Some books grab me and I go back to them over and over again. And over again. I always find something I missed the first thousand times I read it. I’m a prolific reader and a sucker for a good dystopian novel.
When I discovered The Hunger Games, I was HOOKED. I’ve read the trilogy at least 15 times. Probably closer to 25. I’m a fast reader so that’s not as impressive (or insane) as it sounds.
A new world, figuratively speaking, has opened up to me because my grandson has chosen The Hunger Games as one of his summer reading books.
I love to read, I teach English as a New Language and we read books in English all the time, and I teach a reading program.
My grandson has to be dragged kicking and screaming to a book and keeps turning the pages to see how much more he “has” to read. He thought The Hunger Games was one of the easier books on his list, but now that he actually has it, “it’s too long.”
It’s a challenge to teach him skills that will improve his reading and hopefully will then nudge him towards a love of reading. But the tricky part is doing this without him knowing that I’m doing this. In school, it’s all out in the open. Posters about visualization. Practice making predictions.
But no way, when this is reading for pleasure, am I about to say, “Now we are going to learn about using text features.”
My grandson arrived at our house yesterday, book in hand, and my daughter said he has to read for X number of minutes and you have to tell me how far he got blah blah blah. I’m not slamming my daughter; many schools assign timed reading whether the kids like it or not. And the parents have to enforce it. I hate that. A learn to love reading killer.
But when she left he said to me with some excitement “I HAVE A PREDICTION! I think the people picked in the raffle are going to be Katniss and Gale!”
So he knows about making a prediction. What he didn’t know was what a totalitarian government is (I don’t think he really gets what a government is), what a reaping is and he thought the raffle was a good thing where they might win something. 
We had a discussion about what had happened so far where I tried to just make it a conversation that would be at least slightly interesting to him. “I think it’s so cool that Katniss and Gale sneak under the electric fence to hunt.” He asks why doesn’t everyone hunt. I think ah hah! A sliver of interest has been shown.
We take turns reading. I tell him it’s easier to read if when he sees a period he stops and takes a breath before continuing.
Reaping day arrives. PRIMROSE EVERDEEN.
His eyes bug out and his mouth is wide open as he looks at me. NO WAY he says.
I get to see The Hunger Games through new eyes. How cool is that?
This reminds me of many years ago when I got the first Harry Potter book. My 12-year-old daughter hated reading but we were both sick in bed that day and I talked her into letting me read it out loud. She got totally hooked and is now an avid reader, at 31 years of age.
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I hope this happens with him. He has a learning disability so it’s extra effort for him. And who wants to expend extra effort for something you don’t like to do? I really hope he loves this book. Thank you for your comments!
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I haven’t read the series–I normally don’t read YA–but I’d like to because I’ve heard authors should read it for its wonderful structure. Many say it serves as a model for good fiction architecture. I’ve seen the movies with my kids and enjoyed them. Now I just have to get to the books. And hundreds–thousands?–of other ones too…
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I have not heard that about the structure of the books. But perhaps that is part of why I love them. I have all the movies as well. I love love love the first one, the second was pretty good, the next not so much etc. I think it’s because I don’t like to see movies of books that I adore. Movies can only pick a few storyline threads. So while entertaining, I don’t think you get the richness that you get in a novel.
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Definitely more richness in a novel. 🙂
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And I really like YA. And teach young adult novels in my classes. 🙂
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Great series!
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25 times!! I don’t think I’ve ever read a book more than once lol.
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Maybe not 25. But probably more that 15. A love affair with the storyline, the characters, the rich detail. Stuff like that lol.
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I can understand that. For me, when I finish one book I’m always eager to start a new one and never circle back and reread any. Maybe when I run out of books I will!
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I read tons, but have books I do keep circling back too. Including childhood favorites. I pray that I end up in heaven, and that it is FULL of books. For real.
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When books die they gotta go somewhere, right?
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Why have I never thought of that!!
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Barb thoughts featuring Paul.
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Perfect, Houwdy.
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Yes! I get the same way about books! I have read The Hunger Games multiple times but my go-to is always Harry Potter!!
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I love Harry Potter as well. Have you read The Song of Ice and Fire series? Aka Game of Thrones?
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I’ve never read the “Hunger Games”. (I did take an online “which character are you?” quiz based on it. I was Haymitch.) I will have to check it out. After I finish with the “Song of Fire and Ice” books you recommended. 🙂
Hope your grandson likes the books, and starts to like reading!
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Thanks! Not too successful so far because he only reads when at my house. I hope this book does it for him.
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I’m already in love with your blog. I FREAKING LOVE THE HUNGER GAMES. It’s great that this kid is reading it, too, and I am so hype for him. I’ve read this series too many times to count. By far, THE best thing EVER!
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Haha thank you!! I’ve been on vacation so am way behind reading and commenting on things. I so appreciate your taking the time to read it and OF COURSE I super appreciate your saying you’re in love with my blog. The Hunger Games isn’t holding his attention too well, but I haven’t given up. I’m summarizing some chapters for him. He doesn’t live with me so that’s a problem as far as daily reading. Thank you again!
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Ah great post! I read The Hunger Games and loooved it!
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Thank you! I am always happy to meet a fellow Hunger Games fan! I like the movies a lot, but the books are soooooo awesome.
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