Hunger Games

How many of you have read the first in The Hunger Games series books? How many of you have gone to see the movie? I admit, I’ve done both. Even if you’re not a fan of fantasy, there are other reasons to read the book. For one, it has a strong female lead character. For another, reading Hunger Games will convince you Suzanne Collins, the author, has a very creative mind. For me, it was one of those books where I finished it and thought, man, I wish I’d written that. Actually, I’ve read a lot of books recently that I wish I’d written.

Notice that I said the book has a strong female lead. The movie does, too, of course. But the book came first. We’ve had strong females in YA books long before this. Anyone remember Nancy Drew? We’re in different times now. Girls don’t just solve crimes, they fight for their lives and the lives of others. In the case of Katniss, the protagonist of The Hunger Games, girls also get hurt and bleed and come back fighting. Despite that or perhaps because of that, girls are the demographic making this book (and movie) a mega-seller. Yes, there were boys and men in the theater. And there were “old” folks there, myself included. But it’s the girls who have primarily raised this book, the movie, the franchise into the stratosphere.

People have compared its success to Harry Potter or Twilight. That’s probably correct, when it comes to the money made by the opening movie of each. But, to me, The Hunger Games is different. Harry Potter was a boy with a solid female sidekick. Twilight was mostly male vampires with a sulky female co-lead. The Hunger Games is all Katniss, her strength, her resilience, her determination.

Have you read the book? If not, borrow or buy a copy. Read it. If you’re a writer, analyze it.