100 Days of Mockingjay - Your THG Story
Molly Wed, August 12, 2015
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Suzanne Collins created The Hunger Games from an idea born of late night channel surfing between real war coverage and reality television. Suzanne, the daughter of a career military man and Vietnam Veteran, has said that she wanted to write an age-appropriate war story for every age group. The Hunger Games is her war story for young adults. The trilogy's themes of poverty, socio-economic disparity, government corruption, propaganda, revolution, redemption, and the consequences of war don't make the trilogy a typical YA light read. But I think that's also why we love it so much.
The Hunger Games means many different things to many different people. For some, the heroine, Katniss Everdeen, is a strong and inspiring female role model, for some she motivates as a survivor of poverty and PTSD. She's complicated, imperfect, damaged and an incredibly compelling lead character.
Some people simply adore the love stories - Peeta and Katniss are the catalysts for countless Everlark fan fics. Everthorne, Odesta, any 'ship you sail in The Hunger Games certainly isn't all hearts and flowers and the romances in the books are tinted with sadness. Not a typical happy ending to be found anywhere in the trilogy, yet we relish them all the same.
In Thailand, citizens have identified with The Hunger Games and used its three finger salute as a symbol to combat injustice. Odds In Our Favor uses the salute along with their #MyHungerGames initiative to highlight economic inequality in the world.
We want to know what The Hunger Games means to YOU. Why do you love it? How has it inspired you? What brought you into this wild, wonderful fandom and how has it changed your life?
This week, share your story. You can write it in the comments below or share on our Facebook page. You can also snap a photo, or create an edit or gifset based on what The Hunger Games means to you and tag us on Instagram, Twitter, or Tumblr. Use the hashtag #MyTHGStory across social media so we can find you, and we'll share as many of YOUR THG stories as we can this week!
This idea was completely inspired by the lovely Everlarked & Always, a blog you definitely should be following on tumblr. Check out the eloquent #MyTHGStory submissions of Everlarked & Always followers here .
Be sure to enter the Your THG Story Giveaway in the widget below! The giveaway is open to international tributes and runs from today, August 12th until Tuesday, August 18th at 8:00pm EST.
Reader Comments (137)
When I think about The Hunger Games trilogy, I remember the winter of 2013, and when I think about that winter, I see it parted my life in two. There's a before and after that winter, and when I think about that, I know with certainty, it takes one moment for you to change, one person, one decision, that can change your life for ever.
In the summer of 2013 my family and I, who lived in South America, decided to move to the US.
It was a hard decision to make, but we knew it was the right one.
Slowly I saw how the house I had live in for the past six years emptied, and how our whole lives reduced to six bags with our belongings and a cat.
We arrived on June of that year and a week later we received the devastating news that my grandmother had cancer. This felt like falling off a tree, so to speak, because she wasn't only my grandmother, she was also my friend... My best friend perhaps, but I didn't realize that until it was too late
On August I had to start school. It was a big change and I was very nervous. I had left my friends, my family, my language, my culture... It was crazy for me, but I liked it, it was a challenge I was willing to accept.
Time passed and weeks later I was in my English class ( this was a special one because I was learning English) and my teacher, passed around a folder with a list of books. We had to chose one of them to read, and then, make a project based on it. Reading was not my favorite thing in the world back then, but what else could I do? I had to read it.
My eyes went through all the names and I saw a familiar one. I had seen the movie before and I really liked it, so I thought, why not? I know the story, so it wouldn't be hard to read. Let's read it!
With determination I raised my hand and announced to the teacher the name of the book I was going to read: The Hunger Games.
The more I read the more I enjoyed it, and the more I wanted to read.
Slowly I fell in love with Katniss and how human she was. I loved the way she loved her sister I loved how much I could relate to her and how selfless she could be.
As I read the next two books I found myself fascinated by how deep the books were, by how its themes were not only love, but sacrifice, war, justice and politics as well.
It was a satire to the fake society we live in, and the way we ignore common society issues.
Looking back to that winter I see that's how it all started for me. Looking back, I remember the lonely hours in October when the leafs were still falling down and it was just me and the book sitting on a bench It was like Katniss was there with me, she could understand me in ways i couldn't even understand myself.
I remember how I felt when my grandmother died and part of my family turned their back at me.
I remember the night I finished with Mockingjay, I remember how I held the book close to my heart, where I knew the story and its characters would live forever....
The books were always there, they helped me cope through my own little Hunger Games
Looking back I think: If I hadn't moved to the US, if I hadn't chose that book... Things would be different now.
Like I said, it only takes one decision, one instant, one person to change your life forever
This is my story. This is how I fell in love with Suzanne Collins' story and it's valuable lessons.
I learned that life is constantly like The Hunger Games. Hard, sad and unfair. There are some people that stop to play, but they are still alive in the warmth of our hearts, and live there forever.
There are mentors, that through our childhood try to prepare us for the inevitable. There are carriers, that look like have all the odds in their favor, but they are just empty inside. There are allies, that will always be in our side and will always help us through this battle.
