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