My DD and DGD are both going.. My DGD read all three books and DD is finishing the first. Tickets have been purchsed and clothes picked out - my DGD is 11 too...

My 16 has been excited ever since she found out there was going to be a movie. She tells me she would like to go to the midnight show if our little city gets the movie. I tease her, is it Team Peeta or Team Gale? Maybe Team Katniss.

She's still trying to get me to read the second and third books. Maybe this spring.

My 11 yo and I have read all three books. Loved them! We're excited about the movie. The two younger kids haven't read the book, but they want to see the movie also. I just hope the movie holds up to the book. Also, I'd like to see another book about Katniss and Peeta after the trilogy.

DH and I listened to the entire trilogy while working at our computers in the evenings. My 12 year-old grandson read The Hunger Games for a book report earlier this year and is now reading the second book for another report. We are all anxious to see the movie.

We've read the books and want to see the movie too. I have to work Friday and all weekend so it will have to wait until next week.

Yeah, I think I will also have to wait until the next weekend too:(.

Lurker here. Loved all 3 books. Finally got my daughter the HS principal to read them, after getting her a Kindle for Christmas and putting it on my account. She finally gave in and starting reading the first book, and finished all 3 in two weeks, lol.

Now she knows what all the fuss is about @ her school. Can't wait to see the movie this weekend with her.

ok. I haven't read it. It just doesn't sound like
something I would like. My brother read it and he
told be there were young kids fighting til the death.
Actually think sex is better than kids killing kids.
But, like I said, that is all I know of it and it just
doesn't sound like my kind of thing. But a LOT of
people seem to really like them. I don't think I even
want to pick it up and take a look. lol

Kat, that's the basis of the books but there is more to it than that. It's set in the future and a way for the "government" to control the people in the different districts that are left after an uprising. It's really pretty interesting and how the kids cope with what they're forced to do, and how they try to survive.

Loved the first book, liked the other two, and definitely want to see the movie!

Kat, I read the first book and I usually am more worried about sex and nudity but I am with you here. I think it does depend on the child, but if the child is highly intelligent and sensitive, it could be a lot to handle.

The subject matter is very dark; dark beyond what I would expect a young teenager to "enjoy". Society, I guess feels otherwise as this is a very popular book amoung "kids". I will not be pushing my child to read it.

I read the book in under a day (it's an exciting and easy read) but it depressed me and not sure I'm going to read anymore in the series. I can't imagine it's not too mature for some kids.

I recall watching the Lord of the Rings (the original) as a child and it haunted me for days, if not forever. I just hope this movie won't do the same to kids today. Hopefully they are already desensitized enough to be able to handle it.

Oh... I meant I recall watching the "Lord of the Flies"...not Lord of the Rings.

Kat, This book probably isn't for the extremely sensitive or low intelligence type. It's NOT realistic to me or my girls at all but I'm sure there are those that don't part reality from fiction books very well. We see it as a story, to read and put up on the bookshelf. My dd and her friends are intelligent, very well adjusted and super excited for the movie. I imagine, when you see the weekend sales next week you will see, they aren't alone in their gittiness.
I don't want to give away how the books end but I'll say that the 'hunger games' are changed. For the better. Good wins over evil government my daughters inform me. Plus the main actress gets her happily ever after. ~I've only read one book and have looked at the last two. Quick and easy to read. The closer the movie date is the more I hear about the story from my girls. Anyone who knows my 16 year old will tell you she is a crusader for the down and needy. An animal lover and a weekly volunteer for various causes. She likes the book for the way it was written, not because she wants to learn how to take out her buddies.
Just like Harry Potter, it's only a book to entertain, not a handbook for wargames. Some like romance, mystery, horror, etc. doesn't mean we are going to repeat what we read. Obviously no one has to read the series if they feel it's not the right time.

My thoughts about Lord of the Flies, it was a totally boring book (to me).

My ds and I both thought the idea for the book wasn't interesting when we first heard about it. I needed some books for a plane ride so I bought book 1 and 2. I finished both books on vacation and passed them onto ds. He wasn't goingtoread them, but then he heard his friends talking about them and tried them. They are hard to describe, but good.

I'm not sure my opinion was understood. Generally, I feel the more intelligent children (who will tend to be more analytical and sensitive in terms of truly understanding things may not be able to take the movie as easily). And, by sensitive, I don't mean those that cry easy. Kids who "think" for a hobby, may not be able to sleep after it. Kind of like how some would be after watching "A Clockwork Orange"-- (doesn't matter that the film is fantasy)

More average types and/or younger kids (who may not be able to understand and take it all in) may not have as big of a problem with it and simply be able to view it as entertainment without being disturbed.

And, by the way, it's a shame you were bored by Lord of the Flies, toni. It is considered a classic (not a fad book) by many as the author was a noble prize winner. Guess it's hard to agree on truly good literature :)

It is not the type of book I probably would enjoy. I have heard that so many others have loved it though. I have so many books left to read on my Kindle, that I probably will not bother with this series.

You definitely have to gage the kid who will go see this movie. I can take my 11 year old son but I wouldn't let my 10 year old daughter see for a few more years. Their personalities are quite different and I don't think she can handle it and she is begging to go but I still stand at no with her. I will take her to a different movie another time.

JMO about Lord of the Flies. Not only boring but written in a way I didn't enjoy. The characters themselves had my interest but the way the book is written kept me thinking the next chapter must be better than this one. My dd said the same thing. Not our cup of tea. She did say the movie was only slightly better than the book.
As I recall, until it was brought into the school system, it was a dud in the sales department. I don't wonder why.

Yeah, a lot of the so called classics are kind of hard and boring to read. I can certainly say that about Moby Dick! I have a feeling your daughter probably saw the 1990 version of Lord of the Flies (it was remake and got pretty bad reviews). The original (from 1963), was a lot better but was a UK version in Black & White and probably by today's standards may still not be exciting enough for many kids.

If anyone is interested, Battle Royale is Japanish movie from 2000. I've heard some people think Hunger Games was a copycat version of it. I haven't seen it, but it looks, and I've heard it got good reviews. (Again, though, maybe not for kids!).

Here's the IMDB link..check out the summary. I was amazed at the similarities with The Hunger Games. Anyone see it?

Here is a link that might be useful: IMDB: Battle Royale