If you’ve been reading me in recent months, you’ll know that I’ve had a conundrum in that Princess Nagger has been nagging me to let her read The Hunger Games books.  She’s 9.

She decided to strike a deal with me, though, and said that if I would buy her the Hunger Games pin, she’d be willing to wait to read the books until she’s 12.  She even found one on eBay that was ‘the one’, with a Buy-It-Now and everything.  Sure it ended up being $20 for a pin, but at least I wouldn’t have to be the mean mom and keep saying ‘not yet’ on her reading the books.

She loves the pin and wears it to school every day.  And then it happened.  I found the same pin at Wal*Mart over the weekend while doing my semi-monthly grocery shopping:

Notice the price?  I got soaked on eBay, of course.  And let’s add insult to injury and do a side-by-side comparison (the one from Wal*Mart is on the left, the eBay one is on the right):

If you’re anything like Princess Nagger, you’ll notice the glaring difference between the two (aside from one being brushed patina and the other being shiny).  The arrow extends beyond the circle on the one on the left, but not on the one on the right.  And apparently, that means the one on the left is genuine, whereas the one on the right is a Knock-Off.  According to Princess Nagger.  Because the picture on the cover of the book has the arrow extending beyond the circle:

Ahem.

I did buy the first book of the Hunger Games series to read and decide if Princess Nagger can handle it as a 9-year old, thanks to your input and recommendation.  Of course she saw it and has been re-upping her nagging on letting her read the book, so I’ve had to hide it so she doesn’t ‘accidentally’ read it, as she has coyly  commented.

Have you read The Hunger Games yet?  Are you planning on seeing the movie when it opens this week?

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47 Comments

  1. Because I apparently live under a giant rock, I’d never even heard of The Hunger Games until maybe a week ago.. but last night I saw the trailer for the film and thought it looked rather interesting, plus I read a review that said the female antagonist is the anti-Bella so that appeals to me.

    A few years ago I worked as a camp counselor (greatest job ever) and was surprised to see one of the 9 yo campers pull out Twilight..
    However over the summer, that little girl read three entire books, but only two chapters of Twilight. She was a good reader but I think Twilight was a bit lost on her, she was 9 and didn’t want to read about love.. basically I think she wanted to look cool and grown up by saying she was reading Twilight and telling others she was ‘Team Edward’ but couldn’t actually be bothered with the book.. maybe it’d be the same for your little lady with The Hunger Games?

    I

  2. Sorry totally lost on this one. I’ve never heard of the Hunger games, but then again I don’t read much. It puts me to sleep in a heartbeat, which is where I should be now. Night Girlfriend! Have a good one! May the Angels watch over you when you sleep, and the fairies sprinkle protection dust at your feet, and as you awake to another Spring day, may your morning be full of happiness today! Okay Okay so I’m no poet! Sweet Dreams.
    Xmasdolly would like you to read ..Wordless Wednesday & Black & WhiteMy Profile

  3. My 9 year old has been talking about The Hunger Games for a couple of weeks now begging me to let her go see it when it comes out. Don’t think I will, as Harry Potter was already too much for her and we had to walk out.
    Raquel would like you to read ..Wordless Wednesday – The Fox HuntMy Profile

  4. No I haven’t read the books yet. All my grands have and they loved it. They are giving me their copies. I do plan on seeing the movie as well.
    Have a great week
    Hugs
    SueAnn

  5. I loved The Hunger Games. I have a date with my niece Saturday to go see the movie with her. My husband has no interest in seeing it, he thinks the whole idea of that book is just stupid. But he thought the same thing about Twilight and ended up loving them.
    Heather’s Happenings would like you to read ..Show Us Your FindsMy Profile

  6. Those two pins are crazy!?! That’s the one thing I hate about ebay, sometimes you get a good deal and other times, not so much..

    I fell in LOVE with the books! They were horrifying but moving, and couldn’t put them down. I am sooo excited about the movie! I’m hoping to find a sitter so the hubs and I can go see it this weekend.
    Rachel would like you to read ..Giovanni’s Dr. Seuss 1st Birthday Bash!My Profile

  7. So, have you told Princess Nagger about “Angry Birds Space” yet? Show her that tomorrow, and I suspect she won’t nag you about Hunger Games for *at least* an hour!

    Happy WW, btw!

