The Hunger Games Should be BANNED!!

Okay, let me begin by saying, you may find my title misleading...but guess what? It got you to read this post! :) PLEASE CONTINUE READING!!

I really think something needs to be known!  The Hunger Games should NOT be allowed in elementary schools!!  In fact, I don't even think it should be allowed in middle school either!

This is the whole point to this post!

I read the series last year, and enjoyed them.  I thought the story was definitely very original.  I am going to be making a few lists in this post, and here is my first...

Pros about The Hunger Games :
-original story
-great characters
-details were great...sometimes a bit too much actually
-metaphorically speaking, the message I got out of this book is people are selfish and that they would do anything to survive, and while this isn't a great message, I think it is true about people (at least quite a bit around the world...NOT all!! but quite a few)


Cons about The Hunger Games:
-I think my #1 con about this book, is that it is very psychological series.  This series, really stuck in my head.  It's scary to think about, but in a way this series is the most realistic sounding dystopian novel I've read so far...I mean think about it...people moving to another planet (I mean I guess it could be possible...???) (Across the Universe by Beth Revis), a world where everyone gets surgery to look a specific way (The Uglies by Scott Westerfeld), a world where every gets a surgery to remove love (Delirium by Lauren Oliver), or even a world where everyone is Matched (Matched by Ally Condie), these are ALL things that the chance of them happening are like what...1 out of a billion???  First off, do you know how many people are against plastic surgery??? (Uglies), or how many people love LOVE (Delirium)??

Now let me make one thing clear before I continue...I LOVED all of these books!! In fact Delirium is by far my absolute favorite dystopian I have read so far!

But seriously think about it...The Hunger Games...in a way, that could be our future!!

I'm not saying our world is going to start an event where children are killing children, but imagine if the world as we know it would really end, and the few people are left alive, need to find a way to survive.  Imagine, if only a limited amount of resources were still available. 

Money=POWER, unfortunately that is our world.  People who have the resources can get their hands on pretty much anything they want.  That's life! 

But the people who do not have the money?  What happens to them?? They are the ones who get left in the slums.  They become the slaves, and they become the people who actually have to WORK for what they have.

Do you sort of see my point??

WELL ANYWAY!!! 

Now to the REAL point of this post...

So I volunteer at an elementary school.  I go there once a week for an entire day and help with whatever I can. 

Some of these kids...OH MY GOODNESS!! I just want to shake them sometimes with frustration!! I had one kid ask me what my favorite TV show was last year, and when I told her, "Glee", DO YOU KNOW WHAT SHE SAID???

"That show is gay.  I watch Keeping Up with the Kardashians and Jersey Shore".  I AM SERIOUS!!  Completely NOT kidding!!

When I was their age, do you know what I was watching??  I watched the Disneychannel!   Lizzie McGuire, Boy Meets World, Sister Sister, Even Stevens.  I loved these shows!  They dealt with REAL issues that teens and younger deal with everyday!!

How am I supposed to relate to someone who goes to shopping everyday, and her job consists of making up names for her new line of Nail polish??

So here is another disturbing thing that's been happening lately at the elementary school,  I have had a number of 5th graders come up to me and be like, "I REALLY want to see The Hunger Games!" "I am going to read The Hunger Games soon!"

THIS IS SCARY!!! I do not want these little children reading those books!!  That is just going to make that generation even more vulgar then a lot of them are already becoming!

So, this has been on my mind for quite some time now...I've actually contacted Scholastic complaining that they SELL THIS SERIES IN THEIR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL BOOK ORDERS!! I'm sorry, I may sound like a total loser to some of you, but seriously?? How could you let your child read this series?? This series is 100% not for anyone under the age of 14!
My 10 year old brother's Scholastic Book Order form, the caption over the Hunger Games ad described the series as..."In this futuristic world, a group of teens fight to the death on live TV! Is Katniss strong enough to be the last one standing?"  And do you notice what is underneath the ad?? Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Cabin Fever on the SAME page as The Hunger Games!!


