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Victoria Tobul

Malcolm Campbell

UWRT 1104

30 April 2017

Kids Killing Kids: Why are young readers drawn to this?

Its 2009. I am entering my first year of middle school. Puberty is upon me. Hair is

growing in places it hasnt before, my face is breaking out; I am going through a lot of changes.

In years, prior, I would sit in the same class with the same people all day. Now, I go to seven

different classes a day, walk the halls alone, and try not to get in anyones way. Middle school is

a tough time; many things are changing with my body, my education, and my friendships. The

Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins, just came out the year before and many of my friends were

reading it and recommending it to me. My mother, being the ever-lurking, always-around, needs-

to-know-your-whole-life mother she is, forbid me from reading this series. She said that its

filled with violence and murder and those are not things she wants me reading about. It is now

2017. I am an avid reader; a lover of most genres, favorite being dystopian set literature. I read

The Hunger Games back in middle school. Secretly. And what I read was, yes indeed violence

and murder, but there was also a heroine, there was love, there was adventure, there was conflict,

and there was a resolution. The world that the characters lived in was a dystopia; an imagined

place in which everything is unpleasant, a totalitarian or environmentally degraded society. The

Hunger Games is classified as a dystopian novel. Dystopian literature reflects and projects the

fears and concerns of the present (Masson). This is what draws readers in. It allows them to

escape to an extreme world like theirs, without having to deal with it themselves.
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The Hunger Games series, The Divergent series, 1984, and The Giver are all popular

dystopian novels, each talking about different subjects related to reality. Why do these novels,

that take place in such unappealing settings, appeal to so many young readers? These books are

not realistic. Chicago is not a crumbling city segregated by different factions (Divergent).

America is not separated by districts, forced to work and supply for the capital, and give up 24

adolescents each year for their punishment (The Hunger Games). We do not live in a world

without color or emotion (The Giver). The world wonders how these unrealistic novels can gain

the interest of so many readers in the middle school to high school age group; why not something

more realistic, the world might ask. Contemporary fiction, realistic fiction, and non-fiction, all

express the worlds current terrors in a realistic form. Its believable. So why is it that readers

enjoy looking at the worlds current events through the chaos that is a dystopia?

A dystopian society is a futuristic, imagined universe in which oppressive societal

control and the illusion of a perfect society are maintained through corporate, bureaucratic,

technological, moral, or totalitarian control. Dystopias, through an exaggerated worst-case

scenario, make a criticism about a current trend, societal norm, or political system, writes

Catherine Schmidt. These books talk about current events without directly stating that they are.

Common events like poverty, segregation, total government control, and conformity are a few

topics authors enjoy writing about in the dystopian young adult genre. Maggie Stiefvater, author

of the Shiver trilogy, a dystopian series, writes, In a culture defined by shades of gray, I think

the absolute black and white choices in dark young adult novels are incredibly satisfying for

readers. We, meaning students and young adults, are taught most of our lives that there is a right

and a wrong, black and white so to speak. People (i.e. teachers, parents, neighbors, friends)

willingly, and openly, give their opinions on what they believe is right and wrong. We grow up
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thinking that life is so simple, that making the right choice will make us happy and there will

be no consequences. There comes a point, though, when our eyes finally open and we see the

real world for what it is. The world is not this simple place where everything is black and white.

We live in a world where there are positives and negatives to both choices we must make,

whether that is to cheat on your test, what college you want to go to, or should you date your best

friends ex-boyfriend. We live in this gray area where there is no definite right answer and this is

stressful for many young adults. So why do young readers go to dystopian literature instead of

these realistic fiction novels? Realistic fiction novels are relatable, but sometimes too relatable.

