Q16) Theme

There are many possible themes of this novel.  Is it that Collins is warning the reader that if they are violent, then lives are destroyed?  Is it that Collins is warning the reader that an oppressive government will lead to death? Personally, I believe it is a bit of both.  What do you think the theme is?  Also, do you think that there are multiple themes in the book?  Is that possible?
~Rebecca

The End

Suzanne Collins has done it again and wrote another wonderful book. I have read her other series Underland which I highly recommend.  It is in my opinion sadder than this series, but just as thrilling.  The ending of the Hunger Games' was ok. I wanted to smack Katniss towards the end for being idiotic and not realizing that Peeta liked her. As for the most part the ending was not bad. It did not leave you on a major cliff hanger. I hate when books do that. Did it end the way you thought it would end? Did you like how it ended? Would you change any parts in the book if you could?

Madison OoO

Characters

I think my favorite characters from the Hunger Games are Cinna and Ceaser. They are both very lovely people and are of the few nice people in the capital. Ceaser tries to help Katniss out when they are doing the interviews instead of tearing her down. Cinna has my dream job creating clothes and being creative. These are the reason these characters are my favorite characters. Who are your favorite characters?

MadisonOoO

Mutts and people

When Cato gets attacked by the mutts it takes a whole night and a little more for him to be killed and in the end it is Katniss's arrow to his head that kills him. I own several animals all them when given something they want to eat gobble it up like there is no tomorrow. This makes me wonder are the mutts even real animals or some robots made to look like animals? How do you feel about the people of Panem after Katniss said "No viewer could turn away from the show now" (Collins 339) as Cato is getting eaten by the mutts? Are the viewers pardoned for their actions since they know no better?

Madison OoO

Gamemakers

The Gamemakers control everything in the arena, from the weather to what wild animals are put in the arena to attack the tributes. People in the capital bet on tributes who they think are going to win. If a Gamemaker is betting on someone, could the  Gamemaker have the other tributes die "accidentally"? What rules do you think  the Gamemakers work by if any? Do you think there involvement in the game is completely necessary, the fire, the mutts, the weather or do you think they could of just built a smaller arena?

Madison OoO

Q15) The End/ POOR PEETA!

Question 15)
I find the end of the book quite hard to take.  Like I thought, the whole novel, Peeta really did love Katniss.  Actually, I am surprised that Haymitch hadn't trained him at all in the arena.  I thought he should know the plan a bit.  It breaks my heart now that he figured out it was all fake on Katniss' part, and it breaks my heart for Katniss that she didn't know.  I truly do believe Katniss feels emotions for Peeta, but she needs time away from all the violence and killing to sort her feelings out.  She's only 16.  She's our age, and she just witness the deaths of 22 people.  Nobody can take that.  I know I couldn't.  What are your final thoughts on the novel?  Do you feel bad for Katniss?  How do you think Katniss should have handled the situation?  Anything else you would like to say?
~Rebecca

Q14) The Berries

Question 14)
Katniss and Peeta win by default because they were both about to commit suicide by eating poisonous berries.  They do this because the rules change once again and only one victor is allowed to win.  Katniss keeps focusing on the fact that there has to be a victor, so, she decides that if both of them can't win, they could look like they are about to commit suicide, and since there has to be a victor, the government will let both win.  Luckily, the plan works.  In my opinion, it was a risky plan, though.  What would you have done?  Would you have let Peeta die because he was near death anyway?  Would you ask Peeta to kill yourself so he can still live?  Would you both commit suicide and do the berry thing (keep in mind, you don't know the result)?  What would your tactic be?
~Rebecca

Peeta, Peeta, Peeta

I feel bad for Peeta. He has been drugged with sleep syrup, that Haymitch sent to Katniss to use to against Peeta and Peeta's wishes . Peeta's was in worse shape than Katniss was but Haymitch sends gifts to Katniss and none to Peeta, until Katniss meets up with Peeta. Do think Haymitch plays favorites or is it part of a strategy? If you were in Katniss's shoes would you have drugged Peeta? Was this a smart move on Katniss's part?

