Imagine being thrust into The Hunger Games arena, where only the strongest, smartest and most resourceful make it out alive. Although survival seems straightforward, the games are famously designed to push the tributes past every physical, mental, and moral limit. With the release of the new book in the series, Sunrise on the Reaping, students are beginning to talk about the games again.
“I think that I would survive because I have good knowledge of common survival skills, and my problem solving would help me,” sophomore Isaac Martinez said.
Those unfamiliar with The Hunger Games might believe survival requires strength, however, a deeper dive into the books shows that survival isn’t only about physical strength or the instinct to fight. It’s about making alliances and heartbreaking decisions.
Senior Ben Echeverria plans to make fake alliances with the other tributes and then “kick them to the curb.”
An alliance is not the only tactic for survival. Winning ultimately requires something more elaborate, deeper than a feigned friendship.
“My survival tactic would be just to stay out of sight and avoid allies outside of my district partner, because that always ends messy,” sophomore Emma Hull said. “I would also try and ration my food as best as I can.”
When reaped for The Hunger Games, tributes aren’t sent into the arena empty-handed. Sponsors send supplies to tributes they find entertaining. Sponsors are wealthy people from The Capitol who donate money to support the tributes in the arena.
“I would try to make my life more interesting or sad to win over sponsors,” freshman Quinley Lytle said.
Mentors are past victors of The Hunger Games who are assigned to guide the current tribute from their home district. They play a crucial role in a tribute’s survival-not only by sharing their own winning strategies, but also by securing life-saving supplies from the sponsors when it matters most.
“I would ask my mentor about what they did to help them win, and then also to send me packages because I feel like that’s a big part of the game because you need food and water and stuff like that,” freshman Elizabeth Sedlak said.
Anyone forced into the games will need courage, but courage alone isn’t enough. Tributes can survive using a variety of individual strengths.
“I think my biggest strengths are that I’m good at hiding and I know how to use a bow and arrow and shoot, unlike other tributes,” junior Aaliyah Padilla said.
After winning The Hunger Games, newly crowned victors go on a round of public appearances before settling in Victor’s Village, a luxurious neighborhood reserved for past winners. Life gradually returns to a sense of normalcy—at least on the surface—after the trauma of the arena. However, every 25 years, a special edition of the Games called the Quarter Quell introduces a brutal twist to the rules. In one such Quell, even former victors were forced to return to the arena and fight for their lives once again.
“If I was reaped again, I’d probably use the same tactics that I used before, which is to stay away from people and just watch their every move,” freshman Elijah Reissner said.