IT NEEDS TO BE KNOWN!  NOW PLEASE remember, I am not saying it should be banned from everyone! My point is it should NOT be allowed  AT the very LEAST to be sold in elementary schools or middle schools!

This is NOT a children's story! Children should be reading things like Junie B Jones, Ramona, Magic Tree House, or if they want something scary then read Goosebumps for crying out loud! Are those not scary enough anymore??  What is up with children now a days??  I know of a 6 year old who plays Call of Duty and his parents don't care!  They think it's funny!

You know what? I DON'T! I think it's sick! How are the children who are playing these games, reading these books, at such a young age, going to turn out in the future?? I mean, some of them may be fine, but what about the ones that WON'T??

Sorry about my LONG schpiel, but like I said, it needs to be said, in my opinion.

I would love to hear some of your thoughts on this subject.  If you don't agree, and have read the books, answers are welcome, as long as you have reasons, same with the people who agree, but if you HAVE NOT read the series, and do NOT agree with what I have said, please don't bother commenting.

I found this picture and loved it because this explains exactly how I feel about this series...
"The Fans who wish the games were real make me weep for the future of humanity and our future"


Talk to you all soon!
The Romance Bookie :)

 

Comments

  1. It makes me feel old saying this but kids today worry me. And what is an 11 year old doing at a PG-13 movie anyway? I can't stand parents like that.
    You're right it shouldn't be in Elementary schools, I'm still stuck on how it effected me psychologically. Although me I enjoyed those effects, but I'm just weird and much much older.

    I actually think it is banned in some places because apparently it gave an 11 year old nightmares, I posted about this a while ago but I think I suggested keeping it in the age range if a character is 17 then the reader should be no younger then 14.

    And I saw the Scholastic catalog, I was actually tempted to order it through my nephew's FIRST grade class just to see if it would get a reaction (but he barely reads so they'd know it wasn't for him). I was also curious to go to the school book fair to see if they were selling them.

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  2. YES!! Exactly! And oh my god First grade?? That is ridiculous! And another point too is, since when are 11 year old young ADULTS??? I thought teenagers were young adults?? Or am I wrong??

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  3. Unfortunately, anyone who disagrees with you is considered "prudish" and out of touch. It's a sad commentary on how our society has evolved when parents are ridiculed for shielding their children from things that are just downright inappropriate. Let them be children for as long as possible.

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  4. I totally agree with you. The Hunger Games is for High School students and not younger. I think kids are becoming very immune to violence with Video Games and TV. They are killing each other over stupid stuff right now. Just watch the news. I complete agree with you. Not all YA books are for kids of all ages.

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  5. I agree with you completely. The Hunger Games is not appropriate reading for anyone below 7th grade. As a grown woman (an OLD one at 45!) I found the books disturbing...I can only imagine how this would affect a 9 year old! At least the movie is rated PG-13.

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    1. 45 isn't old! :) And yes, thank goodness it is PG-13, and luckily they didn't make the movie as gruesome as the book. And yes, the books are disturbing. It's really weird, because they are really good! But it's difficult, because I don't want to say the movie or books are "Awesome" just because overall subject isn't something that should be called "Awesome". It's disturbing, but overall they made the movie so heartfelt, that I just somehow found it...beautiful. It's weird, and probably not the right way to describe it, but that was the word that came to mind, when I saw it.

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  6. In sweden the movie are from eleven and 7 if you go whit an adult. i think thats to low but we dont have pg13 the next age limit after that is 15 and to many 14 year olds like my self want to see them fore it to be possible i think they should put in a new age limit at 13. Beacuse like it is now my little sister who is 8 soon 9 can go and see the movie if she goes whit an adult and i find that disturbing. Ive read the books when i was 13 and i thought that the book was awsome but i dont think you should reed them i your younger than that maybe 12 but otherwise they are way to scary for any one younger than that.

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    1. Yes definitely Beatriz, it's 13 here in America, but I don't think it should be under 14. It's a scary story. If I would have read or seen the story when I was younger, I probably might have had nightmares.

