Discussion Guide

About the HUNGER GAMES

In this gripping young adult novel set in a future with
unsettling parallels to our present, the nation of Panem consists
of a shining Capitol surrounded by 12 outlying Districts, in
the ruins of the area once known as North America. In this
stratified society where the Capitol controls all resources,
16-year-old Katniss and her friend Gale forage for food
in the woods surrounding their impoverished District. The
main support for both their families, Katniss and Gale are
apprehensive about the approaching annual Reaping, when
two tributes between the ages of 12 and 18 will be chosen by
lottery from each of the 12 districts to compete in
The Hunger Games, a survival contest on live TV in which
teenagers fight to the death.

When her beloved younger sister Prim is chosen as one

of the tributes, Katniss volunteers to go in her sisters
place. Her fellow tribute from District 12 is Peeta, a boy with
whom she soon develops a complicated relationship. After
traveling to the Capitol and undergoing elaborate training and
preparation, Katniss and Peeta are launched into the Game.
In the terrifying events that follow, Katniss must marshal all
her skills to stay alive and all her emotions to remain a caring
human being in the face of the stark brutality of the Games.

Its hard to choose one element that inspired The Hunger Games, says Suzanne Collins. Probably the first
seeds were planted when, as an eight-year-old with a mythology obsession, I read the story of Theseus. The
myth told how in punishment for past deeds, Athens periodically had to send seven youths and seven maidens
to Crete where they were thrown in the Labyrinth and devoured by the monstrous Minotaur. Even as a third
grader, I could appreciate the ruthlessness of this message. Mess with us and well do something worse than
kill you. Well kill your children.

Other early influences would have to include watching too many gladiator movies, which dramatized the
Romans flair for turning executions into popular entertainment; my military specialist dad who took us to
battlefields for family vacations; and touring with a sword fighting company in high school. But it wasnt until
the much more recent experience of channel surfing between reality TV programming and actual war coverage
that the story for this series came to me.
Discussion Questions for The Hunger Games
1. H
ow does Katniss feel about the country of Panem? 8. W
hy does Peeta join with the Career Tributes in the
Why does she need to make her face an indifferent beginning of the Games? What does he hope to gain?
mask and be careful what she says in public? Why do they accept him when they start hunting as
a group? Why do groups form in the beginning when
2. D
escribe Katnisss relationships with Gale, with Prim,
they know only one of them will be able to survive?
and with her mother. How do those relationships
define her personality? Why does she say about Peeta, 9. W
hat makes Katniss and Rue trust each other to
I feel like I owe him something, and I hate owing become partners? What does Katniss gain from this
people? How does her early encounter with Peeta friendship besides companionship? Is Katniss and
affect their relationship after they are chosen as Rues partnership formed for different reasons than
tributes? the other groups?

