The author, publishers, and producers are not being responsible in protecting our society’s children while promoting such a disturbing violent story in which the characters themselves are children and marketing the violence to them. It feels like exploitation of children. It is ironic that the creators of this are mirroring the Capitol and society of their own creation, The Hunger Games. Who is financially gaining from this? Who is now using the excuse of feeding the hungry to promote violent entertainment? Who is creating the celebrations to promote this disturbing violent entertainment? But are they protecting the children from the violent exploitation?

@Ann. You, if a parent, are responsible for what your children see. Imagine living in Somalia and having no choice to the violence your kids see and, in some cases, are subjected to. The Hunger Games highlights a dystopian society where the most fundamental needs are taken from the people. Have you even read this book?

@ Ann, Because of people like you this society is turning more into a reality of hunger games, people who talk without making a conscience of what they are saying or let themselves be driven by anybody in a countering frame of mind ,THE HUNGER GAMES it’s just a story that will make us learn about what we are capable of doing if we continue allowing people or “books” think that way,ultimately we are the designers of our future ,who may involve our love ones and stay that way but please keep it to yourself
and good Luck to you and may the odds be ever in your favor!

@Ann- I have to agree with Marie here. If you are the parent, then you are responsible for what your child reads, watches, and is otherwise exposed to. You make those decisions based on what you think is best for your child. If you don’t think it’s appropriate for children, then don’t let your children read it.

As far as the violence in the book, I don’t think the book is all that violent, and I doubt the movie will be either. Echoing Marie, did you actually read this book? I think you will find that the ideas presented in the book are less violent than the types of things that are really happening in places all over the world. That was the part that I found the most disturbing- that many of these things are already happening, more or less, in our world right now. Children may not be sent to die for their Capitol or country in a controlled arena, but there are things just as horrible they are being subjected to. Instead of shielding our children from these things, we should allow them to know that there are children in this world who don’t have a roof over their head, can’t go to school, and don’t have enough to eat every day. If the popularity of the Hunger Games is one way to increase awareness of hunger around the world, then I don’t see a problem.

None of the OOm links are available.

Wake up parents!! This has nothing to do with what is going on in the world of hunger. If that were the case, it would be a documentary of educating our children. This book does nothing to benefit the education of our children on what other children face in the real world. It is all about putting disturbing mental images in our children’s minds and making money while doing it. Wake up parents! Promoting and encouraging violence against children for entertainment is wrong!

@Ann & @Guest – It is obvious neither of you have read the novel or you would know that it does not promote or encourage violence. And it does a much better job promoting peace than people who insult and bash others without knowing what they are talking about. I applaud Scholastic, Lionsgate, and all the fans–like Shylah Addante, who started the Literacy Revolution and Hunger is Not a Game movements in the fan community: http://shylahgotreaped.blogspot.com/p/hunger-is-not-game.html. People like Shylah are trying to make a difference in our world and help others in a positive way because they were inspired by Katniss’s story. Instead of spreading your hate, why not do something to help and donate?

I applaud all the good things good people do for the world. I already donate time and money to help the hungry people of the world. I have packaged up special food for them in our community over the years. It did not take a fictional book for me to already have the compassion to do this service. I just don’t understand why we have to create another disturbing evil scenario or war involving children and make it entertainment. There are enough bad examples in the world and in past history that sickens my stomach. I don’t need anymore, real or fictional. My compassion is for the children who have to suffer through another bad example. I just hope and pray parents will carefully guide their children and the movie gets the proper violence rating not to cause any more harm in the world.

@Ann and Guest
First, have either of you even read the series? It’s great and has alot to teach about being courageous and standing up to what you believe is right and it’s not that violent either.. Also these types of things happen everyday in the world (not the part of people being sent in an arena) people are hungry and are controlled by a gouvernment. Just look at Libya. If they didn’t revolt they still would be under the rule of someone who denied them they’re most basic rights. Kids need to be informed about things happening all around the world, so that they can learn to stop it. Even the Usa is starting to try things that are crazy like Sopa and Pipa which would have censored the internet.