arts & entertainment

Let The Hunger Games

begin
Books and movie
have captivated
people worldwide

74 ;e Costco Connection AUGUST 2012

By Nancy Mills

HOW DID A film about children fighting to the death in a post-apocalyptic world become an international phenomenon?

Suzanne Collins’ young adult novel The Hunger Games started with an initial print run of 50,000 in 2008. Today, close to 37 million copies of the book and its two sequels—Catching Fire and Mockingjay— are in print in the U.S. In addition, the book has been sold in 55 countries in 50 languages. Adults, who don’t often pay attention to young adult fiction, have been devouring the trilogy. The first of a three-movie series was released to wide acclaim.

Set in a ruined North America run by a dictator, The Hunger Games refers to an annual televised contest. Two teenagers from each of the fictional nation’s 12 districts are randomly chosen to become gladiators. When the name of the younger sister of the story’s protagonist, Katniss Everdeen, is drawn for District 12, Katniss volunteers to take her place (see above photo).

The story resonates with classical myths, ancient history and contemporary power politics. As in the Greek myth of Theseus and the Minotaur,

The Costco Connection

The Hunger Games is available at all Costco warehouses on DVD and Blu-ray. A special three-book set is also available.

Visit Costco.com and click on “Costco Connection magazine” to read a July 2010 Connection interview with Suzanne Collins.

LIONSGATE

the fighters must compete until only one is left alive.
“I was heavily influenced by the historical figure
Spartacus,” Collins told The New York Times
Magazine. “Katniss follows the same arc from slave
to gladiator to rebel to face of a war.”
Book one follows Katniss as she goes to the
Capital, prepares for, then competes in the Games.
The later books focus on her maturation and the
ultimate war against oppression.

Since its release in March, the film version of The Hunger Games has grossed more than $650 million worldwide. Its young stars—Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson and Liam Hemsworth—have become teen icons (see sidebar). The second film in the series begins shooting this fall.

Violence, good and evil

Some criticize the kids-killing-kids aspect of the story. But the books and film are about much more, according to Melissa Messner, a children’s services librarian for the County of Los Angeles Public Library and a Costco member.

“They’re popular because they speak to some-