3. H
ow does the fact that the tributes are always on 10. D
iscuss the ways in which the Gamemakers control
camera affect their behavior from the time they are the environment and entertainment value of the
chosen? Does it make it easier or harder for them Games. How does it affect the tributes to know
to accept their fate? How are the career tributes they are being manipulated to make the Games
different from the others? more exciting for the gamblers and viewers? Does
knowing that she is on live TV make Katniss behave
4. Why are the tributes given stylists and dressed so
differently than she would otherwise?
elaborately for the opening ceremony? Does this
ceremony remind you of events in our world, either 11. When does Katniss first realize that Peeta does care
past or present? Compare those ceremonies in real for her and is trying to keep her alive? When does
life to the one in the story. she realize her own feelings for him? Did Haymitch
think all along that he could keep them both alive by
5. When Peeta declares his love for Katniss in the
stressing the love story? Are they actually in love?
interview, does he really mean it or did Haymitch
create the star-crossed lovers story? What does 12. What do you think is the cruelest part of the Hunger
Haymitch mean when he says, Its all a big show. Games? What kind of people would devise this
Its all how youre perceived? Why do they need spectacle for the entertainment of their populace?
to impress sponsors and what are those sponsors Can you see parallels between these Games and the
looking for when they are watching the Games? society that condones them, and other related events
and cultures in the history of the world?
6. B
efore the Games start, Peeta tells Katniss,. . . I want
to die as myself . . . I dont want them to change me 13. I n 1848, Karl Marx wrote in The Communist
in there.Turn me into some kind of monster that Im Manifesto,The history of all hitherto existing
not.What does this tell you about Peeta? What does society is the history of class struggles. Discuss this
he fear more than death? Is he able to stay true to statement as it applies to the society and government
himself during the Games? of Panem. Do you believe there is any chance to
eradicate class struggles in the future?
7. Why does Katniss ignore Haymitchs advice to
head directly away from the Cornucopia? Did she 14. R
eality TV has been a part of the entertainment
do the right thing to fight for equipment? What are world since the early days of television (with shows
the most important skills she has for staying alive? such as Candid Camera and the Miss America
Her knowledge of nature? Her skill with a bow and Pageant), but in the 21st century there has been
arrow? Her trapping ability? What qualities of her a tremendous growth of competitive shows and
personality keep her going? Her capacity for love? Her survival shows. Discuss this phenomenon with
intelligence? Her self-control? respect to The Hunger Games. What other aspects of
our popular culture do you see reflected in this story?
About CATCHING FIRE
Katniss and Peeta have returned to their home District, but
the return is hardly triumphant. Haunted by nightmares of
the brutal deaths in the arena, Katniss is confused by her
feelings for Peeta, while her relationship with her hunting
partner and oldest friend, Gale, is changed in subtle ways.
Most challenging, though, is her relationship to the leaders
in the Capitol. Her act of defiance in attempting a double
suicide at the end of the Games forced them to allow both
her and Peeta to live, and there are intimations that Katniss
has now become a symbol for rebellion in the Districts.The
Victory Tour, designed to remind the people in the Districts
of the power of the Capitol, may be having quite a different
effect this year.

Then President Snow announces plans for the Quarter

Quell, the 75th anniversary Games. Every 25 years the Capitol
devises a new twist for the reaping, and this year they
announce that the tributes will be chosen from among the
victors of previous Games.Thrown into the arena once more
with Peeta, Katnisss strategy must be different this year,
but even Katniss doesnt realize the implications of these
Games and the outside forces that are gathering strength to
undermine the entire society.

Discussion Questions for Catching Fire

1. How did Katnisss participation in the Games change 4. H
ow do the events of the Victory Tour affect Katniss
her relationship with Gale? Why does she say, The and Peeta, their relationship to each other, and their
Games have spoiled even that . . . Theres no going feelings about their future?
back?
5. W
hy does the Capitol devise a special reaping pro-
2. W hat emotions does Peeta stir in Katniss? Though cedure for every 25th Game? Do you believe the
she is stiff and formal with him, what are her true requirements for this Quarter Quell were decided in
feelings? How did the events in the first Games affect the past or were they designed for this Game to force
their relationship? Katniss and Peeta back to the arena?

3. W hy does President Snow come to Katnisss home? 6. W hat is the significance of the mockingjay image?
What does he mean when he says, you have pro- What does it mean to the people in the Districts and
vided a spark which left unattended may grow into the people in the Capitol? Why does Plutarch Heav-
an inferno ? What, exactly, was the significance of ensbee show Katniss the hidden mockingjay image
the handful of poisonous berries at the end of The on his watch? Discuss how the mockingjay species
Hunger Games? developed and how Katniss happened to wear the pin
during the first Games.
7. W
hy does Gale refuse Katnisss offer to try to escape 14. D
escribe the relationship between Katniss and
into the wild? What does he mean when he says,It Johanna. What made Katniss realize that Wiress and
cant be about just saving us anymore? How does Beetee would be helpful allies in the arena? What
Gales whipping change Katnisss thinking about important contribution does each one of the allies
escape and her feelings for Gale? make to keep the group alive? What is the role of the
unseen sponsors?
8. W
hat makes Katniss say,No wonder I won the
Games. No decent person ever does? Is she being 15. What is more harmful to the players in this Game
too hard on herself? What makes her realize that the physical traumas like the fog and rain of fire, or
fighting the Capitol is more important than running the emotional trauma of hearing the jabberjays?
away? What is the importance of her meeting with
16. What does Haymitch mean when he tells Katniss
Bonnie and Twill in the forest?
before the Games begin,You just remember who
9. W
hy does the Capitol push plans for the wedding the enemy isthats all? Who is the enemy? Have
of Katniss and Peeta if they know that they will be the other tributes been trying to keep Peeta or
returning to the Games in the Quarter Quell? What Katniss alive? Which of them is most important to the
does the Capitol hope to gain by sending previous rebellion?
victors back to the Games? Is it really, as Katniss says,
17. Why were Katniss and Peeta not aware of the plans
a way to show that hope was an illusion?
for the rebellion? Why were they kept in the dark
10. What do Katniss and Peeta learn when they when other tributes knew about it?
watch the video of Haymitchs Hunger Games, the
18. What is the meaning of the title? How many different
Second Quarter Quell? How does it affect their
ways can you identify the theme of catching fire in
understanding of Haymitch and the mockingjay
this volume?
symbol? How did Haymitch trick the Capitol?

