Julia Balder 808                                Hunger Games Response                   November 19, 2014

            The first book in the trilogy, The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins is the banned book I read.  This book is about two 16 year olds who were chosen at District 12’s reaping of the 74^th  Annual Hunger Games.  The Hunger Games, which is a fight to the death that contains 24 kids from ages 12-18 years old.  It was created after the uprising in District 13.  District 13 and everything and everyone in it were killed because of their act of treason by rebelling against the capital.  The capital made these “games” to remind everyone not to rebel and the killing symbolizes what would happen if they did.  The contestants kill each other till one person is left; this person gets wealth and fame.  To get selected for the Hunger Games your name is put into a glass ball, based on your gender, at the reaping the two contestants from each District are selected, one girl and one boy.  Your name is put into the mix with the other kids of your gender starting at age twelve and each year until you reach your final reaping before adulthood (when you are 18 that is the last time you can be put into the mix) your name is added and additional time each year.  The two contestants selected, from District 12, Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark, go through a series of trials fighting for their lives.  Katniss has such an important role in her family and why she is in the 74^th Hunger Games.
            Katniss has an important reason to accept her fate, her family.  If you are selected for the Hunger Games than you have one more chance to be saved if you are selected by having your name be pulled out of the glass ball, another person of that gender is able to volunteer as tribute.  In Katnisss’ situation that isn’t possible.  Originally Katnisss’ younger sister, 12 year old Primrose Everdeen was selected at the reaping as the girl tribute.  Katniss being the older sister she is says, “I volunteer!’ I gasp. ‘I volunteer as tribute!”  This shocks everyone and now Katniss is forced to go because no one can be a volunteer for a volunteer.  Katniss puts herself in this role to protect her little sister from dying in the games.  In District 12 no one has volunteered for some one else in the past 73 years that the “Game” has been around.  This shows the love that Katniss has for her sister and how she would die for her.  Katniss is a loving family member and really does care.
             Katniss is also important in her family for the role she plays in it.  For a time after Katnisss’ father had died in a mine explosion her mom was grieving for a long time and wasn’t staying focused and getting what her children needed.  Katniss had taken up hunting, which requires crossing the “fence”; a fence that is supposed to be electrified 24/7.  The book says, “Trespassing in the woods is illegal and poaching carries out the severest of penalties.” Katniss still crosses the fence and kills animals for her family to eat.  She is the one to provide food for her family since her dad has died and it is very hard to get money to buy food.  This quote shows how much she cares for her family, risking her life just for Prim and her mom to eat every night.  Katniss also signed up for tesserae; when you get extra grain and oil every month, as a result of signing up you put your name in the reaping ball extra times every Hunger Game because you are getting supported by the government. She would rather die knowing that her family had enough to eat every day. Again Katniss is risking her life just so her family can eat and function every day. This shows her personality and character, a carrying young girl who wants what is right for her family. 
            Overall, Katniss is the older sister always trying to help her family out and lend a hand.  Suzanne Collins creates the main character, Katniss, as a carrying girl who wants to do right by her mother and sister.  Katniss, the girl who risks her life every day just so her family can eat and try to live a normal life.  Collins did a wonderful job on creating this character and this book.  This book really teaches people that you can’t just rely on your parents and that once in a while do something by yourself without the help of an adult, guardian, or parent.