Independent+Novel+Study

Rayanne The Hunger Games

__Journal Entry # 1__ - December 2nd 2011 (Pg. 1- 72)

__**1. Why did you select this novel?**__ I chose the novel //The Hunger Games// because I was already planning on reading it and I had heard many good things about this book. I have a list of books that I want to read and this book was on it so I was happy to see that I would get a chance to read a book that I'm actually interested in reading. I know a few people who have read this book before and many of them have said that it's a really good book, so I kind of chose it based on the influence of other people. When I read the synopsis of the book (on the back of it) it seemed really interesting and suspense was already built just based off of the back of the book.

__**4. What's going on as the story begins?**__ As the story begins, characters are introduced and the setting is established. Katniss is the main character, she is somewhere in her teens and she lives in Panem, which used to be known as North America (takes place in the future), with her mother and her sister, Primrose. Within Panem there are different districts and she lives in the district known as District 12. Katniss is just waking up when the story begins and thinks about how today is 'The Reaping' where 1 boy and girl are selected within each district to participate in The Hunger Games. The Hunger Games is an annual competition where 24 tributes fight to the death, this event is supposed to remind all of the citizens of what happened when districts go to war with each other. Katniss is thinking about how many times her name has been entered into the box where the names will be drawn. She doesn't seem too scared by it and decides to go hunting with her friend Gale while she waits for the ceremony to start. While she walks she thinks about how her father died when she was very young in a hunting accident. Later, Katniss comes to returns back to her house and gets ready for the ceremony.

Katniss is telling the story, she is the main character and it's from her point of view. This person's perspective effects the way the story is told because it's only based on their life at that time in the story. Their opinions are expressed more than any other and you start to believe their side of the story more than anyone else's. You get to read their opinions and see their perspective on the story and not anyone else's. This kind of draws on more suspense in this story because you only know what the character knows and not what anyone else does, unless the character knows that. So, it keeps you guessing on what there is to know and who is think what.
 * __5. Who is telling the story? How does this person’s perspective effect the way the story is told?__**

In the story, so far, Primrose (Katniss' younger sister) was chosen to be a tribute, but Katniss doesn't want her to die, so Katniss volunteers herself as tribute. The boy chosen was Peeta Mellark, a boy who Katniss barely knows. Katniss leaves on a train with Peeta and they go to The Capitol (where The Hunger Games take place). They are treated very well on the train, but Kat is unsure of Peeta, they travel with a woman named Effie Trinket and a man named Haymitch (who is always drunk). They are kind of worried because Haymitch is their only connection to the real world and help during The Hunger Games, so they do their best and get him out of his drunken state so he can actually be of use to them. They arrive in Capitol and stylists pamper and beautify them, they aren't used to this and Katniss feels out of place. Later, they get to the opening ceremonies and have the most amazing costumes out os all of the Tribute's there, which makes the other tributes angry, but she has the attention of the public. Katniss feels like this is an unreal experience and tries to keep her distance from Peeta, however he grows on her, but she thinks he is secretly plotting against her.

Rayanne The Hunger Games

__Journal Entry #2__ - December 9th 2011 (pg. 73 - 102)

__** 7. What is the initial or first problem faced by the main character? **__ The first problem faced by the main character, Katniss, is the entire situation with The Hunger Games. She wakes up and all she can do is think about it happening. She's scared of getting someone she loves name drawn, she doesn't want them to have to face death this way. She has already had to grow up with the death of her dad, and the effect that his death had on the way her family was brought up. She grew up with a huge responsibility and to have to deal with what happends during The Hunger Games is a huge amount of stress that she is reluctant to face.

__**9. What new things are added to the original problem as the novel progresses?**__ As the novel progresses, Katniss' worries only get worse when her younger sister is drawn to attend The Hunger Games. However, Katniss steps forward and says that she will do it instead. This means she will have to fight to the death against 23 others, which isn't that good for her. She gets to the Capitol (the place where The Hunger Games take place) and she isn't all that fond of her district companion Peeta. After this, she meets her 'mentors' Effie and Haymitch, Effie doesn't even seem to care that they with die and Haymitch is always too drunk to do much else. After their arrival, they have to be cleaned up and appear presentable, so they get some work done by stylists, which Katniss doesn't particularly enjoy and they're costumes are so amazing that everyone else doesn't like Kat and Peeta the moment they see them. Even after all of this, Katniss has to pretend to be friends with Peeta in public because of Haymitch's orders and prepare herself for the games, as she watches all of the wealthier, stronger contenders prepare as well.