11. How do both Peeta and Katniss mock the

Gamemakers during the talent show portion of
the training? Why do they each take the chance of
offending those who will control the Games? How
does this change their feelings for each other?

12. Discuss the effect on Katniss of what happens to

Darius and Cinna. Why are the Capitol officials
attacking those who have befriended her? Why is
Cinna attacked just before Katniss is placed in the
arena?

13. Why is Katniss determined to keep Peeta alive during

the Games, even at the expense of her own life?
When does she realize the importance of forming
alliances with the other tributes? Why does Finnick
save Peetas life? When does Katniss realize that her
first impression of Finnick was wrong?
About Mockingjay
Katniss has been rescued from the Quarter Quell, along with
several of her allies in the Games, but Peeta is now a prisoner
of President Snow in the Capitol. As she recovers from her
trauma in the arena, Katniss becomes aware that the rebellion
has begun in earnest, orchestrated by District 13, the place
she once believed was obliterated in the last war. Gale, along
with his family and Katnisss sister and mother, has escaped the
destruction of District 12 and all are now settling into a new life
in the vast underground installation that comprises District 13.

Katniss is reluctant at first to assume the role planned for her

the face of the rebellion, the Mockingjay. Only after a televised
interview showing Peeta in the hands of the Capitol does she
understand what she must do, using the costume created for her
by Cinna before he was killed. But she is uncomfortable with
the orchestrated and controlled handling of her image and the
militaristic members of the rebellion, especially the calculating
leader, Coin. Determined to be the one to assassinate President
Snow and to help bring about the downfall of the Capitol,
Katniss once again finds herself in an arenaonly this one
represents a life or death struggle for the entire society. Katniss
faces critical choices: Whom should she trust? What should her
role be? Do ends justify means? What is right and wrong? What
truths must she follow?

Discussion Questions for MockingJay

1. What is Katnisss greatest challenge when she returns 5. D
iscuss the feelings between Katniss and Coin.
to see the ruins of her home? What is the meaning of Why do they distrust each other from the beginning?
the rose she finds on her dresser? Why does she keep How does Coin treat the conditions that Katniss
repeating facts about herself? demands for being the Mockingjay? Is Katniss really a
threat to Coins power?
2. Why does Katniss take the cat Buttercup back to
District 13? What role does Buttercup play in the 6. C
ompare the reactions of Katniss and Gale to the
story in later chapters? imprisonment and treatment of Katnisss prep team,
Venia, Octavia, and Flavius. How does this reflect on
3. What is the first reaction Katniss has to the people
both of them? What is the difference between the
of District 13? What makes her say,In some ways
prep team and the filming crewCressida, Mesalla,
District 13 is even more controlling than
Castor, and Polluxwho are also from the Capitol?
the Capitol?
7. What was necessary for Katniss to create a truly
4. What influences her decision to become the
effective propo for the rebellion? Why didnt the
Mockingjay? Why does Katniss have to ask for
first idea work? Why does Haymitch say,That is how
conditions once she agrees to take on the role of
a revolution dies? After the taping in District 8, what
Mockingjay?
does Katniss mean when she says,I have a kind of
power I never knew I possessed?
8. Discuss the role of television propaganda in todays 16. Why is it so hard for Katniss to accept Gales idea
society and the techniques that are used to influence for trapping the workers inside the Nut (I cant
our thinking. How do these techniques compare condemn someone to the death hes suggesting)?
to those used by the Capitol and the rebels in What does she mean when she says to the wounded
Mockingjay? man in the square,Im tired of being a piece in their
Games? How many ways does the invasion of the
9. Why did Plutarch cover up Katniss and Gales
Capitol remind Katniss of the Games?
insubordination in District 8 during the taping?
What is the effect of the propo on the rebellion in 17. D
iscuss Katnisss feelings of guilt and insecurity
other districts? Why are the propos so vital to the when confronting Peeta. What makes her say,Finally,
rebellion? What effect do Katniss and the Mockingjay he can see me for who I really am. Violent. Distrustful.
symbolism have on those fighting against the Capitol Manipulative. Deadly? What makes her think the
and those in the Capitol? worst of herself?