Madison OoO

Others

When the games first start Katniss and Peeta play the couple card. They show affection for each other through out the game, like when Peeta is sick and Katniss kisses him a lot to get him to do what she wants him to do. At first when I read this I thought doesn't she care what Gale thinks about her, but then I started wonder what about the rest of district 12, her mom and sister, or Peeta's family. How do you think they felt and reacted? Please be specific on how each person felt and their reaction.

Madisson OoO

Prim or Rue

In the book Katniss thinks about Rue in a friendly way because Rue reminds Katniss of her sister Prim. Even when Rue is about to die Katniss is still thinking about Rue connected to her sister not Rue as her own person. "But if this is Prim's, I mean, Rue's last request" (Collins 234). Why do think the author put this quote in the book?  Do you think Katniss would have allied up with Rue if Rue didn't remind her of her sister?  
Madison OoO

Q13) The Mutts

Question 13)
At the climax of the novel, Cato, Katniss, and Peeta are stranded at the top of the cornucopia, left to fight each other, and defend themselves from government made mutts attacking them.  Katniss discovers that each dog like creature seems to resemble someone in the games.  Do you think that the Gamemakers really made the mutts out of the dead tributes, or do you think that the Gamemakers just made the mutts to look like the tributes to tug the heartstrings of the remaining tributes? 
(oh, and just a side note I want to add (sorry it's a bit off-topic) but, I never want to go hunting with Peeta! Do you agree?)
~Rebecca

Q12) Cato

Question 12)
Cato is the last competitor left in the Hunger Games.  Peeta and Katniss don't know whether to go after him, until they find the lakes dried up.  Before that, what would you do to fight Cato?  Would you go after him?  Would you wait till he finds you?  Would you hope the Gamemakers would push you together?  All I know, is that he is the one tribute I would never want to fight.
~Rebecca

Q11) Prim's goat

Question 11)
Peeta asks Katniss to tell him a happy story.  Katniss then goes on to tell, in my opinion, and extremely dull and boring story about getting Prim's goat.  I don't know about you, but I feel that this story adds nothing to the novel.  I could care less about Prim's goat, really.  We are in the middle of the Hunger Games!  There is death left and right, and you take time to tell a silly story about a goat!?  Why do you think Suzanne Collins added this part of the book?  Do you think that it was a good idea to add it?
~Rebecca

Q10) Peeta's love

Question 10)
Once Katniss finds Peeta after Rue's HORRIBLE death, he seems very set on kissing her, even though he's near death.  I know that Haymitch wants them to act like a couple, but doesn't Peeta seem awfully urgent to show affection?  Do you think Peeta really love Katniss, or has he been playing the couple card the whole time?
~Rebecca

Q9) Career's Stash

Question 9)
Katniss successfully blows up the Career's food supply so they will starve, even though it injures her greatly. Granted, it does really help her chances of winning, but it will not matter if she dies from her injuries. Do you think it was a smart move to blow up their food?  What would you have done differently?
~Rebecca

Rue

Katniss asks Rue to ally with her and Rue says yes. Do you think this was a smart move, why? How will it affect her game plan later on? Who would you want for your ally if you were in the hunger games, why?

Madison OoO

Q8) The Tracker Jackers

Question 8)  Katniss gets in a pretty bad tracker jacker attack and has many hallucinations due to the venom.  Some we know are fake, like the orange bubbles and the ants, but some things we cannot determine.  Do you think Peeta really saved Katniss?  Do you think there was really green slime on Glimmer's arrows?  What else did you think was real or fake?
~Rebecca

Tracking Device

Before the game starts a doctor inserts a tracking device in the tributes arm so they know where they are in the arena. There can only be one winner a year, but that's still a lot of people that have won the Hunger Games. Do you think that the capital still keeps track of the winning tributes after they win? Why?

Madison OoO

Interviews

I loved the interviews. They were funny, they gave incite into to several of the tribute's thoughts, and were dramatic. Did you suspect that Peeta was talking about Katniss? Which tribute would you bet on and why? What would your angle be if you where a tribute?


