The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes — Content Guide for Parents
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Religious themes
PRESENTContains references to prayer and church attendance. A minister character plays a supporting role in two chapters.
About this book
"The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is the best Hunger Games movie of them all"USA TODAY
"Everything you would expect from Collins is here: fraught teenage love; plenty of violence... the themes of friendship, betrayal, authority and oppression will please and thrill"The Guardian
"It works beautifully... please don't make us wait another decade"The Times
- pre-order Sunrise On the Reaping- the fifth book in the Hunger Games series - coming March 2025
Ambition will fuel him.
Competition will drive him.
But power has its price.
It is the morning of the reaping that will kick off the tenth annual Hunger Games.
In the Capitol, eighteen-year-old Coriolanus Snow is preparing for his one shot at glory as a mentor in the Games. The once-mighty house of Snow has fallen on hard times, its fate hanging on the slender chance that Coriolanus will be able to outcharm, outwit, and outmaneuvre his fellow students to mentor the winning tribute.
The odds are against him.
He's been given the humiliating assignment of mentoring the female tribute from District 12, the lowest of the low. Their fates are now completely intertwined - every choice Coriolanus makes could lead to favour or failure, triumph or ruin.
Inside the arena, it will be a fight to the death. Outside the arena, Coriolanus starts to feel for his doomed tribute... and must weigh his need to follow the rules against his desire to survive no matter what it takes.
- Three books, four films and one worldwide phenomenon, The Hunger Gamesoriginal trilogy changed the face of global YA.
- All three of the Hunger Games original novels have been made into major feature films, starring Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson & Liam Hemsworth
- The best-selling prequel to The Hunger Games, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, was a global number one feature film in autumn 2023 and a number one New York Times and The Times bestseller in hardback in May 2020.
OTHER BOOKS IN THE SERIES
- The Hunger Games
- Catching Fire
- Mockingjay
- Sunrise On the Reaping - the fifth book in theHunger Games series - coming March 2025 & a film adaptation is slated for November 2026
- The Hunger Gamesillustrated edition is releasing in October 2024
Frequently asked questions
Is The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes appropriate for a 7-year-old?
The book contains significant violence, including the lead-up to the Hunger Games where tributes face deadly situations, and the games themselves are described as blood-soaked. This violence is central to the plot and is portrayed as part of the dystopian setting. The narrative includes elements that could be considered scary, particularly in the context of the violent and oppressive world of the Hunger Games, which may evoke fear and tension in readers. The lead-up to the games is described as blood-soaked and intense.
Does The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes have violence?
The book contains significant violence, including the lead-up to the Hunger Games where tributes face deadly situations, and the games themselves are described as blood-soaked. This violence is central to the plot and is portrayed as part of the dystopian setting.
Does The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes have scary content?
The narrative includes elements that could be considered scary, particularly in the context of the violent and oppressive world of the Hunger Games, which may evoke fear and tension in readers. The lead-up to the games is described as blood-soaked and intense.
Does The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes have religious themes?
No religious content in the book itself. While some reviews mention themes of faith and morality, these are not explicitly presented as religious practices or beliefs in the narrative of The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.
Does The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes have racial/cultural content?
There are no explicit themes of race or racism in the narrative of The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. The content focuses on the dystopian elements and character development without addressing racial issues as a central theme.
Does The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes have profanity?
The book contains one instance of mild profanity, which does not elevate the language beyond a PG rating. There are also references to prostitution, but these do not play a significant role in the story.
Does The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes have climate change?
There are no explicit climate themes or discussions about environmentalism in the book. The focus is primarily on the dystopian society and its political dynamics rather than climate issues.
Does The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes have sexual identity?
There are references to mild sexual content, including chaste kisses and some implications of relationships, but nothing explicit. The narrative does not focus heavily on sexual themes, making it suitable for a young adult audience.
Does The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes have gender roles?
The book does not actively discuss or critique gender roles. While it features a range of characters, including female ones, it does not promote or challenge traditional gender expectations in a significant way.
Does The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes have lgbtq+ themes?
While there are mentions of LGBTQ+ themes in discussions about the broader Hunger Games universe, there is no explicit LGBTQ+ content present in the narrative of The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes itself. The search results reference a character confirmed to be gay in a subsequent prequel, but this does not pertain to the content of this specific book.
