Reading Response 5: The Hunger Games

For this week’s blog, I’ve decided to re-read one of my favorite books, The Hunger Games. The Hunger Games takes place in the post-apocalyptic nation of Panem, where the countries of North America once existed. Panem is separated into districts. The Capitol, a highly advanced city, controls the rest of the nation. The Hunger Games are an annual event in which one boy and one girl aged 12-18 from each of the twelve districts are selected by lottery to compete in a televised battle until one tribute wins. Katniss Everdeen, the main character, is a 16 years old from district 12 that has been supporting her family ever since her father died in a mine explosion. Katniss loves to hunt especially with her best friend, Gale. Before the reaping, Katniss went into the Meadow, a place where people of the district are forbidden to go. When the reaping begins, against all odds, Prim, Katniss little sister, is chosen to be the tribute. Katniss, then, volunteers to take her place. The boy tribute is Peeta Mellark. After that, the tributes say good-byes to their families and travel to the Capitol to compete in the Games of their lives.

Here is a passage from the Hunger Games:

“To the everlasting credit of the people of district 12, not one person claps. Not even the ones holding the betting slips, the ones who are usually beyond caring. Possibly because they knew me from the hob, or knew my father, or have encountered Prim, who no one can help loving. So instead of acknowledging applause, I stand there unmoving while they take part in the boldest form of dissent they can manage. Silence. Which says we do not agree. We do not condone. All of this is wrong. Then something unexpected happens. At least, I don't expect it because I don't think of district 12 as a place that cares about me. But a shift has occurred since I stepped up to take Prim's place, and now it seems I have become someone precious. At first one, then another, then almost every member of the crowd touches the three middle fingers of their left hand to their lips and holds it out to me. It is and old and rarely used gesture of our district, and occasionally seen at funerals. It means thanks, it means admiration, it means good-bye to someone you love.”

I think this passage where Katniss volunteers for her sister Prim is the most important within the novel because it’s very powerful how this moment is where it fully captures the reader’s attention and it sets the stage perfectly well for the novel. Katniss Everdeen is an incredibly unique character. She is strong, cunning, and very skillful. Katniss always puts her family before anything else, even herself. Throughout the novel, she remains a hunter and a survivor while being herself.