with the hunger games rapidly approaching ...

... here are some thoughts:


If you don't know the story, this sums it up nicely - A Parent's Guide to The Hunger Games.


I read the whole trilogy this year and I'm slightly conflicted about it.


First, they were definitely exciting, interesting books. The stories pulled you in - and this is partly because of how horrible it all is. Witnessing what Katniss & co. go through, the horror of what their society accepts, makes you really feel invested in seeing it through, regardless of how depressing it is. And it is depressing.


I have to admit: it's a compelling premise. And there are so many ways to hold a mirror up to our own society and think about why what we witness in the story is so wrong. I'm just not sure if the books do that.


My main criteria for whether the darkness of a dark story is worth it, is this: "Is it redemptive?" Is the suffering the characters undergo meaningful because they've given of themselves to something higher?


There is definitely some of that in The Hunger Games, but it isn't as explicit as I hoped getting into it.


My advice for someone whose kids or relatives are getting into the series: yes, it's violent and dark, but it can be the springboard for some great discussions. Even if the book doesn't ask the tough questions about the dignity of life, it leads you to them.