Sarah Dessen is an author of many realistic fiction teen romance novels. Her books touch base

on divorce, deceased parents, cheating boyfriends, backstabbing best friends, financial issues,

and many more. I have read every single one of her books and I understand them. Dessen writes

these books so that her readers have a character they can look to; they can see this character

getting through this rough patch and discovering themselves and thats what they want; it gives

them hope. But not all realistic fiction books end with a happy ending; the parents are still

divorced and the family member is still dead. The great thing about dystopian literature is that it

isnt real. When someone reads this type of book they go into another world where there are so

many possibilities. In a discussion for the New York Times, Ben Barnhart, editor for dystopian

novel writer Lisa Rowe, says It can be comforting, in a strange sort of way, to read a story in

which the terrifying struggles and tribulations of the main character force your own problems to

fade away, (qtd. in Bacigaupi). Anytime I read a book set in a dystopian society it takes me

away from my problems. I see what the characters are going through and everything I am going

through seems so small; it fades away. But what I love most about these books isnt that it

minimizes the troubles in my life but more romanticizes the troubles of the characters. The
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characters go through hell and have an epic resolution filled with confessions of love, reunions,

and the death of an antagonist. The endings of these books fill me with a hope that anything I go

through will end up with an epic conclusion. A break up with my boyfriend gives me an epic

confession of love that trumps Ryan Goslings the Notebook speech. If I have a fallout with a

friend, I can think that maybe we will battle it out and decide to call a truce in the end. And if I

am worried about a test, well then perhaps my teacher will become a vampire and wont be able

to make it to class. No problem I go through will ever be worse than having to fight to the death

with 23 other kids my age just to survive and live in a society heavily controlled. The events that

the characters go through are so intense and gruesome and challenging that it allows the reader to

wonder if their issues arent so bad.

Sophie Massons article for The Australian, End of the World as We Know It, talks about

the time of the late 20th century where the threat of nuclear holocaust hovered over everyones

head. It was a time where most dystopian young adult novels centered on post-war, pre-industrial

themes. John Christopher began writing the Tripods trilogy in the late 1960s: a post-war time,

where America and northern Europe were experiencing an increase in immigrants, both legal and

illegal. This trilogy, written for a younger audience, is about an alien group that descends onto

earth and takes control of everything. The books follow a 13-year-old boy and his friends as they

try to deal with the outcomes of this invasion: hunger, envy, humanity, and pride. As stated

earlier, books, and specifically the dystopian genre, like to take current events and add their own

twist to it. In this case, Christopher is writing about immigration issues and how it affected the

economy, the government, and the society. These books were written for children, yet they

discuss such heavy topics that most cant fully comprehend. Teachers enjoy using dystopian

literature, like this, in their classrooms because they intrigue the students says Byrd Pinkerton in
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Through the Looking Glass: How Children's Books Have Grown Up. They are fun to read and

can help the readers empathize what people might be going through in these similar, real-life,

situations.

In the 1600s, John Locke wanted to change the education system by making reading fun.

He did this by trying to make learning a game, so that it would draw the attention of the students,

and they could still learn. Everything taught in school and read in books was realistic though.

There were no books set in an alternate dimension or societies with a totalitarian government; the

books that were published during this time are what we consider the classics, the books like

Pride and Prejudice or Of Mice and Men. That was until 1865 when Lewis Carroll

published Alices Adventures in Wonderland. This one book kick started this new genre of

literature that involved imagination and fictitious characters. Carrolls books, along with the long

chain of other novels centered around childhood, were not welcome in the classroom due to their

lack of support for the education system (Valdes). This girl, who had the best education, could

not find her way around this wonderland, hinting at the unnecessary amount of schooling that is

required of all kids (Alices Adventures in Wonderland).

The banning of certain books is still present today. Books are banned for sexual

references, language, racism, etc. In Arizona, there is a law that bans classes that promote the

overthrow of the United States government, promote resentment toward a race or class of people,

are designed primarily for pupils of an ethnic group or advocate ethnic solidarity instead of the

treatment of pupils as individuals, (Rosenburg). Due to this law, there are many important

novels being removed from the schools curriculum that teach valuable lessons to young readers.