10. Discuss the role of music in this book. What is the 18. What are Coins motives in ordering Peeta to
significance of the Hanging Tree song? How many join Katnisss squad in the Capitol? What are the
ways does the song play a part in the story? How advantages and disadvantages of having him on the
does it connect Katniss and Peeta to their past and squad? When Boggs transfers the holo to Katniss,
their future? Research the song Strange Fruit sung why does he say,Dont trust them? Whom does
by Billie Holiday and discuss its similarities and he mean?
differences to Katnisss song.
19. D
o you believe it was the rebels who killed the
11. Discuss the changing nature of the relationship children with the exploding parachutes? If so, how
between Katniss and Gale. What does Gale say is the does that make you feel about whether this was
only way I get your attention? Did Katniss ever justified as a means of winning the war?
love Gale the way he wants her to love him? Does he
20. Why does Paylor allow Katniss to enter the rooms
truly love her?
where Snow is being held? Does she know that Snow
12. Discuss the changing nature of Prims role in the will reveal to Katniss the role of the rebels in Prims
story, as she grows older. Identify times when Prim death? Did Snow tell Katniss the truth?
helps Katniss when no one else can.
21. Why did Katniss vote for another Hunger Games? To
13. Why do the rebels decide to rescue Peeta? Discuss save the lives of more people? Or did she secretly
the effects of the hijacking of Peetas brain. Discuss anticipate sabotaging the plan?
Katnisss comment,Its only now that hes been
22. Why does Katniss assassinate Coin? Does she do
corrupted that I can fully appreciate the real Peeta.
it to avenge Prim, or because she believes it is for
What is the significance of the pearl she keeps?
the greater good of the country, or both? How does
14. Why are Finnick and Johanna important to Katniss? Katniss escape retribution for Coins death?
Discuss her relationship to each of them and how
23. G
ale tells Peeta, when they are hiding out in the
they help her prepare for the final fight. What is the
Capitol, that Katniss will pick whichever one of them
effect of Finnicks propo about his treatment by
she cant survive without. In the end, why is that one
President Snow?
Peeta and not Gale?
15. When Katniss learns of the work Gale is doing with
Beetee, using the psychology of trapping as much
as the mechanics, she says to Gale,Seems to be
crossing some kind of line. Gales reply is that they
are following the same rule book President Snow
used. Do the ends in this battle justify the means, as
Gale seems to imply?
Comparing the Books
1. Discuss the differences between the Games in the first 6. D
iscuss the concept of Panem et Circenses that
volume and the secondthe training sessions, the Plutarch explains to Katniss. What is the effect of
interviews, the set-up of the arena, the strategies that easy food and entertainment on the citizens of the
Katniss and Peeta use. How is each of them changed Capitol? How does this society compare to that of the
by the time they spend in the arena? How does the Roman Empire? Why do the districts in Panem have no
experience of being in the Games prepare the tributes concept of history before The Dark Days?
for fighting in the rebellion?
7. D
iscuss the symbolism of fire throughout the series.
2. What are the forces that contribute to the rebellion in How does Katniss change from the synthetic girl on
Catching Fire? Were they already starting to happen fire created by Cinna for the opening ceremonies to
in The Hunger Games? What clues can you find in the the girl whose spirit catches fire for the rebellion to
first two books that the rebellion is underway? Did the girl who nearly dies by fire in the overthrow of
you as a reader believe in the existence of District 13 the Capitol?
before experiencing it in Mockingjay? Do you think
Katniss, Peeta, and Gale believed in it? 8. The poet Wilfred Owen wrote in the early 20th
century, My subject is War, and the pity of War. The
3. Why are all citizens of Panem required to watch The Poetry is in the pity. All a poet can do today is
Hunger Games on television? How does this affect warn. That is why the true Poets must be truthful.
the people? Why havent they rebelled earlier against Discuss this quote in relation to Suzanne Collinss
the brutality of the Games? What is the importance writing about the war between the Capitol and the
of the propos that are created for the rebellion in rebels. What warning must the people of Panem
Mockingjay and the way they are used? Discuss the heed if their new government is to succeed? What
effect of television and reality TV in your own life. warning must we heed about our own society and
government?
4. Compare the society in Panem (the government, its
tight control on the population, and the forces for
the rebellion) to others that you have studied or
encountered in books or films. Consider historical and
contemporary nations as well as fictional worlds. What
does Panem have in common with these cultures, and
how does it differ? What can we learn about our own
world from studying and reading about historical and
fictional societies?

