Some friends and I were just talking the other day about the upcoming movie adaptation of THE HUNGER GAMES. They had all read the books and like me, were eagerly looking forward to the movie. These were adult women reading what has been categorized as a “young adult” book. Obviously, it’s not always easy to know how to determine an age range for a book—though it might originally be written for teens or for adults, if something “catches” as they say—it’s popularity spreads across the age span. This is definitely what has happened with Suzanne Collins’s trilogy. Everyone seems to be reading it or wanting to read it.
Since I work at a local used bookstore, I find there are more adults requesting the books than teens. Several say their book groups are choosing it for discussion. This also appears to be more a woman’s book since the heroine carries the story. Interesting? Why not? Hitting on a few highlights, these are some of the thoughts of adults I spoke with about reading THE HUNGER GAMES.
1) The right heroine can make a big difference. Katniss has a large fan base. She is willing to make the sacrifice and she’s walking into it with her eyes open. She knows it won’t be easy yet she has no idea how “not easy” it really is. She plunges and tears her way ahead. Katniss is a real heroine…she gives up everything to take on impossible odds. She makes the ultimate sacrifice and we anguish with her over the horrible situations.
2) Reading about teenagers can make an adult recall a little of what it was like when they were that age. Perhaps it even makes them feel good to feel the energy and zest in the characters. Katniss grows too old too fast living in this dystopian world of carnage and distrust. It’s easy to sympathize with her and hard to see her losing touch with what and who are in important in her life. As adults we see her journey and can recall the bumps and disappointments of our own lives—and as one reader put it, “Suzanne Collins doesn’t baby her characters, she lets bad stuff happen to them…You’re not protected (completely) from the truth. The world isn’t always a pleasant place.”
3) These books are well written with non-stop action and a great story line. The lines between good and evil are well defined most of the time. Fighting against the Capital and the President seems an impossible challenge but Katniss and her team must forage ahead. This theme pushes the characters through three books of breath-taking, heart breaking experiences. Most readers’ zip through the trilogy fast because it just doesn’t stop being riveting.
4) A natural curiosity pulls adults to something that kids are talking non-stop about. In many households, the books have become “family reads”. With the event of the movie and previews all over the Internet and Facebook, there’s even more interest.
5) If you’re a reader, it makes no difference that a book might fall into a “young adult” category. A good book is a good book. Recall the popularity of HARRY POTTER and the TWILIGHT series- written for teens and read by millions of adults. This is certainly that kind of book.
Talking to one of my friends, herself is a writer of fantasy, had this to say:
HUNGER GAMES is like adrenalin in book form. It takes all dark compelling horror of a gladiator’s ring and smacks you in the face with it. It has modern language, young characters, and a world you recognize. Katniss may not know her own power, she may be used as a tool to change her world against her will, but on a very basic level she’s a “do it yourself” kind girl and she survives…She has no joy for anything but her own survival. She’s a girl with her priorities straight. …We like to root for badass heroines. Katniss is a scapegoat and we like to see her triumph regardless of the horror and sacrifices she’s been pushed into.
Adults will continue to read good teen books (there’s plenty out there). And so it is with THE HUNGER GAMES, which proves to be an irresistable read crossing the boundaries of age.