Madison OoO

Q7) Water

Question 7)  During the games, Katniss could get gifts from sponsors.  Well, Katniss gets to the point where she is so thirsty, she is about to die, but Haymitch does not send her water.  No, he waits for her to find it herself.  Why do you think he did that?  Did he want her to die?  Did finding the water herself make her look better?
~Rebecca

Peeta

Peeta at first is all about being coached together and working the we are a team angle with Katniss. He's more into the strategy then Katniss. What made Peeta change his mind about working together? Is it because he feels hes getting to close to Katniss? Did he just want to learn all of Katniss strategy's so he can use it against her?

Madison OoO

Q6) Peeta and the Careers

Question 6) It really shocks me that when the Games first starts, Peeta teams up with the Careers.  They also seem to find him worthless, so why would Peeta even join?  Is this some scheme to protect Katniss?  If it is, how would it protect Katniss? 
~Rebecca

Gamemakers

"The arrow skewers the apple in the pig's mouth and pins it to the wall behind it" (Collins 102). In Katniss's private session with the Gamemakers they don't pay attention to her so she shoots an arrow through there roast pig's apple. Do you think this action will help her or hinder her? Do you think it’s unfair that District 12 is always last and District 1 is always first?

Madison OoO

Costumes

"I'm in a simple black unitard that covers me from ankle to neck. Cinna plans to light them on fire" (Collins 67). Why do you think Cinna is trying to make them stand out instead of doing what the other stylist have done in the years before, making them wear overalls or nothing at all? How would you feel about wearing Cinna's costume? If you could design a costume for District 12 what would it look like?

Madison OoO

Q5) Katniss

Question 5) "She [Katniss] has no idea.  The effect she can have (Collins 91)."  Here, Peeta states that Katniss has no idea how influential she is to other people.  He believes that sponsors will flock to her.  Why do you think that she is so effective?  What makes her influential? 
~Rebecca

Q4) Games

Question 4) "But because two can play at this game, I stand on tiptoe and kiss his cheek.  Right on his bruise (Collins 72)."  Here, Katniss is trying to get back at Peeta for his supposed "good boy" tactics.  I do not understand how this is getting Peeta back for his "games".  Is kissing him on his bruise playing the same game he is?  What do you think she is getting at here?
~Rebecca

Q3)Sponsor tactics

Question 3)
There is a good portion of the novel were tactics to get sponsors in the game were discussed.  Katniss believed that Peeta put on a "good boy" facade to gain sponsors.  Do you think that Peeta is as kind as he appears?  Is he just trying to get sponsors or his he a genuine good guy?  Also, what would you do to gain sponsors?
~Rebecca

Q2) Hunting

Q2)
"'...And you've had the most practice.  Real practice, he says. 'You know how to kill.' 'Not people' I say. 'How different can it be, really?' says Gale grimly (Collins 40)."   This quote bothers me a bit.  The thought that hunting animals is exactly like hunting humans does not seem right to me.  Do you believe that hunting humans is the same as hunting animals?  Do you think that maybe the two would be the same in a dystopic society like this one?  Would the mindset be different?
~Rebecca

Madge's pin

Before Katniss leaves for the capital she can have visitors. Madge comes to see Katniss and tells Katniss to wear the pin Madge wore on her dress for the reaping, a small gold bird in flight. Madge makes Katniss promise to wear the pin. What do you think is so significant about this pin? Why do you think that Madge thinks the pin is significant?

Madison OoO

Katniss or Peeta

Katniss has  family and friends that support her. She lives in poverty, but can go hunting to keep her family feed and taken care of. Peeta on the other hand lives a middle class life style. When his name is picked for the Hunger Games his older brother doesn't step up to take his place. Also when Peeta makes a mistake his mother hits him. Who has a harder life Katniss or Peeta? Is it better to be loved and poor or rich and unloved?

Madison OoO

Q1) Prim and the reaping

Question 1)
I was always touched by the fact that Katniss stepped in for Prim at the reaping.  Why do you think she did that?  Does she not realize that her family probably cannot fend for themselves while she is gone?  Do you think she's going to ask Gale to fend for her family?  Besides the obvious reason of love, what other reasons do you believe there are for Katniss stepping in for Prim?  Would you do the same for Elijah?
~Rebecca