Hey APS
Until my 10 yo daughter brought this book home, I hadn't heard a thing about "The Hunger Games". I read the plot synopsis, skimmed the first three chapters (total time < 5 minutes) and said "Whoa. This seems like inappropriate subject matter for a 10 year old." And suggested she hold off on it for a day while mom and I discuss it. The child was disappointed. My wife said she'd read it, but she'll be in the book for a week before coming away without any conviction.
I need to be a concerned father, without being a controlling jack wagon. The kid can read it, and understand it. Her intellectual maturity level is typical 10 year old, while here reading and vocabulary are up around 12-14. She doesn't get to any R rated movies, we don't have cable, and this is her first Sci-Fi (not counting Harry Potter). The whole premise of teenagers killing one another for entertainment (my surmised plot) seems pretty base, and taking it one further, so is the idea of a having a 10 year old read a book about it.
Do I need to read the damn thing? I probably will have to jam through it in one sitting because although it 's a long weekend I was leaning more towards painting the garage trim or plastering a hallway or rewrapping a few guides on the fly rod.
I need a sounding board here, and I have more faith in you all than Dr Dobson.
What do you think about the book's appropriateness for a 10 year old girl?
Thanks
Steve.