There are our best friends, our confidents, those that aim to the same target than us with their bow. And there are the special ones, those that will be with us for our whole lives. The only ones that will bring with them the rebirth of the spring, the reason to continue, the hope that we need when those sad memories come to our minds and torture us; But most importantly, in the end there are always much worse games to play.
My story isn't a long one these books just helped me threw so much I've finished reading the series for the 6th time now. They just give me this escape from reality! When ever I need love Peeta is there. Whenever u need adventure katniss. These books have helped open my mind and made me such a deeper thinker! And if I ever have a boy I promised myself to name him Peeta because I just think that name can fit any person he turns out to be and even though Peeta is not real my son would always have these books to turn to and a role model to look up to within Peeta! I love these books with all my heart and sole! Thanks <3
Hi, im kristal and my THG story starts when i was in 8th grade. I had just moved into a new school and knew absolutely no one. Ive always been a reader, and people say i am a great writer, so i tend to hide in books alot. I am a shy person, so inless someone talks to me, i wont talk to them. So i spent weeks on my own, staying away from crowds, hidid g away in the library when i found a book named The Hunger Games. It seemed intresting, so i checked it out. Once i started it, i couldnt put it down. I had been sucked into another dimension, where every word created a scenario in my head. Word after word, i gobbled the book up. Chapter after chapter, i read about a strong independent young woman who was more intrested in saving her family than to find 'true love'. About a young woman who, even though she was scared senseless, she kept fighting. About a girl who didnt give up even if she was brought down, time after time. WHO PUT FAMILY AND FRIENDS FIRST. Who started a war to save those she loved. Who started out as a small distric girl, but ended up being the revolution.Someone who fought even after heartbreaks, bruises, and cuts. She was strong. She was independent. She sacrificed herself for the person she loved the most. She inspired me to be the best i can be. Along the second month of school, i started having confidence boosts, thinking of Katniss and how brave she was. I started thinking " If she can dtart a revolution, then i can talk to someone new" . I was more confident with myself. I was always trying to help people around me. I wanted to be the best i can be. And THG made me the best i can be. Today i have many great friends whom i absolutely love, and im in a leadership class where i can help kids in school with confidence and managing their social life and school. I am at a place where i feel as brave as Katniss. This book was more than just a book. It was a portal, leading me into a brighter world. Leading me into happiness. Ive never had the money to buy merchandise so i created my own out of paper and paint. I would draw the characters in my journals and make my own melody to 'The Hanging Tree'. This is my THG story. I hope i have a chance. :)
I've always been an avid reader but the year leading up to when I read the Hunger Games trilogy I was in a massive reading slump and couldn't find any books I liked. By a stroke of luck I saw the trailer for The Hunger Games soon after it was released and was hooked immediately and knew I had to get my hands on the books. I bought the whole trilogy (something I rarely do at once because I like to see if I enjoy book 1 first) and started reading them that evening. 24 hours later I had finished the whole series and I was blown away. I had read everywhere I could (including in the car where I normally get intensely travel sick if I read in motion, but I was so incredibly hooked by Catching Fire that I didn't feel ill at all.) I have seen every film on the UK date of release and even though the conclusion to the film series (Mockingjay Part 2) comes out on my mum's birthday, I'll probably see it then as well.
You know,when someone mentions "The hunger games" my hearing become sharper,I take a deep heavy breath and immediately take an interest in order to talk to them about it.
My THG story starts with the news that Liam Hemsworth is going to be in the cast of "The hunger games." I am one of the biggest fan of Liam so I started looking for everything that had to do with the THG. While watching the movie for the first time,my brain and my emotions went crazy,I was really feeling the movie like I was there. I realized that this movie is about family,love,courage,sacrifice,faith,loyalty,protection,the one that support us.It's about hope and not fear.And I think that's an important messagefor a lot of young people.I think that's why young girls look up at Katniss. She inspires them and gives them courage,because they see that they can be themselves and they can stand up for what they belive in. And I felt better after all,like I really have something to fight for. I need to find who I really am . So this is what Katniss did,she found out that she has a power and she will use that for justice. She gave hope to the districts that one day equality will be same as justice and they will be free. So yes,that's what THG series mean to me.
Hunger Games has inspired me to help fight a battle that is on going. I created a fb page and a blog, "Peace, Love & kindness against bullies". I did this to let people know why bullies do what they do and that they should not listen to what they say. Everyday it is an on going battle to help kids realize that the one doing the bulling is just hurt inside and taking it out on others.
Every time I hear about another teen killing themselves it hurts inside. Why is no one stepping up to help them, why are there to many parents ignoring their kids.
Sorry, I tend to ramble on because it hurts to know that there are so many kids dying everyday because of someone that needs to feel better by picking on others.
My fight is to save a life from a bully and to teach how to handle a bully. My fight is small now, but with time and support it will grow.
Help support just like today or if you want to join me email me.
http://plkagainstbullies.blogspot.com/
Hunger Games inspires me to keep on going even when things are hard, and you don't like the way it is going. I tried to go to college but instead of a degree I got 80K in debt and no degree. It hit me hard but I picked myself back up and keep on going. That's all you can do and I believe the Mocking Jay is a symbol of fighting to be better and to change things around you.