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  7. I agree. I also have complained to scholastic about the books in the gr 7 order form with mature content. I am trying to get it banned in our elemtentary school What do I do? I am shocked at teh kids reading this and going to see it. Our young tweens are being desentitized by the violence in books, video games and movies. It is scarey.. Why would any parent want their child reading or watching anything like this. Thank you and please help us in canada get it banned from elemtentary schools. Our elementary schools go to gr. 8 and my daughters g 6/7 teacher thinks she is going to read it to them She is upset because she doesn't like gruesome, dark stories with violence... Thankyou

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    1. Dear Concerned mom,
      I have a 10 year old brother in elementary school, and my mom also has sent Scholastic an email complaining about this. However, they did not reply. I think for right now, all we can do is just keep complaining to everyone listening, until it does get back to Scholastic and they have no other choice but to listen. Unfortunately those big companies want money, that's their main concern, so when something as huge as The Hunger Games is on the market, that's when everyone wants in on the action.

      Just tell your children's parents what the stories are about, and hopefully they will be smart enough not to let their child read it.

      Thank you for commenting, I completely agree with what you have said!

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  8. My daughter jsut brought home thae Scholastic order form this month and was horrified to see it again was in the Arrow order form which is for gr. 4-6...I also complained again about the high level of mature and adult content books in the gr 7 order forms. What can we do??? I have sent in an email to canada and have complained on all scholastic facebook pages...Jsut wanted to spread the word!

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    1. Dear Concerned Mom,
      My brother just brought his home too and it was in there again as well, unfortunately. Yeah scholastic NEVER answered my email either. However, I did read yesterday in an article that it has made the banned books list

      here's the link:
      http://www.mercurynews.com/entertainment/ci_20373034/hicks-hunger-games-makes-banned-book-list

      And I also read somewhere that even Suzanne Collins has said that she doesn't believe the books are for everyone, it is a war book after all. I find it disgraceful that scholastic continues to advertise the series, but I don't where or who else to complain to. Just keep as many of your daughter's friend's parents informed about what the series is about. And you can also inform her teacher.

      That's what my mom did, and the teacher has now made it a requirement for the students to have a written note from a parent allowing them to purchase the Hunger Games. Maybe her teacher would do that too.

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  9. Some are saying "No younger than high school!" but also saying "No younger than 14!" If you're in the grade you're supposed to be in, you turn 14 in 8th grade, the last year of middle school.

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    1. That isn't necessarily always true. I was exactly the right age and I didn't turn fourteen until the summer before my freshman year of high school. And I was the oldest among my friends, who were also in the same grade as me.

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  10. I really disagree! I'm 13 and I'm reading the 1st book and it DOESN'T affected me. I really like the book and I know a lot of people (under 14) who have read the books and saw the movie and nobody is affected. We don't want to read books for 6-year-old children and see movie without action, we CAN read and sew this kind of books/films. so, that's my opinion and I can be wrong...

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    1. I'm sorry, but I'm staying with my point! I do not believe this book is for anyone younger than high school. I understand you don't want to read books for 6th graders, but there are plenty of other options!

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    2. yes, maybe you are right... so, do you think that Harry Potter is okay for these ages?

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    3. Harry Potter I believe is acceptable. I personally grew up with them, and absolutely loved them! However, I the sixth and seventh weren't released until after I was in jr. high and high school, and those got a bit rough sometimes, but I do believe those are acceptable.

      I highly recommend them!! :)

      I'm not saying I don't like The Hunger Games, I do. It wasn't that I loved it or anything, only because I love contemporary novels, but overall it was a great series that has brought on some positive points, however, I had a hard time with them, because of the whole point of children killing each other. I had a serious problem with that!

      I understand you want to read them...heck I have an eleven year old brother whose been begging me to borrow my copies, but I refuse to let him, because I don't want him to have to read about something as gruesome as that. This story felt so unbelievable realistic sometimes. I mean, for all we know this could be our future. Humans are selfish people, and we do anything to protect ourselves. That's just my opinion though.

