The Hunger Games and Graceling: More Similarities Than Differences

On September 14^th, 2008, The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins was published. The novel has now taken America’s youth by storm with its strong female protagonist, Katniss Everdeen. Her strong anti-marriage views and fighting abilities make her very different from the ordinary female book character. But Katniss is not the only strong female to hit youth literature recently. Right around the same time, in October 2008, Graceling by Kristin Cashore was released. Cashore’s novel resembles The Hunger Games in so many ways, it is hard to believe the authors did not know each other.

The name of the main protagonist in Graceling is Katsa. Katsa and Katniss? Wow. Katsa also has extensive fighting skills and beats every man that gets in her path. She also shares Katniss’ views on marriage (a.k.a. it’s not happening)!  Not only do the main characters have a lot of things in common, the supporting characters do as well. They both have male counterparts, Po and Peeta, who loved them first. Both Katniss and Katsa try to kill their love interests at some point as well. In addition to their mutual love interests, they both have boys who love them, but who don’t get the girl. Shockingly, their names both start with “G” as well: Giddon and Gale.  Next, after the lover boys are the best friends.  Both girls have possibly gay friends in Raffin and Cinna. As far as the storylines go, Katniss and Katsa both have to survive in the wilderness while facing eminent death. The list of commonalities goes on and on, but I feel that you get my point.

But what made The Hunger Games  famous while Graceling slipped through the cracks? Who knows.  If you ask me, Graceling is just as good of a read as The Hunger Games, and if you have not read the series yet, I would highly suggest it. Then you can make comparisons of your own!

Did I mention both series are trilogies?