Books that talk about sensitive topics such as racism, homophobia, and discrimination are taught

in schools so that students have a safe place to talk about the problems of the past. They are
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taught in school and discussed to ensure that our future leaders of this world are empathetic to

the issues of the past and help promote a better future. Without making the discussion of these

sensitive topics a requirement, our younger generations could grow up ignorant about the world

they live in and history could repeat itself. Schools dont want The Hunger Games being taught

in class due to the violence and the way the heroine goes against authority. The Perks of Being a

Wallflower, a personal favorite of mine, teaches the importance of acceptance of ones self,

friendship, and family. In 2015, a parent in Connecticut complained about the book and wanted it

banned for references to homosexuality, date rape, masturbation, and the glorification of alcohol

and drug use, (Admin.) Dystopian novels, banned for the same reason this parent complained

about, include: Clockwork Orange, Brave New World, and 1984.

Recently, President Trumps Re-Education Secretary talked about the growth in sales for

George Orwells 1984. They said Weve got to stop this before it gets out of hand. We cant

have people reading books that encourage independent thought or criticize the government,

(Bergman). Our own government wants to get rid of books that are taught in the curriculum at

schools. The books that people want banned so badly are the ones that teach such important life

lessons; homosexuality, date rape, alcohol, and drugs are all out there in the real world and

getting rid of a book from a schools curriculum isnt going to change that. Kids will still be

exposed to these things through social media, television, movies, and their peers. Novels are

honest about society, they are blunt. Throughout our lives information gets censored for children

because it is deemed too extreme, so they are kept from knowing and understanding certain

topics like sexual orientation, sex, racism, and government. The great thing that dystopian novels

do is lay it out for the readers, they tell them what is wrong in society in the most honest way

possible.
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In middle school, we were told to read the book Fahrenheit 451. The book takes place in

a futuristic America where all books are banned and firefighters are in charge of burning the

books. This is a book about censorship and the banning of literature for fear of creating

individualism and independent thought. So now do you see why books are hated and feared?

They show the pores in the face of life. The comfortable people want only wax moon faces,

poreless, hairless, expressionless, (Fahrenheit 451 2.129). Bradbury is telling the reader that

that books show reality and all its ugliness. I agree that there are some books that certain age

groups should not read but prohibiting a book being taught in a classroom full of people old

enough to vote and drive seems ridiculous. This dystopian novel that teaches the importance of

individuality, has been banned in Foxworth, Mississippi at West Marion High School for the use

of the word goddamn, (Baldassarro). This book expresses my fears for where the future is

headed. We are headed to a world where all books, movies, and T.V shows will be hurtful for any

person and require its banishment to avoid conflict. It is important to teach these topics and talk

about them in a classroom because it is always going to be around and the importance of

understanding how to drink safely or how to have safe sex could be lifesaving.

My mom, and I will assume many other parents, did not want me reading The Hunger

Games series because most of the book talks about kids killing each other for survival. She was

worried that these violent behaviors would impact me in some way and that I would be a more

violent person, like the arguments against children playing violent video games. I read The

Hunger Games because it taught me to stand up for what I believe in, it taught me the

importance of family and loving someone, and it taught me perseverance. No, going into an

arena and killing other people my age is not relatable to me. Katniss went through so much pain,

internal conflict, and hatred for all three books and she survived. This extreme setting drew me
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into the story and I finished it with new look at life. This story is what sparked my love of

reading. Why are dystopian novels so popular? The answer is simple. They are fun to read.

Readers can escape to this whole new world filled with advanced technology, fallen angels,

vampires and werewolves. They can escape to alternate universes, visit Paris during an

apocalypse, and kill someone with one single touch. Dystopian novels are also relatable. The

books are told through the point of view of someone who is the same age as the reader. Stevens

relates The Hunger Games to high school stating, cutthroat race for high school popularity

becomes an annual televised fight, (qtd. in "The Rising Popularity of Dystopian Literature.").

These books are related to the readers everyday life in school: fighting to get attention, fighting

to get good grades, fighting to become someone. In The Hunger Games, the readers see this

strong confident woman who isnt so feminine and then the readers see this man who bakes and

paints; both characters go against the stereotypical gender roles set by society. This book shows

the readers that its ok to not be like everyone else. Finally, these books are adventurous; they

draw you in and you cant put them down because you want to know if the main character is

going to make it to the next chapter alive (and honestly they probably wont but theyll be

brought back to life in a later chapter anyways).