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    4. I read the Harry Potter series a few years ago and I agree that it was a little rough sometimes...

      Since i'm 13 (I'll be 14 in October), I think that I CAN read it but under this age: NO! I don't know where you live exactly, but I live in Quebec and we are about 12-13 when we begin our first year in High School. So, I think that it should be banned in elementary school here. In other countries/provinces it's probably different.

      I also agree that it could (almost) be our future. It won't be exactly the same but something alike (I mean that The Hunger Games won't exist in real life, haha).

      (note: sorry if ever my english is bad, I'm French Canadian and I'm reading The Hunger Games in English to improve my 2nd language!!)

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    5. Exactly! :)

      And your English is absolutely fine! It's my second language too, my primary language now, but I know how it feels to be learning a new language! :)

      And yes, elementary children and middle school should not be reading this series in my opinion. Here in the US we usually start high school at the age of 14, and I think that's an okay age to start reading the series. You see what makes me think this book is tough, is not necessarily even the first one, it's the THIRD one! That one was seriously intense!!

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    6. Thanks but I'm really surprised that my English is fine because I'm just 13 (as you know) and I don't know anyone who speaks English (except my English teacher, lol) so I try to talk to myself in English really often (haha). By the way, what's your first language?
      ---

      Since I read a little slower in English, I guess I'll be 14 when I'll be reading Mockingjay!

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    7. My first language is German. :)

      And yeah, I've been attempting to read the "Twilight Saga" in German, but it takes me about a month to read one book in German, so it will definitely take a while :)

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    8. Okay, so your 1st language is German but you aren't used to read it so, actually, it's like if it was your second language?

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    9. Pretty much! English is my primary language, the language I'm the most comfortable in.

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    10. Ok! I'd like to be like that too :) Maybe one day I'll be bilingual... I hope so!

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    11. Just continue working at it and believe in yourself, and it can happen! :)

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    12. I've almost finished reading Catching Fire! It's just amazing:)

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    13. Catching Fire was my favorite in the series! :)

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  11. Oops, I made some errors! haha
    *it DOESN'T affect me
    **and see this kind of...

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  12. I don't believe so! And if you would have actually read my post you would have realized that I didn't say to ban the books completely but out elementary and middle schools.

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  13. Your point doesn't make much sense. You are worried about our future? Hunger Games makes us aware that it could very well happen. We have history so we can learn from our past mistakes!

    There needs to be some limits, yes. I remember a 1st or second grader on the school bus when I was in highschool who was talking about the movie Saw.

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    1. My point makes perfect sense,in my opinion! Now it's another story if you don't understand what I wrote or don't accept it. My point is that children should not be reading this series! Obviously we don't learn from our mistakes because our world is turning into a place children are reading, writing, listening to, and watching vulgar things...is that what you want for our children??
      And the whole reason why I don't think children should read it is because this could very well be our future (The Hunger Games), everything in that book could come true, it doesn't involve items or subjects that are not conceivable.
      I'm sorry if you don't respect my opinion, but you telling me my thoughts don't make sense, is not the nicest thing to say...
      That is my point!

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  14. This post disturbs me... I understand that you have a right to be concerned, but I don't think that you should judge the parents of those children... My own parents let me watch and read storylines that are rated r when I was seven... When I was seven I successfully had read Bram Stolker's Dracula and watched the movie (starring Keanu Reeves and Wynona Rider)... And I turned out just fine; sure I do agree that we need the old Disney shows back, I miss them and they were well appropriate for the age... And maybe the book is at times "gruesome" but so is life... When I was younger I would sit and watch the news with my father, and guess what I saw there when I was young? Gruesome acts from people inflicting other people... Life isn't always a walk in the park; sometimes bad things happen... Do you think that it is wrong for our younger generation to be exposed that could be our future (although very unlikely)... What else is bad for young children? Learning archery or fencing? Which I was a competitor at the age of 5-10... And very well at them both I might put... When when you mention how will these children turn out, my answer is (if parents allow other novels to be read that are original works of art, they will have a deep appreciation of "adult literature"; as well as know so many intelligent stories and ways of writing... I believe it is the parents decision on how to raise their children and what they are allowed to read or not... Parents can simply tell their child "no, I don't want you to read those books and I will not buy them for you". Or parents can decide if it will benefit their child in any way they see fit. I strongly disagree with this post.