My discovery of The Hunger Games trilogy could be said not to be a happy one, but uts outcome sure was. It was near my birthday, in October, I had just started Year 12 in my school, which for those familiar with the British system is a year of many changes. Of course I had my family, my friends, and many people around me that cared for me, but it was the first time I began to understand what being a grown up, an adult, really meant. I felt lost, it was a year of many changes, difficult choices, new relationships, and relationships that became history. Then, after a few maybe too sad months of my life, which I always descibe as the time when reality hit me, overwhelmed me, I got The Hunger Games, the first book, for my birthday. At the beginning I was not very familiar with the story, even though the first movie had already been released, and practically everyone was talking about it. The book became a part of me the following days, I read day and night, I could not separate myself from it, just flipping through the pages. My brother even said it was like an extension of my arm. Of course, after I finished the first, I couldn't but run to the nearest bookshop to get Catching Fire, which again I devoured in a matter of days, and then again with Mockingjay. Looking back today, when I have already finished school and have my life more or less in the path that I wanted it to be (finally!), I think I can say I enjoyed the Hunger Games Trilogy not only for the adventure, the risk, the constant fear to death, but because it taught me that no matter what life puts ahead of you, or how hard the journey may be, or the people you loose along the way because, with effort, teamwork and some sacrifice, we all get to where we want to be, we all fight for what we love and care about, we are all able to kill to protect our families. Deep inside, we are all a little bit Katniss, and we should be proud of it.
The Hunger Games is very important to me because it made me look at the world in a different way . We should give more to others who need and we should fight for what we want , so I am here to participate in this competition to fight for what I want , but if I not win it does not bother me because I know going to a person who will make good use.
Hello! My Hunger Games story began a year after the first movie was realised, I saw the movie during a sleep over but I had to leave early so I didn't have time to watch it completely. I got so attached to the movie I had to find out more! So I bought it, read the books, and I really like Catching fire it's my favorite of them all. I like it so much I watch the movie this sumeer 2015 everyday twice. Crazy right? Haha. Um.. then I started to buy props of the movie , I bought the awesome mockingjay pin for my backpack, bought the movies and I'm dying to see part 2 of mockingjay. Oh I've also memorized catching fire from beginning to end haaaha all the lines of all the characters.😊 my parents thought I was crazy for all of this hunger games famdom but they managed to understand! That's my story I've gotta go I'm watching catching fire . And to all of you who've enter the give away may the odds be ever in your favor.-Effie Trinket.
Hello, I'm aminata klein. I'm 14 and live in Belgium.
My story begins by my 2 best friends. They saw the first movie and told me to watch it and it was an amezing movie. So I keep following it on every social media i have. When my mom fond it out I was a fan, she gived me the books and every time I read it, I think how amezing my mom is. It helped with the bond I have now with my mom. It is so much stroner than before. I got for my birthday a mockingjay pin and a blanket with peeta on it. She helped to make a memory book form all my pictures I have and went to a movie marhaton. She also helped whit my poster wall of the hunger games. So the reson I want to win is to thank my mom whit the goodybag, as a thank you for all the suport I got from her tanks to the movies. She is always there for me. So thank you mom. One last thing is that the hunger games helped me whit all the wisdom and life lessons to help one of my friends survival. She get builled at school and I gived her hope aging . So thank you Suzanne Collins and all the other people how made the movies or soundtracks.
Aminata
Ps. Sorry for the bad Englisch
so ok wow i dont really where or how to start explaining why i love the hunger games so much like i could write a whole novel right now. ok so let's start first with how i found out about the hunger games. when i was in 5th grade i hear the word "the hunger games" and "katniss" like everytime but i didnt cared at all because back then i had no interest in reading books. fast forward to 7th grade, so i was in my room probably using the ipad then i went outside to get wifi signal lol then i saw my mom and sister watching the hunger games as far as i could remember i caught up on the interviews scene so i watched it through the end after that it was all i could think about also it was my sister who encouraged me to read the books (i owe her my life) i remember downloading kindle on my old small shitty phone reading the books there. every morning waking up at 7am until 10am because im reading them. that is also when i got an interest in reading books and look where i am now. a broke girl with a stack of books that is half unread. what struck me the most about the hunger games was how powerful and important the message it was sending out. how a regular 17 year old girl went from just wanting to keep everyone she loves alive and safe to leading a whole revolution that breaks the people in panem from their chains just like katniss being their symbol, the mockingjay. also it wasnt easy to predict like when you-know-who goes kaboom and the other one with lizards. sure it didnt have a happy ending but they rose up in every bit of their broken soul they somehow managed to still find good in every bad and slowly moved forward to a new life. of course i didnt only fell in love with books and its stories but i also fell in love with cast. they are an amazing wonderful beautiful sweetest funniest craziest people and i am so grateful that they have become a part of my life. they taught me countless of things i never knew or realized. especially with the holy trinity, jen, josh & liam man i love them to death. also dont get me started with the thg fandom (oops too late) this fandom may have its ups and downs just like every other fandom but we still stick together through all dramas and bullshit and i made mutuals too yay i lUv u mutuals!!! i love staying up until 12 midnight just to wait for a still or a trailer and lose my shit with yall. every moment with this fandom is a moment i'll forever cherish and keep in my heart until im old and gray. no matter how many times the hunger games have killed me, physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually my love for it is never ending. cheesy but true. im SO grateful to be a part of this kickass family.
