The Hunger Games: Catching Fire Adoption Movie Guide

Katniss and Peeta survived a battle to the death one year ago. Now, their tyrannical government is requiring them to compete again.

 

How is This Relevant to Adoption?

Katniss (and the other young combatants in these battles) is taken from from her family by the government. The emotions – fear, confusion, and grief – are also often felt by children who are taken into foster care.

Strong Points

Some characters demonstrate loyalty, goodness, and a willingness to sacrifice themselves for the good of others. There's a strong female lead.

Challenges

Some characters seem to demonstrate post-traumatic stress. It’s sad, but understandable.

Weak Points

The government is very much “the bad guy.” The film involves constant danger and brutality. Each of these could be very troubling for kids in (or who have been through) foster care. A scene where Katniss has to leave her sister behind could also be troubling.

Recommendations

I know that The Hunger Games is a popular series. This film is exciting, and it’s telling an interesting story. But I can still see lots of ways that this would be challenging for a kid or teen who’s experienced violence.  I wouldn’t recommend it for kids younger than 12. For teens who’ve been through trauma, parents should probably screen the film first. Even though the film is exciting, there are certainly some reasons why it might not be good viewing for a foster-care audience.

 

Questions for Discussion After the Film

Have you ever been forced to do something that felt wrong?