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  15. Oh and by the way, I have read the series and actually am helping my friends little sister with a Hunger Games Project for her English class (it was a choose what book from a list of various novels)... Also I find that by banning certain subject matter, other children are not able to have a broad spectrum of real life events... For instance, I read the screenplay for "Heathers" by John Waters, where a teenage girl falls into a relationship where her boyfriend as well as her (on accident) kill her "snobby" friend and stage them as suicides... It's an amazing dark comedy that I did while I was in middle school... It actually helped a classmate who's sister committed suicide early in that year.

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    1. I have read both of your comments, and while I respect your opinion, it still does not change mine.

      I don't know if you read the entire post (I understand it was very long, and I personally would have probably skimmed it) but I do want to first off mention that while some of the kids who watch, play, and read some of these subject matters turn out fine, BUT some don't! And what about those kids?
      There is a reason why there have been children who go to schools with guns...I bet you that if you were to go into their house, you would find that their parents (not always, but some of those) who did not pay attention enough to their children and let them do these things.

      I NEVER in this post told a parent how to parent their child! What I said was that elementary and middle schools (however, I may have changed my mind on the middle school part) should not be allowed to SELL or LEND OUT this series in a library or book order, or book fair! If the book is available in the library, parents do not have control over what their children are reading! They can check those out anytime they want! And the school, in my opinion, is encouraging that!
      In order for these books to be available for children, the parents need to make that decision, in my opinion.

      My parents let me watch some things too, that may have not been appropriate, and I was one of those kids who actually didn't like that stuff, so I didn't watch it. So we both turned out fine.
      In my opinion, also watching and reading something are two different things. Reading takes time, which means you have a longer period for things to sink in and for you to truly think about them. The Hunger Games is definitely is a thinking series, which is a GOOD thing, however, would you want your 11 year old child reading something that is making them grow up even faster?! I personally don't, and I think if a child reads this series (and MANY other books), then they are getting images in their mind that are disturbing, and not meant for them!
      There is a reason why authors, and publishers put an age limit on their novels, and inside the book jacket of the hardcover version of ALL the "Hunger Games" books it says specifically "14 and UP!" NOT younger! In my opinion, there is a reason for that! And schools have the responsibility to not only protect our children but ENFORCE rules, not look past them!
      THAT is my point!

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  16. In all honesty I think you are overreacting about banning The Hunger Games. Banning it will not do anything as there is always the internet full of worse things. I myself have watched to movie of The Hunger Games and read the book also and it hasn't phased me a bit. I am not a psychopath who thinks about killing people from day to day. I understand your worries for children in elementary school and I agree it shouldn't be given to first graders and such, but when you get the age of 11 you understand and can differentiate from what's right and wrong.

    If you really believe this movie is the worst thing out there, then you really need to open your eyes and look at the real world such as 14 year old girls sexually active, 12 year olds smoking cannabis and worse. I personally do not do any of these or know anyone who does. I am saying don't take it out on books or a movie, actually try and make a difference to the world.
    -Your average 13 year old.

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    1. In all honesty, I don't think you read my post. First off, I was talking about the books. This is a book blog, not a movie blog.

      Second, if you read the first line of this post, I said I was kidding, and not really wanting the Hunger Games to be banned. I just explained why this series is not children under 14, because it is one of the reasons why kids now a days violent. This is a serious story, and even Suzanne Collins has said she believes this series is for 14 and up.

      There is a reason for the ratings on books, and this one is rated 14 and up...

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    2. I also said this series shouldn't be allowed in middle or elementary schools. If at home your parents have them...fine! That is their choice. And in libraries fine, since every age group goes in there. But not in the schools with only under 14 year olds.

