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The Hunger Games Trilogy: For Librarians

Librarians - Potential Audience

View this video to see genres,

reading levels,

and what groups of students

may be interested in

reading the Hunger Games Trilogy.

Readalikes - Genre

Strengths/Weaknesses

These are some strengths and weaknesses seen for the whole series - You are welcome to agree or disagree.



Strengths of the Series - Hunger Games:

  • Are reasonable size and length of books making them a good length of read for a young adult reader including reluctant readers.
  • Characters are well developed and appealing to the readers and easily able to relate to since they are also young adults.
  • Based on what if the United States is in a war and falls under one power in the future. The What if is developed through all three books. The reader can be encouraged to relate places to real places today in the United States. 
  • Looks clearly at themes of sacrifice, family and coming of age. Based on story line characters face the oppression of the Panem government and work together to find freedom. 
  • First two books are cliffhangers bringing the reader to the point that they want to read the next one.
  • On readers alone this series is popular since at many libraries there are waiting lists to read these books.

Weaknesses of the Series - Hunger Games:

  • Deals with with storyline of children being forced to fight to the death. May be upsetting to some readers the violence in the book and the death of people especially during the games. 
  • The main character is at first betrayed as strong and thinking of others including her family. As the series goes on this fluctuates from strength to being selfish and weak and out of control. While the character has suffered trauma it does not match the first Katniss who is seen as a survivor.
  • The romantic triangle is not a strong one and those looking for a happy ending may be disappointed with the series.
  • The ending is unexpected and somewhat dissatisfying to some readers.
  • Wish there was a fourth book :).

Readalike - Authors