This book addresses Suzanne Collins’s work from a number of literary and cultural perspectives in an effort to better understand both its significance and its appeal. It takes an interdisciplinary approach to the Hunger Games trilogy, drawing from literary studies, psychology, gender studies, media studies, philosophy, and cultural studies. An analytical rather than evaluative work, it dispenses with extended theoretical discussions and academic jargon. Assuming that readers are familiar with the entire trilogy, the book also avoids plot summary and character analysis, instead focusing on the significance of the story and its characters. It includes a biographical essay, glossaries, questions for further study, and an extensive bibliography.
Instructors considering this book for use in a course may request an examination copy here.

The late Tom Henthorne was an associate professor of English and Women’s and Gender Studies at Pace University and director of the American Studies program. He was the author of numerous articles on topics ranging from Cyberspace to Star Wars and wrote a book on Joseph Conrad’s early, postcolonial fiction.

Tom Henthorne
Format: softcover (6 x 9)
Pages: 206
Bibliographic Info: appendices, glossary, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2012
pISBN: 978-0-7864-6864-5
eISBN: 978-0-7864-9323-4
Imprint: McFarland

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments vii
Preface 1
Introduction 5
Suzanne Collins: A Biography 13
One. Make of It What You Will: The Hunger Games Trilogy as a Literary Production 23
Two. The Importance of Being Katniss: Identity, Gender and Transgression 44
Three. Making War, Not Love: Conflict, Representation and Activism 63
Four. Isn’t It Pragmatic? Intelligent Practice, Ethics and Law 80
Five. “Real or Not Real?” Reality Television and the Hunger Games Trilogy 95
Six. Dystopia with a Difference: The Lessons of Panem and District 13 108
Seven. Survivor Stories: Trauma, Recovery and Narrative 125
Eight. Make of It What You Will (Remix): The Hunger Games Trilogy as Digital Text 139
Appendix A: Glossary of Terms 157
Appendix B: Glossary of Characters 166
Appendix C: Questions for Further Study 172
Bibliography 181
Index 191