5. Research the symptoms and treatment of PTSD (Post-

Traumatic Stress Disorder). How is this condition
portrayed in The Hunger Games trilogy? Discuss the
many ways it can appear in real life. How does Katniss
counteract her symptoms? How does each of the
tributes that have been in the arena cope with these
symptoms?
Historical and Literary Connections
The Hunger Games trilogy provides many interesting theme can be compared to Romeo and Juliet, and the
analogies to historical events and literary classics effort involved in bringing down a despotic ruler plays
through the ages. out in Richard the III. For another view of Richard III,
see Josephine Teys compelling mystery The Daughter of
Greek Legend Time (Touchstone, 1995), exploring the idea that history
Suzanne Collins was inspired by the Greek legend of is written by the victors in any conflict.
King Minos of Crete who demanded that seven Athenian
boys and seven Athenian girls be sacrificed periodically War Poetry and Music
in the Labyrinth of the Minotauruntil the hero Theseus Wilfred Owen, a young man who fought and died in the
volunteered to go in place of one of the youths and was trenches of Europe in World War I, wrote poignant poetry
able to slay the monster.The story can be studied in about the futility of war. His poems were used as text
Edith Hamiltons Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and for Benjamin Brittens War Requiem, written for the re-
Heroes. A fictionalized version is Mary Renaults The consecration of Coventry Cathedral, an historic building
King Must Die. destroyed in the Battle of Britain during World War II. Find
out more at
The Roman Empire http://www.its.caltech.edu/~tan/Britten/britwar.html
Study of the Roman Empire will yield many connections
to The Hunger Games trilogythe autocratic rule of the Modern Literary Connections
Capitol, the political machinations of President Snow, In John Steinbecks The Grapes of Wrath, set during the
training of youth for a fight to the death to amuse the Dust Bowl years in the United States, ordinary people
Capitols citizens, and the politics of the rebellion. Even struggle to stay alive in the Great Depression. Steinbeck
the name of the country, Panem, comes from the Roman vividly depicts the conflicts between poor farmers,
phrase,panem et circensesthe bread and circuses bankers, and property owners.
which the Romans provided to control the population
by keeping them contented and entertained. Classic The futuristic novels Brave New World, Nineteen Eighty-
novels such as Howard Fasts Spartacus and Robert Four, and Fahrenheit 451 all reflect the rigid control
Gravess I, Claudius and Claudius the God will enhance and stratified society that we see in The Hunger Games
those connections. trilogy, while Lord of the Flies explores how vicious
young people can become when forced to survive in a
Joan of Arc wilderness setting. Research the cultures in their own
Joan of Arc is an historical figure brought to mind by lives and times that led Aldous Huxley, George Orwell,
Katniss and the way she is manipulated for political and Ray Bradbury, and William Golding to create these bleak
tactical reasons. Compare Joans peasant upbringing, novels.
determination, and sheer grit in the face of her enemies
in the 15th century to the role Katniss takes on for the The Lottery, a short story by Shirley Jackson, first
rebellion in Mockingjay. published in The New Yorker in 1948, is a chilling tale of
ritualistic murder committed as a fertility rite in small-
Shakespeare town America (The Lottery and Other Stories, 2nd edition,
There are a number of themes in Shakespeares plays by Shirley Jackson, Farrar, Straus, Giroux, 2005).
that can be compared with The Hunger Games trilogy.
Read Julius Caesar for the Roman connection and the
theme of the downfall of the powerful. Compare Snows
hold on the presidency to the tragic results of ambition
and thirst for power in Macbeth.The star-crossed lover
Suggestions for Further Reading
fiction of the crusaders are not all pure and noble.The first two
volumes in this trilogyThe Seeing Stone (2001) and
Fallen Angels, by Walter Dean Myers (Scholastic Press/
At the Crossing Places (2002)lay the groundwork for
Scholastic, 1988)
Arthurs adventures and growing maturity.
Sunrise Over Fallujah, by Walter Dean Myers
(Scholastic Press/Scholastic, 2008) Private Peaceful, by Michael Morpurgo (Scholastic
The actual arena of a war zone in Vietnam (Fallen Angels) Press/Scholastic, 2003)
and Iraq (Sunrise Over Fallujah) provide a setting in Discipline in the British army during World War I was harsh
which present-day soldiers must remain constantly alert to and swift, as can be seen in this story of one brave and
stay alive, while making difficult decisions about who are thoughtful soldier and his brother.
potential allies and who are their true enemies.
Uglies, by Scott Westerfeld (Simon Pulse, 2005)
Feed, by M. T. Anderson (Candlewick, 2004) A compulsory operation at the age of 16 creates a uniform
In this futuristic society, a feed is embedded in the brain standard of beauty in a futuristic society.The story contin-
of every person to keep up a steady stream of information, ues in Pretties(2005), Specials(2006), and Extras(2007).
entertainment, communication, and ultimately, control.
Survival in this world depends on how well your individual Unwind, by Neal Shusterman (Simon & Schuster, 2007)
feed is functioning and how well you fit in with the Connor, Risa, and Lev are literally running for their lives in
popular culture. a future world where troubled teens may be chosen by a
parent for unwinding, in which their body parts are har-
GemX, by Nicky Singer (Holiday House, 2008) vested for use by other people.
A future society is divided into the Enhanced and the
Natural Born, both manipulated by a heartless ruler. But
love reaches across the societys barriers, bringing hope to
a few.

