Hunger Games at 13!

[LesleyA]

My friend’s daughter is reading Hunger Games at school for this years set work/prescribed reading. I’m shocked. I understand the storyline but haven’t read it. My daughter gets creeped out reading Nancy Drew. Please tell me your opinions. Is it gruesome, appropriate, of benefit? I’m also wondering whether if it is fine whether I’m doing my daughter a disservice by not introducing her to those types of books if that’s what her peers are reading (advised by the school). Opinions please (on the book not my parenting).

Standard fare. Not something I would read but my DC have both read it at that age and seemed to not quite realise how horrific it is.

At 13 I had read much worse than the Hunger Games! Nancy Drew was more a 10/11 year old kind of level.

Aren't they aimed for that age anyway? I've read them and don't think you need to be worried, yes people die but it's not done in abs art or horrific way xx

abs art should have said scary 😂😂

I would say start with Harry Potter as the early ones are fairly tame and the later ones get more dark and scary. Then you can stop when she reaches her limit. I think if she can cope with all of Harry Potter the hunger games wouldn't be too big a leap. The fact that Harry Potter and the Hunger Games are quite clearly fictional helps them distance themselves from it usually. And the darker books do cover some important themes. On the other hand it's not worth upsetting her over if she can read them in a few years when she's better able to cope. I would also suggest reading them together so you can discuss it if and when she's ready.

Didn't you read Lord of the Flies around that age? How is Hunger Games worse than that?

I have read it and liked it. It’s a young adult book so 13 is appropriate.

I'm pretty sure I read Anne Frank at that age (knowing her end) and that was non-fiction. I have to say that my grandparents were camp survivors and told me about being tortured and camp life from when I was around 8 so 13 seems quite old enough to me.

I think it's fine - it's aimed at young adults isn't it?

At 13 I read Interview with the Vampire - that was definitely inappropriate!

I started reading it with my then 12 year old ds in an effort to get him reading (it didn't work). It's fine in my opinion, its a brilliant series, I've read them loads of times and produces many opportunities for discussion.

I finally let my dd read the series at 10. That was appropriate for her. I think assigning it for 13 year olds is perfectly reasonable and actually pretty tame. I think about some of the historical biographies and historical fiction we read in school at that age. The hunger games is much gentler.

My just 13 year old has read the series and loved them. She's far more interested in the politics/power in it than the violence

Dds friend read it at 11 and seen the films. I was a bit horrified at this. But 13. That’s fine.

My DD read at 11/12 and watched the films. I was surprised but they were fine. We watched with my my 10 DS.

Thank you for all your comments. As I mentioned I haven’t read it so I imagined the deaths were gruesome. I’m not sure why young kids are encouraged to read dark books. I don’t want my kids living with the fairies or having to read the old classics just find it a bit bizarre especially when we want kids to thrive and not get too dark themselves

We read “Lord of the Fly” at that age and “Of Mice and Men” at 14.

(We also had to read The Handmaiden tale at 17.)

This is the tame end of what will be available to her in the school library.

My brother’s daughter read it at 10/11. Not a boast, she’s just a prolific reader, but it’s totally fine. I read way worse at school!

My 12 yr old is currently reading the Hunger Games books. I thought he was late to them as my eldest read them in primary school!

I was reading Stephen King in year 7 and fascinated by the constant slicing of eyeballs

You're imagining it far worse than it actually is. The first two have a lot set prior to the 'game' that each of those two features. You learn about the different cultures, the fashion, extravagance etc. The deaths are glossed over quite briefly and not graphically. They're well written, and I second the suggestion that you read them yourself so you can discuss them with her if she needs or wants it.

Another one who has an 11/12ur old currently reading the series, Who is pretty young at heart and still reads the warriors series too. I think she’s ok

My DD is 13 and read them a couple of years ago. They're not what you think tbh. DD likes dystopian literature but felt it's more a problematic love story dressed up against a potentially more interesting genre. I'm inclined to agree. Most 13yr olds I know have read it and talk about whether they prefer Peeta or Gale (or Finnick usually!) rather than anything else. DD's read Orwell, Fielding, Huxley, Atwood etc and says they're infinitely more unsettling.

www.commonsensemedia.org/book-reviews/the-hunger-games-book-1

I find common sense media a great source for checking out things like that when I’m not quite sure

"I haven't read it........" maybe do then?