When I first picked up these books I didn't know what to expected. I read the back cover and thought this could be interesting. I didn't know that in 5 years, when it was all about to end, the stories would mean so much to me. It's crazy how you can get so connected to one setting, a few characters, and an amazing stories. The journey with these books and movies has been an emotional one. We all were scared when Katniss volunteered for Prim, were where all a crying mess when sweet innocent little Rue died in the games, and we were all as confused as Katniss was when she was falling for Peeta. And that's just the first book! We all distinguished our selves Team Peeta or Team Gale ( TEAM PEETA ALL THE WAY!!!). We all have different stories and life's. The Hunger Games appealed to everyone. It is now 99 days till Mockingjay Part 2 will come out in theaters, 99 days till the franchise of movies officially ends, 99 days till I'm the happiest and saddest girl around. This is #MyTHGStory
All right, I'll jump on this here bandwagon: #myTHGstory. It begins in earnest, believe it or not, this past February. I KNOW, I'm hella late to the party. Hopefully fashionably late. 😆 I'm the quintessential late adopter, whether its technology or fandom. (Just got this iPhone last year.) I had seen the first two films once or twice and definitely enjoyed them; I found the concept very interesting, but somehow the obsession didn't start to really take hold. I wasn't quite intrigued into reading the books for more yet. But eventually (meaning just this past winter), I decided I should, just to see what else there might be to it...since it's one of the most wildly popular & hyped-up franchises/fandoms in the world. I sure am glad I did that when I did! Everything started to hit me--the amazingness of the characters, the depth and complexity...it's all so real. I read the books (finishing around 6 am), watched all three movies so far multiple more times, & speed-tracked my way into full fandom immersion.
It was partly an action/survival story, with plenty of drama and suspense...topped off with just enough humor to make it bearable! But all of the important themes, thoughts, and questions THG raises made it stand out from your average tale told for entertainment. It reminded me of Battle Royale, but with significant key differences.
Plus, I'd always greatly enjoyed archery, so that being one of the lead character's strengths was a plus. It's also worth noting that the only person involved with making the films of whom I'd previously been a fan is Woody--but that has naturally changed, and now it's more apparent than ever why the movies are so widely acclaimed and adored. There's just the perfect storm of talent assembled! Such recipes don't come together this brilliantly very often. ;)
It's been an intense six months, I'll tell ya that--and I've met tons of lovely, terrific people via IG, DA, Pinterest, etc. ;) In fact, it's basically taken over my life (not that I'm complaining; who am I kidding? Obsession and fandom are always in control. How does anyone even do "casual fan"?!?!) I was even chosen as a revolution leader! 😄
Favorite characters? Effie & Haymitch. Favorite ship? HAYFFIE, baby. They're my new OTP-slash-raison-d'etre. 💞💁 👫🔜💏➡️👰🏼➡️👨👩👧👧➡️👨👩👦👦 After Nov 20, aka Bestest Day of Year, I'll be living for MJ2 out-freaking & the future creation of sequel/prequel/spinoff/whateverage. *whew*
My THG story isn't as exciting and as touching as some of them seem to be, but it has helped me in so many other ways.
I first read The Hunger Games not long after the first movie came out. And of course, it was love a first sight.., (or word!). I think I was in about year 8 at school. I was very unsure about reading them because I had heard that it was basically about kids killing kids. But, in the end, I read it anyway!
I finished the series within the week, not bothering with homework or anything like that, because, well, THG was so much more important!!! My first thoughts of it going to be a horrible series was totally thrown out the window!!!
Not long after I read the books, I borrowed the first movie from a friend and fell in love with it!! I went out and bought the movie a few weeks later and watched it over and over... Not once getting sick of it... The obsession had begun!
I went and saw catching fire on the weekend after it was released... None of my friends were free so I dragged my little 9 year old brother along (he had seen the first movie, but we covered his eyes at the gory bits 😊) of course, I loved it a bought the movie as soon as it was released.
But it wasn't until last year at the release of Mockingjay part 1 that I really became obsessed... It's all I could ever talk about... And count down to!!! I was in Sydney when it was released, and one girl I was with got to see It on the opening night... I was so jealous that I almost cried!!!
This year, after re-reading the books a few times, and having a countdown In my school diary that lasts 200 days, the mockingjay part 2 movie is one of the only things I am looking forward to this year... I am in year 11 at school now, and the stress is really starting to get to me, but I know I always have the hunger games to calm me down if ever I need it!
I am beyond excited for the next movie, and at the end, there will be tears... Because of all the sad things... And also because they are all over!!! 😭
So that's my THG story!!! It has honestly made my life so much more exciting than it has ever been!!!