__**11. Comment on the style of the novel. Is it easy or hard to follow the events?**__ The style of this novel, in my opinion, makes it pretty easy to follow the events and what is happening. Everything happens in a way that makes sense and it all fits together nicely, I really like the pace that it's written at, where the story doesn't go really fast and you don't miss anything, but it also doesn't drag along and get boring either! The writing style is enjoyable because I understand what the author is trying to say and there isn't any confusing back-story or something like that, so I really enjoy the way it's written.

In this section of the book, Katniss and Peeta get to the training center and are able to finally meet everyone who they will be against. However, no one really talks too much with each other, unless you are the group of people who have been training for years. Kat starts to get closer to Peeta but still tries to somehow keep her distance from him. Haymitch told them to act like friends in public which makes it hard for them to stay away from each other. After Peeta and Kat get through a couple of days of training, they are able to show off their best skill in individual training, however Katniss' judges don't really care about her once they get to her and she feels kind of disappointed.

Rayanne The Hunger Games

__Journal Entry #3__ - December 15th 2011 (pg. 103 - 132)

__**8. How does the author get you to read on or hold your interest?**__ The author is able to hold my interest in the story because she makes the story interesting in so many different ways. First, she makes the novel so that you are able to keep up with end and remember what happens the last time you read it. The pace of the story is really nice and I like the way that things happen in this story. Also, she adds really small, yet interesting parts to the story that you may not realize but remember later. She also puts detail in her writing without being overly descriptive, which I really like. I also enjoy how she makes the story really interesting and adds some unexpected things into the story, which gives the story so many interesting layers. She mostly keeps my interest by making the character really relevant and normal, she doesn't drag on and waste time. It makes you want to keep on reading and never stop.

__**10.What plot twists or unexpected events happen as the novel goes on?**__ So many different things happen in the story that are unexpected. First, Katniss decides to take her sisters place in the Hunger games. Everything that follows is really different in a way, especially when things take a turn for the better, even though this is the worst situation possible. For me, the most unexacting part that even I didn't think would happen, was when Peeta announced, infront of millions, that he loved Katniss.

__**12. Is the language in the novel difficult or easy? Give examples and explain.**__ The language in the novel is pretty easy to follow, not too many odd words have come up and all of it is understandable. It all really makes sense and is easy to comprehend. For example, here's a few random sentences in the novel : "As I enter the dining car, Effie Trinket brushes by me with a cup of black coffee.She's muttering obscenities under her breath. Haymitch, his face puffy and red from the previous day's indulgences, is chuckling." The sentences are easy to understand, with a good flow and aren't too choppy or too long. The language used is very present day, so nothing about it is difficult to understand. Here's another random sentence: "At dawn, I lie in bed for a while, watching the sun come up on a beautiful morning.", this isn't too detailed and I really like the style of writing that way.

In this section of the book, Katniss is mad about the judges not watching her, but ends up getting the highest score out of all of the tributes. However, after that Peeta requests that he no longer trains with her. She wonders why and feels like he's betraying her. She spends the next day preparing for her interview but gets mad at herself. At the end of the day, the red-headed girl reassures her and helps her out. Katniss has an amazing interview and then Peeta suddenly confesses that he loves her.

_

Rayanne The Hunger Games __Journal Entry #4__ - January 6th 2012. (Pg. 133 -244)

__** 13. To what age group is the novel aimed? Support your answer with evidence. **__ I think that this novel isn't aimed at a specific age group in particular. Although the novel's main character is a teenager, I think that context and reading level of the novel could be intended for any age group. It might appeal to teenagers more because that's how old the main character is, but I find that the challenges faced by the main character can relate to anyone of any age. The words the novel uses and the ideas it forms aren't too complicated, but probably not easy enough for someone who's a child to understand. I would say that this novel is aimed at people who range from their teens to any adults.