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    3. People are going to go insane when the Catching Fire movie comes out. I mean the violence is way worse and they have a male prostitute in the movie and sex slavery is going to be shown in the movie people are going to say that high school girls should not be allowed to see it. And anyone who does complain about it is only going to cause the movie to make more money.

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    4. By they way I agree that the books are not appropriate for under 14 but banning things never accomplishes anything. Controversey equals cash.

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  17. seriously whats the difference between a kid at 13 than a kid at 14, i read the books when i was 13 and i didn't find them gruesome at all. I thought the books were great, the thing about them is the fact that they are so realistic. something like that could happen, and i do agree that elementary students should not read this book but i don't find it scary at all for kids in middle school. Since middle school is where kids make the transition to high school i think that they should get used to the way society is now and high school is gruesome all by itself. I say let the kid read the book, warn them about it and if they don't like it, whatever. But if it scares them don't say you didn't tell them

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  18. Folks are likely to move crazy when the Finding Flames motion picture happens. I am talking about the particular assault is a lot worse with men prostitute inside the film and sex slavery will likely be demonstrated from the motion picture everyone is going to claim that senior high school girls mustn't be allowed to see it.
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  19. I sat here and typed up a very detailed reason as to why I disagree with you, but it deleted itself. So long story short, I think that this is utterly stupid and wrong. I'm thirteen and absolutely adore the books and there's nothing wrong with me.

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    1. Once again someone who didn't read the post...anyway if you would have actually read it you would have seen that I never said everyone under the age of 14 should not be able to read the hunger games. But what I did say is that elementary and middle school libraries should not be able to provide a book that is for 14 and up to children that are under 13!

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    2. Books get ratings for a reason. So next time before you call my post stupid read it.

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  20. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  21. I enjoyed reading your article because it showed what it is like from your perspective as more of an adult figure and the points you made make sense, but I have to say I disagree with you. I read the book when I was only in fifth grade, and at that point, it was nothing new to me. Even growing up as a sheltered kid who wasn't allowed to play violent video games, and who did watch the Disney channel, I already was aware that violence existed and had come to terms with that. I enjoyed the book series, and liked its different complexities, but it certainly didn't have any influence on me, other than making me want to read more books! The media tends to shove violence down our throats whether we like it or not, so really as a fifth grader, the book was something new, refreshing, and interesting. So, in all, do I think that all kids should read the book in fifth grade? No, some kids are not ready or mature enough to read that type of book yet, but some can handle that kind of content. However, I do strongly believe that a fair amount of eleven, twelve, and thirteen year olds could handle this book just fine. Finally, if you don't mind, I just don't exact;y understand how the part about how this could be our future is relevant. Do you believe this could become our future because kids are reading books like this, or is the book just more frightening in your eyes because it has more grounds in reality. I enjoyed the tone of your article and agree that kids should most likely not be playing Call Of Duty at six years old, but I do have to (respectfully) disagree with you.

    Thanks for reading!

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  22. Hello Liam! Thanks for commenting. I completely respect that you don't agree with me on my post.
    I still stand with my argument. But when you asked about how I find this series relevant to our future, what I meant was because it has mor grounds for reality. Our world is run by politicians. Especially America. Maybe not the exact concept of the hunger games, where children are killing kids, may happen, but all in all it is a possibility. One dictatorship in the future and this could become a reality.

    And as I said in the post, I do think some kids that are younger than 14 are
    Mature enough to handle this series, my main point of this post was that the books shouldn't be provided by elementary and middle school libraries. They have a rating of 14 and up, and schools containing only children under that age, that provide this series in their library are encouraging children to read a book that isn't always age appropriate. Now public libraries and other book sources is different because that is where parents come in. But school libraries are supposed to be a trust worthy place where parents shouldn't have to be concerned about what their kids are checking out.

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  23. I don't see a problem with kids reading this series! I started reading it in it in the 3rd grade!I also read Divergent and things like that! I don't see why parents don't allow their kids to!

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