#MyTHGStory .I first found out about the series like most other people…I saw a poster at my local movie theater. My brother read the first at school for a novel study years before and told me it was about a girl named Katniss who volunteers to save her little sister in a battle to the death…and of course being me, I wanted to watch it but, I was twelve and my mom said I was too young.. but again being me I didn’t stop asking. Eventually I found out about my brother’s surprise party to the movie and I wanted to go…it was the only thing on my mind; I asked my mom if I could go until she said yes! I was so happy! So on March 26th 2012 I saw a movie that changed my life in so many ways. but being the age I was didn’t get that it was about more than just fighting and war. It was about government and children dying for no reason and so much more. After I saw the movie I wanted to read the books- and back then I hated, I mean HATED reading- so I took them out from my school library and read… it took me almost 2 months but I finished the first book! I then asked for the entire Series for Christmas and when I got it I almost cried!! And I read and read and read I finished catching fire in like two weeks- don’t mock me… it was a big deal back then- then I read mockingjay and it was amazing!! Since then I have delayed my birthday party 4 almost 5 months just to see the movies on the day they come out, I don’t stop talking about it -it actually pisses all my friends off. The series has made my crappy life happier and I almost didn’t get to see it…and I cant believe that it is almost over. thank you Jennifer Lawrence for being my role model and bringing Katniss to me and letting her be a part of me, thanks Josh Hutcherson for melting my heat and making me fall in love with the way Peeta falls in love, thank you @willowshields for being Prim - the character I have been the hardest on, because I have always envisioned myself as Prim-, thanks Woody, Liam, Elizabeth, Lenny and all the other actors for being the best cast ever . And finally thank you to one of the best authors I know of Suzanne Collins for writing something great enough to inspire and change me forever.~Sam
The hunger games series has changed my life, and I couldn’t love it any more than I do already. I’m a school nerd and drama geek who loves to read and act .I saw the first movie after my uncle found me reading the first book on a toilet, not using the toilet but just reading on it because the bathroom was the only quite place in the house. I have a few good friends and many … Acquaintances but most of the time I’m the kid who will eat his lunch alone, or go to school early just to sit outside and listen to music. I did have one best friend who made my day, my grandpa, my version of Cinna the person who always believed in me and saw the best in me. Yes I know it sounds lame but it put a smile on my face when I could make dinner with him and watch the Boston bruins’ game, mind you we lived in Vancouver. But in April of 2013 I lost him to cancer and that was the hardest thing for me and I was afraid, I truly was, I thought I was going to be alone. At this time I was in the middle of reading the second book of the series but for the next month I pretty much isolated myself and managed to read the rest of the series. But the minute I read Finnicks quote: “it takes ten times as long to put yourself back together than it does to fall apart” I related it back to the low point of my life. Yes, I am only 15 but that doesn’t mean I can’t have a low point in life, so after reading I realize that, myself, like the characters had a choice I could put back together my broken pieces or I could just fall apart. And then I remembered what president snow said: “Hope…it’s the only thing stronger than fear” and I understood that my fear of being alone was filled with the hope my loving family gave me. My mom had opened up a lot after her dad’s death, my mom being a single parent who raised triplets (me being one of them) had just lost someone who helped her so much and was there for her yet she handled it quite well. At some points when I think of Katniss I also think of my mom and how they are alike in many ways, the strength they both have and the way they both would do anything to save their family even if it meant putting their lives on the line. See, the hunger games has taught me that in your life it may seem like the odds are stacked against you but that is no reason to give up because it is the ones who learn from mistakes and give their best effort that truly succeed. And yes I’ve learned that there are going to be people who torture us and tease us and bully us until were down but do you see that we are strong and if we fall you will fall with us. The way Katniss also sends a message to the capital is like standing up to bullies, its hard but you can do it. As you can see, this book has taught me lots but has taught many other things its just the way you look at it. This is my hunger games story… what’s yours? #myTHGstory
-Leyam Purewal
My Hunger Games Story
The Hunger Games has changed a lot of things in my life, primarly my perspective to see things. I meet this franchaise because I found out this new movie my cousins said they were going to see the movie, so I asked of what is the movie about. When I was told, I became in love with it, and I googled The Hunger Games and realized that there were books and other movies to come. I bought the DVD and I was shocked that how a franchise that contains a lot of war, death, dictatorship, and poorness could be so interesting for me, The moment I finished the movie, I remember saying "I love it". I bought all three books and in a time of 4 days I had read all 3 books. Months later, almost a year later, Catching Fire was going to be premiered so I went with my brother to see the movie, I remember seeing it and feeling the chills because I feared for the life of Katniss and Peeta, I just keeped saying things like "tic-toc" and "you know what bro, they changed that from the book..." people at the back seats were Shushing me. After that I bought lots of. hunger games merchandise, the thing is that because of me living in Mexico, we don't have a lot of Hunger Games merchandise, so everything I can find