could discuss. Book club meets recess if you will. I thought it was great—how often do 11-years-olds discuss books together?

So dear daughter did her part. Read all three books. She would mention Katniss and Gale and Peeta and District 12 around the house and I would be all "uh-huh" as I pretended to listen and went on folding laundry (mistake #1: listen to your kids).

We watched The Hunger Games Saturday afternoon and I can tell you A) I'm glad we didn't watch it in theatres and B) I'm glad we watched it together.

It is INTENSE.

It is about kids killing kids in a cage-match televised to warn and entertain a futuristic nation.

The themes of the plot are: war, poverty, and moral dilemma.

This is not your regular Scholastic product. The Hunger Games presents kids killing other kids for basic survival (12 boys and 12 girls are chosen as Tributes and battle to the death—only one will live).

This has been a learning lesson—take the time to read what your kid reads (if nothing else, wikipedia it). Just because it's pop culture doesn't mean it's for you (or your kids). Perhaps book club needs to start at home before it hits recess.

Happy Hunger Games! May the odds be ever in your favour.

*Dear daughter LOVED the movie. And the trilogy did keep her attention throughout the summer. I, on the other hand, came away from the film feeling anxious.

See what Erica thought of the violence in The Hunger Games.