Graceling, by Kristin Cashore (Harcourt, 2008)

Lady Katsa, graced with the ability to win every fight, defies
her tyrannical uncle, and through her own feelings of com-
passion and her growing friendship with a foreign prince,
finds her own way in the world.

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, by J. K. Rowling

(Arthur A. Levine Books/Scholastic, 2000)
In his fourth year at Hogwarts School, Harrys name
is mysteriously chosen in a lottery to compete in the
Triwizard Tournament that pits champions from several
schools against each other in a contest of magical skills,
reasoning powers, wit, and endurance. See also Harry
Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Arthur A. Levine Books/
Scholastic, 2007) for the human costs in a terrible
confrontation between the forces of good and evil.

King of the Middle March, by Kevin Crossley-

Holland (Arthur A. Levine Books/Scholastic, 2004)
A young man embarks on the Fourth Crusade in the early
13th century, but soon becomes aware that the motives
Nonfiction century. See also Giblins Good Brother, Bad Brother
(Clarion, 2005) about the family of the man who
Beyond the Myth: The Story of Joan of Arc, by Polly
assassinated Abraham Lincoln.
Schoyer Brooks (Sandpiper, 1999)
Historical account of a young girl who became the sym- Rock, Paper, Scissors: Game Theory in Everyday
bol of a rebellion, then later became the target of jealousy, Life, by Len Fisher(Basic Books, 2008)
court intrigue, and superstition. A Nobel-prize winner discusses the theory behind
decisions people make in competitive situations and the
Black Potatoes, by Susan Campbell Bartoletti
strategies that can change the outcome of their actions.
(Houghton Mifflin, 2005)
Hunger and starvation during the potato famine of 1845 Stop Teaching Our Kids to Kill: A Call to Action
50 affected the lives of millions in Ireland, while the strati- Against TV, Movie and Video Game Violence, by Lt.
fied society of Irish peasants and English overlords contrib- Col. Dave Grossman and Gloria DeGaetano
uted to the brutality of the situation. (Crown, 1999)
This book presents an argument, based on research, against
Hitler Youth, by Susan Campbell Bartoletti
the influences that incite violent actions in youth today.
(Scholastic Nonfiction/Scholastic, 2005) and They Called
Themselves the K.K.K.: The Birth of an American Truce: The Day the Soldiers Stopped Fighting,
Terrorist Group, by Susan Campbell Bartoletti by Jim Murphy (Scholastic Nonfiction/Scholastic, 2009)
(Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2010) Tells of the amazing and poignant truce during brutal
Both of these books describe the chilling ways in which trench warfare in World War I when troops on both sides
hate groups can manipulate ordinary citizens. set aside their combat to celebrate Christmas.
Deep Survival: Who Lives, Who Dies, and Why, by The Worst Hard Time, by Timothy Egan (Houghton
Laurence Gonzales (W. W. Norton, 2004) Mifflin, 2005)
An exploration of the biological and psychological reasons Egan relates a chilling chronicle of starvation and hardship
people risk their lives and why some are better at it than during the Dust Bowl years of the 1930s in the American
others. Midwest, when economic issues and environmental disas-
ters combined to change the lives of an entire population.
The End of Ancient Rome (Turning Points in World
History), by Don Nardo (Greenhaven, 2001)
This carefully chosen collection of essays helps older stu-
dents analyze and understand the complex society of the
later Roman Empire.