    ~EdT.
    EdT. would like you to read ..AWW: Neighborhood, Pt. 3My Profile

  8. First of all…what an eBay ripoff!! Can’t believe the lack of quality for $20! Makes me mad…

    Second, I’ve read all the Hunger Game books and LOVED them. I even made my book club full of grown women read them. But that being said I worked as a library aide for many many years. If you were a parent at my library asking me if it was appropriate for a 9 year old I would probably say no. Sure some 9 yr olds could handle the violence and intensity of the situations but there are certainly other parts that are downright frightening and would be lost on a pre-teen. Just my two cents…thanks for visiting today!
    Alexia would like you to read ..(Nearly) Wordless Wednesday: She’s Here!!My Profile

  9. My 13-yo daughter kept bugging *me* to read *her* Hunger Games books, lol! I gave in, finally, and I’m so glad I did. I really enjoyed the entire series. I couldn’t put the books down, and I ended up finishing all 3 in about 3 days. I don’t know about them being appropriate for a 9-yo, though. They’re dark, and violent, and they made me angry and sad at many times.

  10. I was planning to read these on the recommendation of one of my son’s friends. I read a blogger friend’s post on them and decided not to. She wrote about feeling disturbed about being drawn to the books despite their prolific kid on kid violence. She was uncomfortable that she had been overlooking what would normally turn her off in order to keep reading.
    No first hand knowledge myself, but there is that for what it is worth.
    May would like you to read ..March in Full BloomMy Profile

  11. I am totally going to see it. I read those books back in August of 2010 and devoured the first two, then had to wait patiently for a week until the third one came out. And while I LOVED them and think they are a wonderful story, superbly written and completely addicting, I’m not sure about them being appropriate for a 9 yr old, I think you are doing the right thing.
    Amy at love-bug-blog.com would like you to read ..silly wordlessMy Profile

  12. I need to get me a pin! What kind of a fan am I?

    I’m really excited about watching it this weekend, although with two kids and a forgetful brain, I wasn’t able to secure opening day tickets. Sunday night it is. Whatever. It’s still opening weekend. Counts for something right?

    I’d LOVE to read Hunger Games to my daughters. And Harry Potter. And Lord of the Rings. Except they’re only three and nine months respectively. Guess I better work on that patience thing huh? 😉
    Justine would like you to read ..I wish I could capture it allMy Profile

  13. It definitely all depends on the kid. Definitely love that your previewing it. Even if she’s not ready for it yet, you’ll get a great read! (I’m a fan… BIG fan.. ;))

  14. I’ve read all three of the books, and am re-reading the first before the film comes out – I think it’s a bit intense for a 9-year-old, unless they’re exceptionally mature. I don’t normally see movies at a theater these days (Beloved doesn’t like to go; he prefers our big screen TV and his recliner), but I may go see this one. The trailers and casting have me intrigued.
    Jan would like you to read ..Onion RingsMy Profile

  15. I have read (and re-read and re-read) The Hunger Games trilogy and love it more each time. I can’t wait for the movie this Friday!

    (And now I must go find that pin to add to my District 12 tee shirt!)
    Kelly would like you to read ..Happy Spring!My Profile

  16. Hubs and I are going to see it Saturday night, I can’t wait!! I loved the series (for the most part, book 3 left a little to be desired). And I kinda agree with Princess Nagger on the pin thing… 😉

  17. Oh GOSH I know exactly what you’re talking about! My friends are huge Hunger Game fans and I gave me friend something identical and she could tell something wasn’t right with it and couldn’t put her finger on it. Low and behold.. the same thing you posted about is what happened! What a rip off 🙁 but she was still happy non the less!

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  18. I read the Hunger Games a few years ago and my 11 year old read the series last year. I let my 10 year old read last week and I re-read last week as well. I think that if she hasn’t ever been exposed to any violent movies on TV she’s too young. But, if she has she’ll be able to handle them. The themes in the book about community and politics and love and friendship and survival are really great. I’m taking my daughters to see the movie on Friday.
    angie would like you to read ..Wordful Wednesday – Daily LifeMy Profile

  19. I truly hadn’t heard of the book ’till I heard of the Movie. I do want to see the movie just ’cause of all the hullabaloo over it.

    I do like to read the book before I see a movie…maybe this time I’ll simply do it backwards. It’s kinda the way I fly anyway!!! Heeehehe!

    God bless ya sweetie and have yourself a beautiful day!!!
    Nezzy would like you to read ..THE BESTMy Profile

  20. Curse you, Wal-Mart and your everyday low prices! UGH! I would be so annoyed too if I had stumbled upon such a discovery in a shopping trip. That’s aggravating. Although, it could be a good lesson about shopping wisely. Right? Or am I stretching here?

    Allana has been begging to read Twilight. That ain’t happening. She hasn’t asked about The Hunger Games yet.

