Banned Books: Hunger Games

This week is Banned Books Week, and we’re celebrating by showcasing various books which have been censored for a variety of reasons. Celebrate this week by picking up one of these books and reading.

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins is on the American Library Association banned books list for this year. Many of the books that are on that list I just snort in derision over. Most are pretty ridiculous, and have been written about by some of us here are at Care2. There is everything from gay penguins to classics to Harry Potter and His Dark Materials.

The Hunger Games is different. First let me be clear that I never think a book should be banned and laugh that Fahrenheit 451 is about banned books and the dangers of banning, yet still remains on the banned book list. Art is life.

Art follows life in the case of the Hunger Games. Collins creates a futuristic world that is not far off in coming and could well happen. After a horrific accident that sent everyone underground (nuclear war?), sectors began to emerge above ground. Life began again. Each “sector” of geography that sustains human life is responsible for a specific set of skills and technologies that aid the central government lead a hedonistic life. Life is not necessarily good within each sector, however.

The protagonist, a 16-year-old girl named Katniss, has to survive a set of ever-changing rules in a race to survive. Names are drawn by lottery, and when Katniss’ little sister gets called, Katniss trades places with her and becomes the competitor for her sector along with a boy named Peeta. The reward? Everyone in her sector would have enough food and medicine for a year, or until the next Games.

Peeta and Katniss undergo many adventures and conflicts throughout the competition, and both end up champions, much to the Government’s dismay. Usually there is only one winner. But Peeta and Katniss refuse to kill each other, and are so popular among the “viewers” that they are allowed to live. The government does not like being upstaged, so creates a situation that leads to the next book in the series, Catching Fire.

It is alarmingly real in many ways. I thought this piece of fiction that remarks on social psychology, economics and politics was banned because it is too real.

I was wrong. Instead, it is because it contains sexually explicit material, it is unsuited to the age group and it has violence.

Except it doesn’t. There is nothing of a sexually explicit nature in the book. There is violence, but it is situation specific, and I think many people underestimate teenagers. The Hunger Games is also similar to 1984 and Animal Farm in its social commentary, and might be worth a discussion in any number of classes.

And here is another question, which seems especially pertinent here: what happens when the movie becomes freely available? A blockbuster is being made about this book even as you read this. The Harry Potter movies are phenomena, and many more movies have been made from banned books, many earning Oscars (The Color Purple, To Kill A Mockingbird)) and attract Big Name Celebrities. Movies are just as accessible as books, and I am firm believer that you get more out of a book than a movie anyway. Except, when a book is banned, you don’t have a trained teacher leading a discussion about a book that could change your life.

Does anyone else think this is weird?

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Read more: banned books, banned books week, Hunger Games

Photo credit: goodncrazy

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Carmen H.

5:35AM PDT on Apr 22, 2012

I haven't ever read the Hunger Games Books, but from what I can see, it seems like an appropriate book, because let's face it...all of us, whether we're 6 or 78, we're going to be exposed to a lot of things that happen in this world that might be inappropriate for younger people, but they're still getting exposed to it by other means anyways...so what's the point of banning a book, and then of course the movies...everyone's going to be watching it at some stage, whether it be at the movie theater or as a rented out DVD...it's just up to guardians and parents to explain some things to the younger viewers, even though the explaining has to be done at a much younger age than it was about 15 years ago...

send a green star

RobynRobyn B.

12:46AM PDT on Mar 31, 2012

I chose not to buy The Hunger Games for my (then) ten year old daughter as I thought the themes were a little too mature for her. But at fourteen I think she is ready to read book with adult themes now. But to ban it altogether, that is just downright stupid. Who decides what books are banned and what exactly are their credentuals.

colleen p.

2:01PM PDT on Mar 27, 2012

wait, the Bible is banned for all those things mentioned.

1:31PM PDT on Mar 27, 2012

books are banned by a panel of sensitive, easily offended people.

Laine V.

3:10PM PDT on Mar 25, 2012

Liked books. Yes, I agree that reason for banning could be - too real..

ii q.

11:51AM PDT on Mar 17, 2012

Who sets the standards on whether books are to be banned? How explicit? How violent?
There is probably much more explicit sex and violence in a PG-13 movie!!!

Leigh A.

10:39AM PST on Dec 15, 2011

Chris W: I suggest you actually read the books before commenting. It's not glorifying death at all. It's about an overbearing government with iron control of its population. The only people who think the Games are entertainment are those in the wealthy, immoral Capitol. Those in the Districts hate the Games. They exist purely to remind the Districts of the Capitol's power over them.

Chris W.

7:47AM PST on Nov 23, 2011

It would be just like an author, to trivialize the MURDER and VIOLENCE that this book is about, putting a label of "games" on a crime does not make it right, teaching OUR children to MURDER and KILL? ...........This Book needs to be banned ........ The author needs to be banned.............. We are slowly being dragged down by fools and idiots that feel having our 10 and 11 year old CHILDREN read this is OK........... Yet , they are also the ones that reel in horror when a school shooting takes place? You think that is foolish? Tell that to all the parents of the Children of Colorado, were one of the worst High School shootings in US History took place. Tell that to the friends and family's of MURDERED. LOOK them in the eyes face to face and say that...........then, tell us this book is ok.......

Michael P.

11:23AM PST on Nov 10, 2011

I think these books are very good and should be read regardless of whether or not they are banned. To get these books at a good price I went here: http://bookshelfstories.com/shop/shop.php?c=3&x=The_Hunger_Games

Annmari L.

2:17PM PDT on Oct 29, 2011

If there's ever a book that should be banned (and I don't belive in censorship!), it is the bible. Incest, murder, rape, genocide, arson, wars, etc. Not suitable for reading by children and sensitive adults.