Catching Fire

Catching Fire
Collins, Suzanne, 2009.
Catching Fire.
New York: Scholastic Press.
384 pages, hardcover.
$17.99

ISBN 9780439023498.

Format: book
Rating: 5.0/5.0 stars

Plot Summary
Katniss and Peeta are both home in district 12, being the first tributes ever to have two winners in the Hunger Games event. Preparing for the Victory Tour, visiting each home district of a tribute killed in the arena, Katniss and Peeta express their feelings for the other tributes. While Peeta shares from the heart, instead of a cue card, Katniss is much more focused on the fear she feels of meeting these families, and of President Snow whose visit scared her with his expectations for her and Peeta.

Without realizing it, Katniss and Peeta inadvertently stirred emotions and frustrations felt by other districts – all those not benefiting and are not as well off as those living in the Capitol region. It has been 75 years since the last rebellion, enough time to see that it may be time again to challenge those in control and take back their independence.

With the preparation for a special anniversary edition of the Hunger Games event, the 75^th annual – clearly showing how long the Capitol has had such control over the districts – reminding them every year that they control all the districts, and that by sacrificing their strong, young tributes they have less of a chance of winning. While this year’s tournament is supposed to be of former winners, there is a surprising change – one that allows Katniss to become a symbol of hope with the price of the possibility for annihilation if they lose.

Critical Evaluation
Collins’ use of contrast for Katniss and Peeta’s characters continues as readers see the gentle, honest, and honorable Peeta compared with the somewhat guarded and less trusting Katniss. In Catching Fire, Collins’ second in the trilogy, readers quickly get caught up with every twist and turn as the Capitol seeks revenge on Peeta and Katniss, for outwitting the game makers and both winning the Hunger Games event – but more importantly for stirring a rebellion that is gaining momentum.

There seems to be much more shared with readers from what Katniss is thinking, and how tormented she is with the results of the first competition and the genuine fear she has for her family of revenge by President Snow and the Capitol. At the same time, there is almost an implied distrust of what she is thinking as her actions don’t always support what readers are led to believe based upon her thoughts.

At the same time, Collins’ steps up every element from the danger and threats, to the gestures and betrayals, the compassion and fear – word by word pushing the writing ever closer to what one would expect in an adult novel. Especially her use of the Capitol breaking its own rules by forcing both Katniss and Peeta back into the arena in the anniversary edition of the Hunger Games event, in another fight to the death.

Reader’s Annotation
Both Katniss and Peeta win the annual Hunger Games competition, but instead of reaping the benefits and celebrating, they have come to the realization that it has made them the new target of retaliation by the Capitol. As a means of punishment and revenge, Katniss will be forced to live out her romance with Peeta regardless of what they really feel, or the Capitol will use its power to destroy everything she loves.

Information About the Author
Suzanne Collins was born in 1962 in Connecticut, where she still resides today with her family.

Collins’ writing career took off in 1991 when she started writing for children’s television. She wrote for varied age ranges contributing to pre-school shows Little Bear and Oswald to older kids shows such as Clarissa Explains it All and The Mystery Files of Shelby Woo. Meeting and a discussion with author James Proimos convinced Suzanne to try and write a children’s book. Her first efforts was the story of Gregor the Overlander, based upon the idea of falling down a manhole in New York City and was the first in a five-part fantasy series.

(Collins, 2010)

Genre

Fiction: Science Fiction – utopia/dystopia

Read-Alikes
I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore
Delirium by Lauren Oliver

Curriculum Ties
Within the social sciences Catching Fire supports a study on government control and rebellion and both psychology and sociology for the behaviors of participants and viewers of the games. For advanced English classes, students could analyze and compare it to Greek mythology and their use of power and control to rule the world, as well as Collins’ character development.

Booktalking Ideas
1) Katniss confiding in Haysmitch about the president’s visit and implied threat, and coming to realize that her future is sealed
2) the Victory Tour, visiting the home districts of each of the lost tributes and how Peeta surprises everyone with several offerings

Book Trailer Links
Book Trailer by the Publisher
Book Trailer by a Reader

Reading Level/Interest Age
Grades 7 and up / Ages 12 and up

Challenge Issues
alcoholism, violence, murder, kids hunting kids, big brother, televised games of murder, government control, rebel against government

First, I would share some of the recommendations used as part of the selection process, including reviews from resources as noted below. Next, I would point out the value in allowing these types of materials to be optional reading as teens grow ever closer to adulthood and making their own decisions. Finally, following our school district’s policy #KEC, after explaining that our school district’s philosophy is that no parent or group of parents has the right to determine the reading matter for children other than their own, I would refer the parent or community member to the building principal, so that he/she can file a written complaint to begin the process of review.

Awards
#1 New York Times Bestseller
#1 Publishers Weekly Bestseller
#1 Wall Street Journal Bestseller
Goodreads Choice Award for Favorite Book, 2009
Goodreads Choice Award for Young Adult, 2009
Booklist Top Ten Science Fiction/Fantasy Novels for Youth, 2010
ALA’s Teens’ Top Ten, 2010
Children’s Choice Book Award for Teen Choice Book of the Year, 2010
Indies Choice Book Award for Young Adult, 2010
Teen Read Award Nominee for Best Read, 2010
Time Magazine Top 10 Fiction Book, 2009
People Magazine (Top 10) Best Book, 2009
Los Angeles Times Best Children's Book, 2009
Publishers Weekly Best Book, 2009
Booklist Editors' Choice, 2009
Kirkus Best Book, 2009

Why Title Included & Selection Tools

Since The Hunger Games (THG) is the most read book at our high school, it is only logical that the second in the trilogy continuing the saga be included in our collection. A large percentage of the reluctant readers who read The Hunger Games, wanted to continue reading the series, requesting the purchase of additional copies so that they wouldn't have to wait.

School Library Journal, Publisher's Weekly, Booklist, Kirkus Reviews, New York Times, USA Today, Wall Street Journal, Time Magazine, People Magazine