Thank-You For Your Donations!

The Hunger Games food drive officially came to a close on Wednesday, March 28th. All told, between donations collected at Oceanside East and the Rockland Public Library, nearly 300 pounds of non-perishable food and household items were presented to the AIO Food Pantry! This is a remarkable amount to have gathered in 3 short weeks. Thank-you so much to everyone who donated items, spread the word about this event, and participated in The Hunger Games Community Read!

Today's THE Day!

Be sure to listen for the announcement of the winning District today at OHSE! Remember, the winning district gets FREE movie tickets for a private viewing of The Hunger Games at Flagship Cinema in South Thomaston this Saturday (March 31st) at 9:30am. May the Odds be Ever in Your Favor!

Discussion Questions - Week 3

It's Week 3 of the Hunger Games Community Read! Many of you are eligible for extra credit if you answer at least 2 of the following discussion questions. Be sure to answer thoroughly, and answer each question in at least 5 sentences apiece. May the odds be ever in your favor!

1. What items from the Cornucopia would be most helpful to Katniss (or you, if you were in the Games) after the Tracker Jacker nest falls? How would they be useful?

2. How do Katniss and Peeta work together to protect themselves against the muttations? If you were trying to save yourself from the muttations what weapon would you want to have on-hand? Why?

3. What major exports seem to be missing from the Panem Districts? If you could make a District 14, what would be your major export be? How would it benefit other Districts? What would your flag symbol be?

4. Do you think the love story aspect of the plot is important? Why do you think Suzanne Collins included this as part of the story? In your opinion, who should Katniss have ended up with--Peeta or Gale? Why?

5. What alliances have you seen form between characters throughout the Games? If you were in the Hunger Games, what character(s) would you form an alliance with? Why?

6. What strategies do you notice contestants using to survive? What would your strategy be for winning the Games?

7. Why did Katniss choose to blow up the food? What other options did she have?

8. What reasons would Gale have for being upset with Katniss based on her actions during the Games? Would you agree with those reasons?

To receive credit for your answers, use the "Anonymous" profile to leave a comment at the end of this post. Remember to leave your initials and District number at the end of your comment. If you have any difficulty commenting, please contact Ms. Harjula or Ms. Giasson right away!

Discussion Questions: Week 2

Another week of the Hunger Games Community Read is underway! Thank-you to all who have participated in the Read so far, through reading the book, answering discussion questions, decorating food donation boxes, designing District logos, and answering trivia questions. May The Odds Be Ever In Your Favor - and may the best District win!

Many of you are eligible for extra credit by answering the discussion questions posted on this blog. Choose any two of the following questions and answer them thoroughly in at least five sentences apiece in the comments section of this post.

1. When Peeta declares his love for Katniss in the interview, does he mean it? Or is it all part of a show concocted by Haymitch, to make the two from District 12 seem like more desirable Tributes? Why do they need to impress sponsors in this way?

2. Imagine you are Katniss in the final seconds before she rises in the cylinder to the opening of the 74th Hunger Games. What emotions do you imagine you would feel? What evidence is there in the book of what she is feeling and thinking during that last moment before her life is truly on the line? Use a quote from the book.

3. Why does Peeta "throw himself into the thick of things" during the Cornucopia, going against the advice Haymitch gave him? All along he had agreed that he and Katniss should not go for the supplies, but he chooses to do so anyway. Why do you think he went for the supplies and joined with the Career Tributes?

4. What strategies do you notice developing in the early stages of the Hunger Games competition? What would your strategy be if you were in the Games? And why do you think some choose to work together in groups, when they know that only one can be the ultimate victor to come out alive?

5. How is fire significant in the Games for Katniss? What experience does Katniss have with fire in her life before the Games?

6. What prompts Katniss and Rue to come together as allies? Why do they begin to trust each other? How does their partnership benefit them, in the Games and personally?

To get credit for your response, please choose "Anonymous" as your profile in the comments section, and leave your initials and District number at the end of your comment. If you have any difficulty leaving a comment, please contact Ms. Giasson or Ms. Harjula as soon as possible!

Love the Hunger Games?

Do you consider yourself a Hunger Games superfan? If you are obsessed with the futuristic world of Panem and the plight of its citizens, you might also love some of the worlds in these other great dystopian novels:

- Tomorrow, When the War Began by John Marsden (the first in the Tomorrow series)

Ellie and her friends go for an overnight camping trip in the Australian bush. When they return home, their families are gone, livestock are dead or dying, and an unknown militaristic enemy has taken over. They must figure out how to survive, where their loved ones have gone, and what has happened to the world they left behind.

Sound intriguing? Learn more by checking out the author's website. You can order the book online through Amazon or Wal-Mart, or check the Rockland Public Library to get a copy on loan.

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The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater

Every November, riders must try to keep control of their horses in a race to the finish. Some riders live, other riders die, but only one can finish first. This novel follows the story of the first girl to ever enter the races--Puck Connelly. Puck is unprepared for what lies ahead, but her fate is to participate in the race. Sounds riveting, right?

Look at purchase prices on Amazon and Wal-Mart, and search the RPL site for a copy to loan.

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The Eleventh Plague by Jeff Hirsch



In this fictional post-WWIII version of America, the country has been devastated by war and plague, and most of its citizens are dead. Teenager Stephen Quinn and his family are among the few survivors, and must roam as scavengers to continue their lives. Suzanne Collins calls this debut novel "excellent."

You can learn more about this book (and even read the first four chapters!) by checking out the author's website. Check purchase prices here and here, and search RPL's database for a loaner copy.

What other books are you loving right now? Does anything compare to the Hunger Games?

Discussion Questions: Week 1

Choose any two of the following questions and answer each in five sentences apiece in the comments section below:

1. What is your favorite line from the first eight chapters? Why do you think it will be important later in the story?

2. Who is your favorite character so far? Why?

3. Which District do you feel produces the most important item? Why do you feel this is most important to the characters in the story?

4. Why did you choose to participate in this Community Read? What do you hope to accomplish within your District?

5. Who visits Katniss in the Justice Building? Who do you think was her most important visitor? Why?

6. Imagine you are Katniss: would you have taken Prim's place as tribute? Why or why not?

To receive credit for your responses, you must reply thoroughly in the comments section of this post. To leave a comment, choose "Anonymous" as your profile and include your initials and District number at the end of your post. If you have difficulty posting a comment, contact Ms. Harjula or Ms. Giasson.

What's Your District?

The Hunger Games Community Read has officially begun! Were you assigned a District yet? It's not too late to get in on the fun--stop by the OHSE library to sign up and join a District.

Check back here every week for new discussion questions, surveys, and random Hunger Games trivia. Your English teachers may offer extra credit for your participation in our comment forum, so stay tuned for more information.