Just after I finished The Fear of the Flood by Atwood, I saw a few reviews in the NY Times Review of Books of The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. Another dystopian novel for young adult readers, but like the Harry Potter series also embraced by adults. Even adult level book clubs are picking up the Collins Trilogy with blogs effusively seeking out the last book Mockingjay.
After reading it, I was amazed at the similarity of both of the novels based in a future challenging the few who survive and also both having strong young women who take on the challenge.
I think it's wonderful that books come along that cross boundaries. Isn't that the job of reading—the crossing of boundaries?
To take readers from the mundane of some of our everyday lives to another world be it in the future, the present or the past.
I sometimes wonder about the kids who face so much assessment and wander in a daze from all of it wondering what could possibly be so marvelous about this depressing process called reading!
If we put real books in their hands, surrounded them with books in classroom bins, or as some of my secondary teachers do—build shelving around the room and keep a ready supply of YA titles to attract their attention and interest maybe, just maybe we wouldn't have to face that dystopian world that seems on the cusp of our time!