    All my girlfriends are going to see the midnight showing tomorrow night. I haven’t read it so I’m not bothered about going to the show. I’m one of those people that has to read the book first.
    Run DMT would like you to read ..Losing Our LucyMy Profile

  21. All three books are in our house. My 14 year old son just started the second one. At first I didn’t want to start them because what he told me of the story did not sound super fab. Then with all of the hype I was afraid that we’d live in squallor if I started them as laundry and daily living skills might be forgotten. Now my father has read them and I really don’t think I am interested from what he has told me of the violence. Of course, i feel like a bit of a loser for not wanting to read them, so maybe this summer.
    Andrea would like you to read ..52 Weeks of Happiness – Week 2My Profile

  22. The target age group is teenagers and preteens so they wouldn’t make the movie rated R or else they would lose their whole target group.
    Charmaine would like you to read ..The Skiing BlogMy Profile

  23. I totally agree with Charmaine. They wouldn’t rate the movie R or their audience will not be able to watch it.

  24. Sorry you got scammed on that Hunger Games pin! Stupid scammy ebay seller!

    My daughter is obsessed with the Hunger Games. She was 13 when she started reading the series. I did read the first book and quite honestly, didn’t like it. It is very violent, as is the subject matter. My daughter and her friends are dressing up tomorrow and have tickets to the movie. She is planning on baking a cake tonight and bringing it in tomorrow for everyone, which is a little ironic, since it is the Hunger Games.
    Elle would like you to read ..Whining Via Text & Pneumonia is on Tap for What the Hell WednesdayMy Profile

  25. I don’t think I’ve ever bought anything on eBay. That is probably a good thing since I would probably buy a lot of knock offs in error.

  26. I did read the 1st of the 3 and would LOVE to watch the movie this weekend…w/hubby, but that’s not possible since we don’t have a sitter out here (just moved from out of state). So, either I watch it by myself, in the theaters or we wait for the DVD to come out and hit up Netflix or RedBox. Shame though, he would actually like this (he HATES Twilight)…

    Sorry about the pin 🙁 But now, I think I’ll go and get one, if there are any left…teehee
    BZMomma would like you to read ..WW: 18 MonthsMy Profile

  27. I downloaded the sample chapters for HUNGER GAMES on my NOOK and then I saw the trailer for the movie. “There’s a movie already?” I thought. And now your blog! Anyone else feeling the swell as the public goes crazy for this latest new thing? Actually, the book’s storyline intrigues me. I think I’ll try to read the book before seeing the movie. We’ll have to compare notes! From what I can tell, it sounds like “The Lottery” meets “Survivor” (former: short story written by Shirley Jackson in 1948, latter: current reality TV series).

  28. Obviously, it is entirely up to you whether you allow her to read The Hunger Games though I must say that my 10-year-old sister is currently reading and enjoying the series. I read them first and couldn’t put them down and ended up reading all three within two days.
    If I were you, I’d let her read the books sooner rather than later because I honestly don’t see anything inappropriate that you should be shielding her from.

  29. Don’t be too upset: your daughter’s pin from eBay is actually one of the originals from Scholastic Book Clubs. It is a replica based on the book’s description of the pin (shiny gold, not antique gold). Artist Tim O’Brien designed it and author Suzanne Collins even had a replica necklace made (and it is shiny gold). I received about 20 of these a couple of years ago from Scholastic and listed a few on eBay for 99¢. One of them went for $156–I never expected that! (I was able to purchase more books for my classroom with the earnings.) That was before Mockingjay was released and before NECA released their version.

    NECA made their pin based on the movie, therefore it is the antique gold. The moviemakers decided that shiny gold didn’t fit in with the “look” of district 12, so they changed it. They also made the cornucopia gunmetal gray rather than gold because it looked more “Capitol”ish.

    Frankly, I like the shiny gold one better since it is true to the book and the same one the author wears.

    As far as letting your daughter read it, only you know what is best for her. I teach the novel to my high school students and many of them have read it previously. But the older they are, the more they are able to process the events and look more deeply into the author’s message: this is a trilogy about war and how war destroys lives, hope, and forever scars you.

    I let my son read The Hunger Games at age 11. There were things he didn’t understand and we talked about them. If she does read it, I suggest reading it with her, or even listening to the audio together (go to http://www.thekatnisschronicles.com to listen to free podcast versions. They are wonderful!).
    Mrs. Orman would like you to read ..Hunt in the Woods of District 12 and Fly Through the Trees Like RueMy Profile

  30. I am 14 and I read the books in January this year and I loved them but when they first came out 3 years ago I was in year 6 and I was to scared to read them. Up until January I was too scared to read them as well but when my best friend explained every single book to me I got really interested and I read them all in 3 days.

    They are great books and I cried heaps and heaps, but I wouldn’t let a nine YO read them

  31. I haven’t read the Hunger Games either. So in buying stuff in Ebay we have to be careful to be sure we don’t get fake products.

  32. I got a Hunger Games necklace in 2010 after I finished reading the books. I found it at Hot Topic before the movie ever was an idea. So did I buy a knock off? The arrow is inside the circle and just always thought that it was because the makers didn’t want people to stab themselfs with an arrow hanging off their neck. It looks just like your pin you bought at Wal-Mart and it even says on the back of it TM (c) 2010 Suzanne Collins

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