Several new characters have been introduced in this particular section because this is the time when the games are starting, so all of the new tributes are introduced. As well as several people who are involved with the games. The purpose of the new tributes is to provide more suspense to the story and make things more interesting by adding a lot more characters. They also build relationships with some of these people and portray the characters in their own way, not just as another tribute. The people involved with the games come in and out of the story and aren't mentioned as much as the tributes, a couple of them do have a part in the story, though. They also add more suspense because they are the ones controlling the games. The purpose of adding all these characters is definitely to build up some relationships with the main characters, strengthen them and show what they are like in contrast to others.
 * __ 15. Describe any new characters that are introduced. What is their purpose? __**

__** 16. What is the climax of the novel? **__ I feel like the climax is starting to happen now, when there are only 6 people left in the games and they've just been told that 2 people from the same district can win this year. This means if Katniss can find Peeta alive, they could both win. This is where a lot of suspense is built up because we don't know if Katniss will find him or what will even happen next. The games have revealed their last rule now, and I think this is definitely the climax of the novel.

In this section, Peeta and Katniss are now known as the 'star- crossed' lovers from district 12, which will help them survive, so they put up with this act. The games begin and Katniss realizes that Peeta has joined the Career pack ( the most competitive people in the games, who train for them). She is alone until she makes an ally named Rue, a small girl who reminds her of Prim and has exceptional survival techniques. Rue dies later on because she is attacked and Katniss knows she has to win these games, not only for herself, but for Rue as well. The games go on, there are 6 people left and then a sudden announcement is made: 2 tributes can win this year if they are from the same district. Which know means that is Katniss finds Peeta, they can both stay alive and win

_ Rayanne The Hunger Games __ Journal Entry #5 - __ (Jan. 13/12) Pg. 245 -374

20. Was the novel believeable? Yes, I think the novel was believeable, anything could happen in the future and the author found a was to make characters seem real. The was she made them think and react to things wasn't fake or unrealistic, the characters were like normal everyday people who faced big challenges in their lives. It almost seems more realistic than the future of technology and robots that everyone thinks is going to happen. The book shows a future where the world can only rely on itself and the citizens are constantly being reminded of the mistakes that their ancestors made.

21. Why would you (or why wouldn't you) recommend this novel to a friend? I would definitely recommend this book to a friend because it's and amazing story and it shows you how great your life really is. You find yourself thinking on a whole new level and realizing how fortunate you are to get to make the choices that you do. I think everyone should read this just to learn how much freedom we take for granted every day.

22. Why did (or didn't) the novel meet you expectations? The novel did meet my expectations and went beyond what I thought of the novel. I wasn't expecting to want to keep reading it or to be so eager to read the next few books. The story was very interesting and every chapter would always end in suspense, I couldn't put the book down! The way the story was written and the plot and the characters would always be developing and getting stronger which only made me want to read more!


 * Focus Assignment **

The novel I read was //The Hunger Games// By Suzanne Collins. This novel was really interesting from the start and only got more suspenseful from there. I think the theme of the novel was about places who run a government that isn't fair at all. It's about how something that happens in the past affects people in the future, and usually it doesn't end up turning out well. I think the author was successful in conveying this message because every time I stopped reading, I thought about how much freedom I truly have and how I'm not restricted in the choices that I make. She used really strong points in the novel to show you how much control some places have over the lives of their people, and it leaves the reader appreciating every little thing in their day because they know they don't have to live like the characters in her book. In my opinion, the novel wasn't written to anyone in particular, only for people who can understand the concepts in the novel and the ideas. Anyone of any age can read the novel, even though the character is a teen and a girl, the book doesn't seem to be pointed to one audience. The story is an amazing story and I really enjoyed it, it was so good that I ended up reading all 3 books in the series and the only bad point was that I literally could not put them down. //The Hunger Games// made me realize how lucky I am to be living in the place that I am, and how easy it is for me to live without restrictions or completely unfair rules. I would definitely recommend this book to everyone because I think the story is really interesting and it can bring a whole new perspective to your life. I loved the books so much that I read all 3 way before I was even supposed to finish the first. This book went over my expectations and I'm so glad I read it!

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