Hunger Games

Unless you've been living in complete exile, under a rock, don't watch t.v. or read a paper, or God forbid you don't have a Facebook account (so joking) than you've probably heard about The Hunger Games. I have a preteen daughter as most of you know, and she really wanted to read it (or go see the movie, as most of her friends did). I read everything I can before my kids read it. Literally....Its a good thing I'm a fast reader, because I have to read a lot. If it's a book about kittens or puppies or farm animals or anything with the names "Laura" "Ingalls" or "Wilder" on it, typically I trust it's safe and don't usually take the time. I did read Marley and Me before her, that was the exception to a puppy themed book. But this one....ESPECIALLY since it's so popular I thought I would read first and see what all the fuss is about and decide whether or not it was appropriate for her. I knew a little about the book first, so I knew what I was getting into. I would not allow her to read Harry Potter. The book is about wizards and sorcery and really....I don't mess with that crap. That scares me more than any hard core gore film because that crap is real! I won't let her read Twilight. I just thought it was stupid. Vampires? *eye roll, sigh* please. Werewolves? We have enough drama thank-you-very-much. I mean....don't get me wrong, if I had to pick a "Team" I'd probably be "Team Jacob" cause history proofs I like the beafier guys as apposed to the pasty, tall, and skinny ones. I admit, one night while Russ was working and the kids were in bed and I was stuck folding 10 loads of laundry with nothing set to watch on my DVR, it came on our trial of HBO and I watched the first and second one. **preparing for my stoning by all the cougar like woman who seem obsessed with it** stupidest.movie.ever. Wow. It is LARGELY enjoyed by woman MY AGE which is EVEN WEIRDER TO ME! I mean...yes...do I have a little cougar crush on Zac Efron? (not in the movie fyi) sure. Who doesn't? He's a doll. But I can't even imagine camping out at Beverly Cinema (Or Savoy 16 if your classier fare) to watch a movie with him in it. I don't get it, never will, and am completely fine with that. Sorry all you ladies I'm sure I have now offended. It's not for me. And with the growing number of teenage suicides out there, why would we celebrate a movie where (and it is a very small part) the girl is so distraught over her vampire leaving that she tries putting herself in danger, even tries killing herself just to see him again? Not something I'm encouraging in my girls. In fact, I'm encouraging that boys still smell and are gross.

Enough about that. Phew...feel a little better. Anyway, back to The Hunger Games. I read the book in two days. If I had an entire day to devote to it, I would've read it in one. Probably actually spent a total of 5 hours reading it. It's a fast read. I know some Christians are taking issue with it because, in their words, it's "children killing children". Well...........it's not that. In fact, that portion of the book so shines a light on how dark and evil things can get when we are lead by a sick, corrupted government. Here is my synopsis, and I will try very hard not to give away the entire book as I have a tendency to do:

The story is set in a time way off into the future. There has been some sort of war that has destroyed the US as we now know it, and the government has taken over and now controls everything. Food. Money. Education. Electricity. Who lives and who dies. Everything. *hmmmm...makes you think. Watching the news lately?* There were 13 districts set up, and the 13th rose up in rebellion against the government, and they wiped them off the face of what is now the Earth. As a show to the other 12 districts, they invented this twisted, sick, evil game called the Hunger Games, where they take two children ages 12-18, one boy and one girl, and make them fight in a battle until only one is left living. This is their way to prove who is indeed in control. The children are picked via a lottery, and our main character of the book, a 16-year-old girl begs them to take her, and sacrifices her life for that of her sisters, whose name was originally chosen. We now have a heroine, who is not fighting for the love of a boy, or a vampire, or trying desperately to be noticed by the popular kids, who isn't into witchcraft or spells. She's fighting for her family. She sacrifices herself, lays down her life, for that of her sister.

Now...do not get me wrong. This book never mentions God. In no way, am I mistaking this book for a "christian" book. It does have a little innocent romance between our main heroine and another boy in the game, but honestly, I read more romance in a Christian preteen series than I did this one. The main focus of the book is about survival. About sacrifice. And underneath, keeping a very watchful eye on the powers that be that seem to want to control us and whats most precious to us, our children. I don't think a child would get that, but it sure opens my eyes. Our very freedoms can be stripped from us quicker than we even know it. It can start very slowly too....really maybe makes me rethink that homeschooling thing:0) Don't think I've completely ruled it out! As far as the violence, it's a book about a war. Plain and simple. There is violence in war. I do not think it is appropriate for a very young child to read it. I don't think it's appropriate for a child who trends a little on the "violent side" to read it. It's not a gory, bloodthirsty book, but I know people struggle with different things. I will let Faith read it. I think it would be good for her to see a strong female character who fights for her family and for what is right as opposed to fighting for empty teenage affections. She was just involved in a situation at school where a boy wouldn't stop saying an inappropriate word and she wouldn't let it go, kept at him about how it was wrong and he needed to stop saying that word around her. He ended up slightly threatening her (principal was involved, no worries, she's safe:) but she did the right thing. She stood up for what she knew was right. And we're so proud of her for that.

Sooo...don't unnecessarily judge the book. (I cant speak for the movie, haven't seen it. My sister did and said it was excellent). If you feel convicted that you shouldn't read it, then don't. You have to do what you think is right for yourself and for your children. You stand before the Creator of all things and hold account those things you did, not those around you. There isn't a swear word in the book. It's very clean. But if you feel its' nothing but "children killing children" I would ask this: How do you feel about the 18-19 year old young person that is off fighting for our freedoms in Afghanistan? Or Iraq? Or anywhere for that matter? Do you judge him for killing someone who means to do the same to him or his troupe around him as "unnecessary violence" ? That is real life folks, this is just fiction. What's most scary is that it could become our reality.