In an Instant: A Familys Journey of Love and Heal-

ing, by Lee and Bob Woodruff (Random House, 2007)
This memoir depicts the struggles of an award-winning TV
journalist and his family during his recovery from a brain
injury after being hit by a roadside bomb while reporting
from Iraq.

The Life and Death of Adolf Hitler, by James Cross

Giblin (Clarion, 2002)
An in-depth biography attempts to explain the complex
man who caused untold suffering and the deaths of
millions of men, women, and children in the mid-20th
About the Author
Suzanne Collins has had a successful and prolific career writing
for childrens television. She has worked on the staffs of several
Nickelodeon shows, including the Emmy-nominated hit Claris-
sa Explains It All and The Mystery Files of Shelby Woo. Collins,
who was named among Time magazines 100 Most Influential
People in 2010, made her mark in childrens literature with the
New York Times bestselling five-book series for middle-grade
readers,The Underland Chronicles, which has received
numerous accolades both in the United States and abroad.

In the award-winning The Hunger Games trilogy, Collins

continues to explore the effects of war and violence on those
coming of age.The final book in the trilogy, Mockingjay,
debuted at No. 1 on all national bestseller lists during its first
week on sale. In a starred review, Publishers Weekly said
it accomplishes a rare feat, the last installment being the
best yet, a beautifully orchestrated and intelligent novel that
succeeds on every level.

Collins lives in Connecticut with her family. Photo Credit:Todd Plitt

Critical Acclaim for The Hunger Games

I was so obsessed with this book.Stephenie Meyer, author of the Twilight Saga
I couldnt stop readingaddictive.Stephen King, Entertainment Weekly
Brilliantly plotted and perfectly paced.The New York Times Book Review

The Hunger Games Catching Fire Mockingjay

By Suzanne Collins By Suzanne Collins By Suzanne Collins
TRADE HARDCOVER $17.99 978-0-439-02348-1 TRADE HARDCOVER $17.99 978-0-439-02349-8 TRADE HARDCOVER $17.99 978-0-439-02351-1
REINFORCED LIBRARY BINDING $22.99 978-0-545-31058-1 REINFORCED LIBRARY BINDING $22.99 978-0-545-31059-8 REINFORCED LIBRARY BINDING $22.99 978-0-545-31060-4
SCHOLASTIC AUDIO $39.95 978-0-545-09102-2 SCHOLASTIC AUDIO $39.95 978-0-545-09102-2 SCHOLASTIC AUDIO $39.95 978-0-545-10142-4
E-BOOK EDITION $14.99 978-0-545-22993-7 E-BOOK EDITION $17.99 978-0-545-22724-7 E-BOOK EDITION $17.99 978-0-545-31780-1
PAPERBACK EDITION $8.99 978-0-439-02352-8

Books are available from your local bookstore or usual supplier or from:
Scholastic, 2931 East McCarty Street, P.O. Box 7502, Jefferson City, MO 65102.
www.scholastic.com/thehungergames

Discussion Guide prepared by Connie Rockman,Youth Literature Consultant, adjunct professor of childrens and young adult
literature, and Editor of the 8th, 9th, and 10th books in the H. W. Wilson Junior Authors and Illustrators series.

www.scholastic.com
SCHOLASTIC and associated logos are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of Scholastic Inc.