Hunger Games could satisfy local teens

Teenage fans of the “The Hunger Games” can become tributes from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Nov. 20 at the Post Falls Library.

That’s only the beginning.

Each month, a tribute ceremony will take place at one of the seven Community Library Network libraries.

In Suzanne Collins’ dystopian series, the district citizens of Panem must send a boy and a girl each year to appease the Capitol. These tributes appear in an annual televised event known as the “The Hunger Games,” designed to champion the survival of the fittest.

The Library Network’s Hunger Games won’t be televised, and survival only depends on how much fun participants want to have. Youth Services Specialist Jessica Bowman dreamed up the program in June when she heard about the May 2020 release of the Hunger Games prequel.

“I thought it would be really cool to do a district-wide program to promote the prequel,” Bowman said. “It’s an exciting way to have all our libraries involved and give teens a chance to participate in exciting events. Plus, they’ll have plenty of opportunities to win tokens to enter into a grand prize drawing.”

The Hunger Games is a story about a girl who overcomes unbelievable odds to become a hero. Teens can identify with her underdog status and her determination to overcome injustice, Bowman said. The first book, published in 2008, introduced Katniss to millions, and the award-winning series was a hit with readers.

The library’s program introduces the series to teens who have never read it or reintroduces the books to fans. “Even teens who don’t like to read will find something relatable in the stories,” Bowman said. “Katniss, stubborn and self-sufficient, is driven by a moral obligation to right the world she lives in.”

In the futuristic world of Panem, the country is separated into 12 districts and the capitol. Each district is responsible for producing goods and services to the capitol. Bowman thought that since there are seven libraries in the Community Library Network, each location could represent two districts, with the final ceremony at Hayden representing the capitol.

The bookmobile represents fabled District 13. Teens are invited to all events, each uniquely geared to the district it represents. Bowman said at Harrison, teens will do charcoal art because Harrison represents District 12, coal.

Snacks, contests, and games are also geared to the district theme.

The programs are free and no registration is required. These programs are sponsored by the Friends of the Community Library Network and the Friends of the Post Falls Library.