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