or buy i get it, sometimes online, recently I bought this mockingjay vintage notebook. My whole school knows Im the Tribute that. im crazy for THG they know I love Jennifer, that I. ecame one of her biggest fans, I saw all her movies after I saw Catching Fire. I have a friend whos craziness to THG is maybe as big as mine, we literally are Crazy, we weren't so close back before we knew that the other liked THG, so THG united us, Now she is the person that, even though I am hard to understand, she understans me. Things got MAD when MJ part1 came. Before the premiere I went to L.A. and I went to this place in front of The Staples Center and I took a photo with all this screens in that place that were filled with Mockingjay promos and poster, I almost cried at seeing ll this beauty. A week later when the premiere happened and I returned home, I just had the surprise that that same place I step on, the premiere was held, It happened in that place, I can't still believe I was there. THG can always bena part of anything like in school, In school(Panem) there exist a lot of cliques (districts), this pyramid or system (The Capitol) that separates cliques and labels them from the top of the top to the worst of the worst. This causing everyone things like bullying( The Hunger Games) where everyone battles each other only to be the most popular or be beter than the other, like killing each other by destroying them. Thats how THG can be reflected in real life. For my last birthday I made a a Hunger Games Party, with capitol signed invitations, every mockingjay symbol all around the house, mockingjay cupcakes, cheesecakes with this awsome Mockingjay chocolate symbol on top made by my dear and favorite cousin, it was a really good Birthday, the best, this year my name tag for my books are of Thg, Everything about me Is THG. To Part 2 my friends and. i are planning going to the premiere and buy some maching mocingjay tshirts for all 30 people and go together to the thatre at night with all our different mockingjay pins. Im so glad to had discovered this awsome franchise that has opened my mind and has made me realise things and reams in my life in a certain way and to be so honest on what a realistic story is about. Thank U THG for this awsome 4 years and the ones to come, even if the movies end fandom never will.
-Rudy
#MyTHGStory
My story starts with two of my classmates introducing me to Hunger Games,one of them was my best friends. I fell in love with the trilogy the moment i read Catching Fire,my first Hunger Games book lent to me by a guy friend. I couldn't get myself off the book, i end up sleeping with it beside my pillow. That friend of mine was kind enough to allow me to read the book for a few months.My best friend,she lent it me the whole series until end of school year. I was so obsessed with Hunger Games that i do everything i could,to know about it. I had a Mockingjay pin,but i lost it,till now i can't find it. I live in Asia,so i can't go to the exhibition and get the souvenirs. I like Hunger Games as Katniss is a broken,but she hold herself together,for the sake of the ones she love in Mockingjay. Suzanne Collin's series,left a mark in me. I was so inspired by how she creates the characters,each of them has a little piece that hungers for freedom. As i read, i find that i am quite alike to Katniss,we both love our families,but don't know and don't dare to show it and we both have a little spark of rebellion in us. Like her, i don't like being controlled and i also don't forgive people easily. Prim is one of the kindest character that i have ever read. She is so gentle and patient and forgiving. I can never be alike to her,she finds the best in everyone,whereas i crave for something impossible for me to reach. Katniss is a symbol of hope in Panem. She's the light in a void of darkness. Though she doesn't want to be a symbol of hope,she accepts her role for the love of the ones she loves. I've watched the movies and love the cast. The movie shows how much a single spark,can lead an inferno. The love i have for the Hunger Games is indescribable, no matter how much i begged my parents to allow me to buy Hunger Games souvenirs from online,the answer is always no. I find this a good chance to both express my love and win the Mockingjay pin i always wanted. I know that this probably could not win me the giveaway as i am just a kid and i don't know how to express myself,i wanna give it a go. Hunger Games always.
FROM THE PHILIPPINES WITH LOVE
My Hunger Games story isn’t really that spectacular like the others, to start with; I’m just a simple avid fan of both the books and movie adaptations. We don’t have that much money to buy merchandise. (I only got a Mockingjay pin and a black sweater imprinted with the logo. But I REALLY like to have that "Down With the Capitol" sweatshirt you're selling in Fandom Universe <3)
I’m Patrick from the Philippines, 16, and I’m a self-proclaimed book lover ever since I was, like, seven years old. I first read the book six years ago, when my mom decided to give me a Kindle as a birthday present. (But she said buying eBooks is also costly to her, so she just gave me a definite list of books already downloaded on my Kindle. She’s currently working in the UK to support me.) Since then, I’ve adored the characters, specifically Katniss for her bravery amidst her chaotic world—and I officially became a Tribute.
I cried. I laughed. I almost threw my Kindle. I smiled. And I fell in love.
I felt like I want to live in Panem just so I can hang out with Katniss, and then I don’t want to live there at the same time because of all the violence Panem does. It’s a To Be or Not to Be dilemma. She kept me company throughout my first year in high school, back when I was a loner and had no friends, even though I’ve been attending that school ever since I was in second grade. She’s my best buddy. She’s my strength to keep moving forward.
The movie adaptations are also wonderful, and they really brought justice to the book counterparts! I made sure to go to all advance screenings held in the country (from which I got the merch), and I’m looking forward to the last film this November! (My birthday is on November 30, so it’s going to be like an advance birthday present to myself!)
