Today I was walking through my local K-6 school and I saw one sixth grade teacher reading Hunger Games to his class. I'm not sure how I feel about that. I love the series (it may be one of my new absolute favorite series). But is it OK for 11 and 12 year olds?
What are your thoughts?
I'm shocked there is no discussion.
ReplyDeleteLittle late on the uptake, but I'll get the ball rolling...
ReplyDeleteI do think Hunger Games is a little too dark for 6th graders. But then I start looking at the world around us and wonder if it's not better to prepare our kids for where we might be headed. These minds are the ones that will be taking over the future of our world, and if we can teach them concepts like injustice and cruelty at a young age, can it make a difference?
Here is a link to an interesting blog from agent Nathan Bransford that talks about violence in children's literature: http://blog.nathanbransford.com/2010/08/violence-in-childrens-literature-is.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+NathanBransford+%28Nathan+Bransford+-+Literary+Agent%29
Thinking back to my teaching days, I would probably want to check with parents before I read it in class, just out of courtesy in case someone had strong feelings about it.
ReplyDeleteOtherwise, I agree with Deb that the message is important.
Yeah, an important book, but I'd probably give it till 7th-9th grade?
ReplyDeleteI agree that it is an important topic, and maybe read aloud with a good teacher 6th would be ok, but I prefer 7th. I know its just one year, but oh, what a difference a year makes at that age.
ReplyDeleteSo I'm really late on chiming in here but as I thought about reading Hunger Games out loud with Arlene when we read it, I really think it takes on a different feel then reading alone. I think a good teacher who allowed for discussion of the book could do a lot to help 6th graders with dealing with violence and respecting hard decisions etc. I don't think its too young but I wouldn't hand it to an 11 year old and say "here you go." That would be negligent.
ReplyDeleteI tried commenting yesterday, but it got lost in cyberspace. I agree with Donna. I also think it's imperative that the teacher or parent supervising should be willing to discuss it in conjunction with actual events in history like the Holocaust.
ReplyDeleteMy daughter who teaches 5th grade was very perturbed at the number of her students--girls and boys--who were enthralled with the Twilight series. Similarly, I wouldn't want my child reading Hunger Games till they were older than 6th grade. Maybe even like 8th or 9th grade.
ReplyDeleteI was perturbed by the number of people (5th grade or not) who were enthralled with Twilight :)
ReplyDeleteI HATE seeing young kids with Twilight in their hands. Seriously. Let's just warp their theories on relationships now, shall we?
ReplyDeleteSorry I'm late to the discussion. Yeah, I wouldn't start it any sooner than 8th grade. And I'd definitely give it to them sooner than a lot of trash YA books out there, like that one DJ named. :-)
ReplyDeleteGosh, Graham. Why do you hide your feelings like that? I can never figure out what you really mean.
ReplyDeleteI love the series! I don't think it is appropriate for 6th graders.
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