Stories are always going to be around. Whether they will stay in book form or continue

their current path of technology, they will always be told. Dystopian literature acts as an escape

from reality; it offers up a whole new world of possibilities. The adventure the characters go on

and the lessons these stories teach are what make it so popular. What the world fails to see is the

importance of these novels. These novels are fun but they are more than the violence they hold

inside them. They are real and they talk about a future that could be fast approaching. Again, I

ask why are dystopian novels flying off the shelves of bookstores and into the hands of young
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readers? They are real, honest, and clear. They allow for an escape from this reality while

teaching lessons related to it. Readers can relate to the themes and they have this epic protagonist

to look up to for hope of a better future; because if they can get through the worst of the worst,

then Im sure that we can survive our everyday mundane lifestyle.

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Works Cited

Admin. "Frequently Challenged Books." Banned & Challenged Books. America Library

Association, 14 Mar. 2017. www.ala.org/bbooks/frequentlychallengedbooks. Accessed 05

Apr. 2017.

Bacigaupi, Paolo, Maggie Stiefvater, Jay Parini, Scott Westerfeld, Andrew Clements, Lisa Rowe

Fraustino, and Michelle Ann Abate. "The Dark Side of Young Adult Fiction." The New

York Times. 17 Dec. 2012. www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2010/12/26/the-dark-side-

of-young-adult-fiction/craving-truth-telling. Accessed 05 Apr. 2017.

Baldassarro, R. "Banned Books Awareness: Fahrenheit 451 By Ray Bradbury - World Leading

Higher Education Information and Services". World, 3 January 2011. world.edu/banned-

book-awareness-fahrenheit-451-ray-bradbury/. Accessed1 May 2017.

Bergman, Andrew J. "US Department of Education Bans All Dystopian Novels." The Daily

Bonnet. WordPress, 27 Mar. 2017. www.dailybonnet.com/us-department-education-bans-

dystopian-novels/. Accessed 30 Apr. 2017.

Bradbury, Ray. Fahrenheit 451. N.Y.: Simon and Schuster, 1950. Print.

"The Rising Popularity of Dystopian Literature." The Artifice. N.p., 20 Apr. 2015. www.the-

artifice.com/popularity-of-dystopian-literature/. Accessed 23 Apr. 2017.

Masson, Sophie. "End of the World as We Know It." The Australian, 07 May 2011.

Theaustralian.com/au. Accessed30 Mar. 2017.

Pinkerton, Byrd. Through the Looking Glass: How Children's Books Have Grown Up. NPR,

10 May 2016. www.npr.org/sections/ed/2016/05/10/476490413/through-the-looking-

glass-how-childrens-books-have-grown-up. Accessed 06 March 2017.

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Rosenburg, Alyssa. "Ten Books That Could Be Kicked Out of Classrooms Under Arizona's

Insane Curriculum Law." ThinkProgress. 18 Jan. 2012. www.thinkprogress.org/ten-

books-that-could-be-kicked-out-of-classrooms-under-arizonas-insane-curriculum-law-

100d9ee7a8ad.Accessed 05 Apr. 2017.

Schmidt, Catherine. "Dystopian Literature for Young Adults." What Is Dystopian Literature? -

Dystopian Literature for Young Adults - LibGuides Sandbox for Library Schools.

Springshare, 9 May 2016. www.libraryschool.libguidescms.com/content.php?

pid=325261&sid=2662137. Accessed 05 Apr. 2017.

Valdes, Marcela. What Terrifies Teens in Todays Young Adult Novels? The Economy. NPR,

30, Sep. 2013, www.npr.org/2013/09/30/226472708/whats-terrifying-teens-in-todays-ya-

novels-the-economy. Accessed 01 March 2017.

Wilkinson, Rachel. "Teaching Dystopian Literature to a Consumer Class." English Journal. 99.3

(2010): 22-26. Print. Accessed 12 March 2017

Young, Moira. "Why is dystopia so appealing to young adults? The Guardian, 22 October 2011.

www.theguardian.com/books/2011/oct/23/dystopian-fiction. Accessed 04 March 2017.