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Round 1 Match 6: The Hunger Games vs The Porcupine YearApril 15, 2009
Judge Ellen Wittlinger's Statement Although The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins is set in a dystopian future and The Porcupine Year by Louise Erdrich takes place in a realistic past, the two novels have more in common than I expected. The protagonists in both cases are brave, knowledgeable young women who can take care of themselves in the wild. Both young women have learned about the healing power of medicinal herbs from older women; from boys they’ve learned how to set a snare to catch a rabbit. Both stories are about survival against great odds. Erdrich’s book is the third in a series about Omakayas, twelve years old in 1852, and her Ojibwe family. In this new tale, the family has been forced by white settlers to leave the land where they’ve always lived to find a new home in northern Minnesota. The writing is lyrical and the story is filled with wonderful Ojibwe lore. (For example, Ojibwe people only tell stories in the winter when the snow muffles the sound and the spirits can’t hear them.) Erdrich also infuses the story with Ojibwe words which would be unpronounceable without the glossary at the back, but which add realism and sometimes even humor to a story which is often painful and sad. But it’s the characterization that lifts the book out of its historical niche and into the realm of literary classic. Omakayas has complex and competing emotions towards most of the members of her family as she grows to womanhood. She bumps heads with her no-nonsense mother, Yellow Kettle, but when the family is in crisis, Yellow Kettle surprises Omakayas with her tenderness. The girl finds her younger brother, Quill, foolhardy and annoying, but when circumstances turn him into a more thoughtful, serious young man, she misses his lighthearted teasing and the rapport they had as children. Old Tallow, the ancient but still strong hunter who lives with the family, screams in horror when she believes Omakayas has died, but is without sentiment about giving her own lifeto save the rest of her clan. There’s not a one-dimensional character in the book. While Louise Erdrich masterfully describes the daily existence of hunter-gatherers in the forests and lakes of Minnesota, Suzanne Collins’s job is to make her readers believe in a ruined North America in which the remaining “districts” are governed by cruel, ruthless leaders who live in a city called the Capitol. The world Collins creates is made believable not because of the way it looks or functions, but because of the way the protagonist, Katniss Everdeen, has integrated its horrors into her daily life. For the people fortunate enough to live in the Capitol, the government provides a yearly reality show called the Hunger Games which everyone watches on television. One boy and one girl from each of the twelve districts is chosen at random to compete to the death in a wilderness arena while the world watches and sponsors bet on who will win. District 12, where Katniss lives, is a desperately poor coal-mining region which has had only one Hunger Games winner in living memory. When Katniss’s twelve-year-old sister is chosen to be a tribute in the Games, Katniss—older and stronger—volunteers to go in her place. The Hunger Games starts with a bang and never lets up. Before the tributes even reach the arena in which they’ll compete, they are prepared for the Games by developing their beauty, their talent, their intelligence and their spirit. It is ingeniously horrible that they become their best selves before being pitted against each other in deadly battle. Peeta, the boy who goes with Katniss from District 12, is a great foil for her. While Katniss focuses on survival at any cost, what matters to Peeta is that he maintains his humanity. Is it possible to win and remain human? Even though there are brutal scenes here, stomach-turning to read, Collins is also dryly funny. The secondary characters Effie Trinket and Haymitch, mentors for the District 12 teens, introduce just enough humor into the story to keep the horror bearable. And, of course, the notion that reality TV has sunk to this level is black humor as well. The suspense never lets up for a second, and I found myself constantly surprised by the twists and turns here. Even though the ending does not tie things up neatly—a sequel appears this year—it was completely satisfying and brought a tear to my crusty old eye. In fact, I haven’t fallen in love with a book like this in a long time. I was pleased to have been given two such wonderful books to read. It was a difficult choice to make, but in the end I had to go with my heart, and my heart was torn apart by The Hunger Games.
 Yes! High five to Ellen! My 16-year-old self thinks The Hunger Games should easily wipe out the rest of the competition. It remains to be seen whether or not that will happen, but he is loving it now. Despite some occasionally sloppy writing and some glitches in the world-building, this novel features good thematic depth for this genre, not to mention the most suspenseful plot-driven story of the year, and a superb character in Katniss—oh, and it’s easily the most popular new book at my school. As plucky and resourceful as Omakayas is, she wouldn’t stand a chance against Katniss. Come to think of it, neither would Octavian Nothing, Frankie Landau-Banks, Nobody Owens, or most of the characters from this past year. Maybe Katsa from Graceling? Now there’s a cage match I’d pay to see! Grrrl Power! Posted by Battle Commander on April 15, 2009 | Comments (5)
April 15, 2009
In response to: Round 1 Match 6: The Hunger Games vs The Porcupine Year Lauren Downey commented: Reading through Ellen's statement was almost as suspenseful as The Hunger Games itself! To quote ourselves: "And the canon fires, round one down yeah!" - Summer & Downey
April 15, 2009
In response to: Round 1 Match 6: The Hunger Games vs The Porcupine Year Wendy commented: For me, this was the most heart-wrenching and impossible match of the round. Cheers to Ellen Wittlinger. I would have been happy with either result--but I would also have been sad with either result.
April 15, 2009
In response to: Round 1 Match 6: The Hunger Games vs The Porcupine Year Diane commented: I agree with the choice, but OH how sad I am that they met so early in the matches. I loved both.
April 23, 2009
In response to: Round 1 Match 6: The Hunger Games vs The Porcupine Year Christine Roper commented: How interesting, this is exciting for everyone.
April 25, 2009
In response to: Round 1 Match 6: The Hunger Games vs The Porcupine Year jpvizzle8 commented: that'd be amazing if katsa fought against katniss(the hunger games and graceling).I love both of these books and they are very good.By the way it's very weird how both of their names start with Kat
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