[nationalvelvet]

My American friend (from FB) often sends me and my family christmas gifts.

She has a son, aged 14, who loves to read
Someone suggested I send him the "Hunger Games books" for Christmas.

His dad (Policeman) was killed by a crazy gunman 10 years ago. He was too young to remember - but She talks about her DH just about everyday..she misses him so much.

Do you think this is an appropriate/inappropriate book to give him for christmas?

[FiveAus]

I'd be more inclined to gift the John Marsden "When the war began" books. Much better story and very unlikely to be available in the US.

[Bluenomi]

I think they'd be fine. They are good books, I prefer them to John Marsden.

[lilybet]

.

This post has been edited by EHB: 18/01/2013, 06:33 AM

[LJA_2012]

Its set in future and there isnt much mention of guns more bows and arrows, knifes and spears ect in the arenas I don't see a problem he is 14 not 10 so it's age appropriate I'm more worried that the books appeal more to girls well did to me anyway but I suppose boys would like them to. If your really worried ask his mother before you give them to him. But I don't see the problem.

[FlutterbyBlue]

If you are worried about the 'violent' aspect of any books you send, then definitely do not send him the John Marden Tomorrow series. I love them, I have read them more times than I can count. I was going to do my Honours Thesis on them (dropped out for family reasons), but they are very violent, and confrontational in many ways.

I don't like your chances of him not having read The Hunger Games trilogy either. They are very popular every where and if that's his style he has probably been there and done that.

Have you thought about asking his mother what book/s you could buy for him? She would be in a position to know something about his taste in literature.

Also it is VERY expensive to send books to the USA, particularly by air, and sea mail takes about 3 months, so your gift wouldn't arrive in time. How about sending over some money (you can get currency from the post office more cheaply than from the bank) or by PayPal, and asking his Mum to buy him something she knows he will like.

[la di dah]

Also it is VERY expensive to send books to the USA, particularly by air, and sea mail takes about 3 months, so your gift wouldn't arrive in time. How about sending over some money (you can get currency from the post office more cheaply than from the bank) or by PayPal, and asking his Mum to buy him something she knows he will like.

It's very easy and not too expensive to order off Amazon and have them sent (and gift-wrapped) from within the US, even with an Aussie credit card.

Christmas might jiggle shipping times slightly but it's not more than like a week.

[Z-girls rock]

just one point *spoiler alert* the main character of the Hungry Games' father was killed in a work place accident.

The main character talks about it quite a bit both as being a sadness and a motivation. She talks about how her mother is greving over the loss of her father etc.

If your friends father is not long departed maybe this will be a bit hard to read about?


Perhaps if the point of the present is escapism and entertainment then the other series suggested by John Marsden (which I have not read) would be better?

[Sofia*]

I wouldn't send Hunger Games now - although I love the books they have been out for quite some time, and the movie has been out for months too, so if he is interested he will probably have read them already.

I also don't know if I would send them to a boy whose dad died in a violent way. Katniss, the main character in HG, lost her dad in a mining accident. While it happens before the story begins, its a pretty defining occurrence for her and is referred to quite often.

Snap Z-girls, we were writing at the same time!

OP, if it was me, I would look for something Aussie to send him - or if you don't want to post a hard copy book, I would send an Amazon voucher so he can buy a paper or e- book that he wants to read.

This post has been edited by Rubybelle: 12/12/2012, 03:53 PM

[FiveAus]

A couple of good Aussie authors who would suit an avid teenage reader (my daughter was one and she loves these) are Robin Hobb and Trudi Canavan.