My greatest dream would be visiting The Hunger Games exhibition and the locations where they located the films (and seeing even one of the cast in person, of course). :)
Below is a link to a photo I edited last night. (Okay, it's morning, since it was like 3 AM.) <3
Link: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=985991914786060&set=a.207856282599631.66592.100001257817184&type=1
#MyTHGStory
My hunger games story. I never heard about the story before. Not about the books and not about the fact they would make movies based on the books. I'm not going to the movies often, so when the first hunger games movie came out I haven't seen it in the cinema. One day, when a friend of mine bought the dvd and came over, she asked me to watch it with her. I said I didn't knew about it, and asked her to explain the story a little. When she said 'well it's based on very good books and practically this first movie is based on kids killing each other in a game, but its way more than that, you should just see cuz I can 't explain like this, you just have to see it and I know you will like it. And I was like; I don't really like the kind of movies where people kill each other rudely without a reason sometimes, why would I even like to see children doing that? I asked her how that even works haha. She said trust me and watch and so I did. I was complete surprised... I had no words for this fantastic story by Suzanne Collins and how they made this movie with these awesome actors look so real. As if I really was kind of involved and near them. Inbetween, my friend gave me some tips because she had been reading the books already. I understood it better with her as a guide especially if it comes down to the meaning of the mockingjay and the pin. I found it so creative and inspiring... I was having a hard time at that moment in my life and the way Katniss was in the movie, it moved me, because she faught for what she loved, she never gave up and used her brain. She was brave just as I had to be at that moment. I realized the difference between the capitol, some of the first districts, and the last districts. I was getting phylosofic cuz of the movie, because I could somehow relate myself to Katniss sometimes, to Peeta sometimes, and to Gale and Prim aswell. I could relate some people around me in my life with other tributes, or aswell to the leading characters. And certain moments, I felt very empathic to alot of characters and ofcourse, for a lot of moments aswell. I never ever cried, for any movie before. Not for Titanic, Bambi, Marley and me, or other sad movies. I never felt so thrilled and sometimes angry or unable to do something before, not with any movie. Literally, not any movie moved me before or made a huge impression on me before. But when I watched the hunger games, I had been feeling anxiety and fear, anger, sadness, happiness. I felt fearfull with the characters. I didnt knew anything before, so at the first moment, I had no idea if Katniss was going to win, and if she would, I had a feeling it would not be because she would attack all the other 23 tributes. This I started as soon as I saw her and Peeta talking and training, together. This was going to be a very uncommon story. The fact that the capitol really made the hunger games seem as a rational disgusting amusement game for them, made me hate the capitol immediately. How they show the movie at the beginning 'War terrible war' made me feel confused angry and sad. How could the districts not have taken earlier steps to this? Cuz they would get murdered entirely? But I realized it wasnt that easy at all for the people of Panem after all that happened before with D13 etc... the step to rebellion was to big untill Katniss showed up. They had no choice... and this made me feel so double. So powerless... it made me think of situations nowaday. War is still going on in other parts of the world. And the biggest question with all that is; why? Why do some people want to control everyone and be so "mighty"? Why are people willing to kill others just to be feared and get everything done from everyone? You can 't live like that, unless you are sick in your head, just as Snow is. How can you be so cold, heartless and above all; selfish to kill innocent people (in this case children) who are just trying to make their way and write their own story in their life. If people are not happy in their life, don't harm others, work on yourself and understand there is a problem which can be solved. Because problems are in this world to be solved! Nobody should be victim cuz of another person's fear and anger. Not by words being spread, and not by fighting... nobody stands alone in this world. But honestly, I think even if every soul read this, there will always be people who arent able to be just nice, honest, and work on a good way to solve problems. That world might be imaginary, but yet so beautiful... the hunger games moved me. I started reading the books, with the characters from the movie in my head. Alot of people say the books are better, but they also read the books before they watched the movies. They often said they imagined Katniss and peeta differently and that some parts were different. And yes when I read the books, after, some parts were different. But I didn't have other characters in my head, and re-lived the movie, with some extra scenes. I never regret that I started with the movies before reading. I can feel the emotions way better by seeing the movie and the characters' faces. Right now, I actually have read half of the third book, because I want to be surprised by the last movie, just as the other 3 movies did to me. When the last one comes out, I will go to the movies the first day it comes out, and when it's finished, I will go home and continue reading, re-living it, getting inspired and learn life lessons again, and also; finish MY hunger games story, today, in my life.
