The Hunger Games

The Hunger Games is likely the most popular science fiction book series today. Rated at a middle grades reading level, it is the perfect book series to have in a middle school classroom.

The series is introduced in the first of three books that complete the trilogy, aptly named The Hunger Games. We are introduced to Katniss Everdeen, the protagonist, and the world of Panem, the state that exists after the fall of North America. In this world, the tyrannical government hosts a yearly Hunger Games, a king-of-the-hill style contest where 24 contestants, two from each district that make up the nation, fight to the death.

The first book introduces us to the games themselves, with our protagonist being caught in a love triangle with her District 12 Hunger Games partner Peeta Mellark and her best friend Gale Hawthorne. While the struggle to overcome tyranny becomes the main focus of the series as it progresses, the technology that is a part of their every day lives help classify this series as science fiction.

The Capitol, home to the oppressive government, is characterized as a technologically advanced metropolis that has made significant gains in the areas of science and engineering. The text explains “they do surgery in the Capitol, to make people appear younger and thinner.” The clothing designed for Katniss to introduce her to Panem for the Hunger Games displays actual flames. These descriptions of technology used in the Capitol paint a picture showing how they take advantage of it to distance themselves from the lower-class citizens of the districts.

We also see evidence of advanced technology within the arena, where the Hunger Games are played out. This includes the control room, where the Gamemakers control the environment of the arena with sophisticated technology; technology that allows the Capitol to create new species of animals to implement into the Hunger Games; and medicine that Katniss takes advantage of to instantly heal her injuries inside the arena. There are numerous pieces of technology we see subtly included in the storyline in later books, but I don’t want to spoil anything!

Overall, The Hunger Games primary focus is on the dystopian future, showing the plight of the citizens of the districts. However, its science fiction elements can be taken advantage of for the purpose of a classroom setting. The inclusion of these small technological advancements can show students the possibilities of the future. We don’t currently have medicine that instantly heals burns; why can’t we in the future? The science fiction genre should open your students’ minds to limitless possibilities for the future and show them that the current state of the world is just temporary.

It is their job to mold the future. Let’s help them make that happen.