I was 14 years old when I discovered The Hunger Games trilogy when I was just casually strolling through the book section in a local store. It was around late 2011 when I saw the book for the first time. At the time I had been living under a rock and didn't know a thing about the books being made into a movie. It was the last one on display. I read the summary and was immediately intrigued. I remember the first time reading the story. This was my first encounter with a female heroine and it made me excited. At a young age, representation is everything and you're influenced a lot by media and entertainment. As a person of color, and also a female, to see a female being as heroic as Katniss Everdeen at the early age of 16/17 years old, it made me feel like I could be and do whatever I desire and I can succeed. Mental illness plays a part in her life, having PTSD after being in the hunger games is also a big deal. I'm a girl who has a few mental disorders myself and to see it being represented in these books made me feel better about myself. These books are also what got me into reading. As a kid I never loved reading because of the standard Accelerated Reading tests we had to do after reading books. I never fancied taking those tests because I always felt pressured. And being forced to read wasn't fun. Now being a 17 year old going into my senior year, I can honestly say that Katniss Everdeen changed my life forever. She helped me in ways I never knew needed help. I love reading and I've read so many books these past years because of this character. She made me love reading again and I am so thankful for her.
The Hunger games. I accidentally found the book and after that I fell in love.
I found new perspective of things and got inspired by Katniss' strenght.
She was strong through all the pain. I never could do that. The thing that mostly got to me was how Katniss finally took the matter on her hands and decided what she wanted to do.
The Hunger Games started my reading obsession. After that I found all the fandoms and the books led me to Tv series. THG introduced me to the Fandom and now Im stuck in it.:)
I love The Hunger Games, Catching Fire and Mockingjay. Books and the movies. I can't imagine what it would be without it:)
#yourTHGstory #100daysofMJ
-Anna
#MyTHGStory starts out in March 2012. I recall being irritated by the gazillion times the movie trailer was shown on TV. My mom was the one who was eager to go see it, so by the end of March my mom and I went to the movies to watch THG. When the movie ended I knew I was a goner; I was instantly obsessed with it, THG was all I could talk about at school. Nevertheless, I didn't know there were books. I found out by my sister. So, in other words, I could say she's somewhat responsible for my obsession with THG; and I thank her everyday for that! Anyways, I asked my mom to buy me the books that summer. But I never even attempted to read them when I got them; not up until school started, on the 7th grade, when my Reading Enrichment theacher made us read THG as a class. The HG franchise is honestly the best thing that's happened to me. I created a Twitter account dedicated to fangirl over the books, in which I made tons of amazing, supporting friends; this fandom has become my family ever since. This trilogy has taught me to stand up for myself, to be brave, to fight for the people I love, that even in the darkest of times there'll always be a spark of hope… Collins created many brave, capable female characters and that's one of the many things I admire and love about the books. That particular concept shows the audience that women can also have great potential and be good leaders.
The endearing story and its characters, the marvelous world of Panem, the outstanding movie cast and crew, and all the lovely Tributes will stay with me forever. Thank you so much Panem Propaganda for giving us the opportunity to share our story! xo
My THG Story isn't that flattering as some of those I've read thus far, but maybe that's why it's so important.
One day in May 2012 my aunt invited me t'go to the movie's with her; There was a particular movie she wanted to see, but she had nobody to join her. I said yes, and went for the very first time to "The Hunger Games". I loved the movie so so so much, but I didn't know anything else about it.
A month or so after seeing the movie, I saw someone reading a book called "The Hunger Games", and I was like: "What if...?" So I hired that book (not THAT book, THE book), and noticed that it was the book from the movie (which I didn't know the existence of till then).
Afterwards I bought the whole series, and recommended my aunt to do the same (and eventually she did). To this day, since seeing the firsy franchise in May 2012, and reading the book(s) afterwards, I've been a die-hard fan (the ones who buy merch, keep anything related to the Fandom, cry during the movies/trailers, etc.) "The Hunger Games" has changed my life, made my family-bond stronger, and made me stand up for my friends even more.
(It's just a pity I live in Belgium.)
I first heard about Hunger Games thanks to my sister. Initially I wasn't really interested in the film, but then in June of the last year I saw it and I really liked it. I started following the cast and I discovered that the films were about a trilogy by Suzanne Collins. Exactly 1 year ago I bought the first book (happy birthday deb's Hunger Games book!). I fell in love with Peeta and Katniss love and also with all the characters. When I finished reading it I decided to watch Catching Fire. Day after day I was more and more obsessed about the story, and in September I bought Catching Fire's book. The actors were amazing, the franchising was super cool and the story was really really interesting and strong, with a great theme. I started following updates accounts on twitter and getting involved. I just loved Hunger Games' fandom and I started take part of it. On the 23rd of November I went to the cinema to watch Mockingjay Part 1 and I was absolutely disconcerted because of how it ended. My sister gave me Mockingjay as a present for Christmas and that is my favourite book of the entire trilogy. It just took part of myself in a way that I couldn't expect, despite the pain that it caused, I think that it's one of the most important things about the trilogy, and I just loved the epilogue.
Now I'm here, writing my THG story, waiting to see the Mockingjay Part 2. I'm just loving the franchise and I can't wait to see the film.
Finally, I just want to thank Suzanne Collins, for her amazing story and for giving us great emotions, Francis Lawrence, for his big work giving us a flawless franchising, the cast, for conveying us every emotion in the best way, and the entire crew.
These films and books have been part of my adolescence and I couldn't be more grateful to these people who have allowed us to live great experiences.
The Hunger Games story means everything to me, it made my days and I don't even imagine what would my life like without it.