Suzanne Collins
By: Jennifer Nathan
Introducing you to Suzanne Collins
A Little Background on Her
Growing up, Collins knew she had to learn how to find ways to entertain herself because her father was a very occupied Air Force officer. Her father grew up during The Great Depression so he knew how to survive on what he had around him. He hunted game quite often, and collected edible plants which actually contributed to the content of The Hunger Games Series. By portraying the outdoor survival skills in which her father taught her, Collins has put an unquestionably raw and edgy feel to the series. Micheal Collins taught history at the college level, which has influenced Suzanne's knowledge of United States history and our reputation as citizens. He's always been very open to his children about his military experience, even his deployment to Vietnam. "I believe he felt a great responsibility and urgency about educating his children about war," Suzanne Collins has mentioned in one of her interviews. "He would take us frequently to places like battlefields and war monuments. It would start back with whatever had precipitated the war and moved up through the battlefield you were standing in, and through that and after that. It was a very comprehensive tour guide experience." So throughout the Collin's lives, they basically heard about war."
Later in her life, she and her family moved south, where Suzanne attended the Alabama School of Fine Arts in 1980 and received a graduate's degree her final year. Moving on from high school, Collins then enrolled herself at the Indiana University, where she acquired a double major in theater and telecommunications. Collins also met a man named Cap Pryor who she later married and had two children with. She soon moved to New York, to enroll at the Bloomington New York University, (M.F.A.) graduating with a master's degree in dramatic writing, 2003. Little did Suzanne know, she would become a world renowned author known by millions across the world in the blink of an eye.
Accomplishments of the Famous Author
After Collins transitioned to writing young adult books, she still remained a television script writer, wanting to pursue her career in an "uplifting fashion." "When I was working on The Hunger Games, well I guess you could say there wasn't a lot of levity in it, so I'd do a Wubzzy script," she told Rick Margolis of School Library Journal. "It's an enormous relief to spend some hours in Wuzzleburg...where I know things are going to workout just fine and all the characters will be alive at the end of the program."
Her first book in The Hunger Games series, was awarded the Best Book of the Year award by Kirkus Reviews in 2008, the year The Hunger Games was written and published. The trilogy's first book, was also awarded a Kid's Choice blimp by the TV program Nickelodeon for 'favorite book' in 2013. Many more slight to drastic wins were also awarded by the famous series. Over six million copies of the entire trilogy were sold, but over 87 million copies of the series in over 200 languages have been sold worldwide. "The Hunger Games," along with the Underland Chronicles were both immediately placed on the New York Time Bestsellers list. However, the book, The Hunger Games quickly passed up Suzanne's first series, landing itself a spot as a #1 Seller for over 100 consecutive weeks. There's also been four film productions made of the series and co-wrote by Suzanne herself. The movies have a little bit of a different turn to the trilogy, however, Suzanne Collins was surprisingly completely fine with it. "It's just more of the series for people to love!" To this day The Hunger Games is still on the Bestsellers List and has been for over six straight years. "Brilliantly plotted and perfectly paced. The considerable strength in the novel comes in Collin's convincingly detailed word-building and her memorably complex and fascinating heroine. In fact, by not calling attention to itself, the text appears the way a good font does: Nothing stands between Katniss and the reader, Panem and America." -John Green (Author of: "The Fault in Our Stars")
The Hunger Games Series
The nation of Panem, formed from a post-apocalyptic North America, is a country that consists of a wealthy Capitol region surrounded by 12 poorer districts. Early in its history, a rebellion led by a 13th district against the
Capital resulted in its destruction and the creation of an annual televised event known as the Hunger Games. In punishment, and as a reminder of the power and grace of the Capitol, each district must yield one boy and one girl between the ages of 12 and 18 through a lottery system to participate in the games. The 'tributes' are chosen during the annual Reaping and are forced to fight to the death, leaving only one survivor to claim victory. -Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2767052-the-hunger-games?from_search=true&search_version=service)
The Underland Chronicles (2003-2007)
"When Gregor follows his little sister through a grate in the laundry room of their New York apartment building, he hurtles into the dark Underland beneath the city. There, humans live uneasily beside giant spiders, bats, cockroaches, and rats--but the fragile peace is about to fall apart.
Gregor wants no part in this conflict, but again and again, he and his family are drawn into the Underland, Gregor must find his family who have been brought into the Underland. Gregor must find his place in the frightening prophecies he encounters, the strength to protect his family, and the courage to defend against an army of giant rats." -Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7007561-gregor-the-overlander-box-set)
Year of the Jungle; Memories From the Home Front
When young Suzy's father leaves for Vietnam, she struggles to understand what this means for her and her family. What is the jungle like? Will her father be safe? When will he return? The months slip by, marked by the passing of the familiar holidays and the postcards that he father sends. With each one, he feels more and more distant, until Suzy isn't sure she'd even recognize her father anymore. -Scholastic
(http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/book/year-jungle#cart/cleanup)
Some Difficulties Along the Road
Suzanne and the rest of her family decided to move to Brussels, Belguim in Europe while their father was gone. She says that it was the largest and most difficult move she's ever had to deal with. Collins was very young at the time so it was even tougher on her because she had just begun to make friends at school and recognize her surroundings. Through it all, Suzanne stayed strong as a young girl, even though she had to stick it out without her father most of the times. Collins has truly lived up to the popular quote, "Tough times never last, but tough people do." - Robert H. Schuller
Suzanne
Born in Hartford, Connecticut
Lived in Indiana
Works as a children's TV show writer, author and a mother of two
Who is strong, independent, crazy intelligent
Who loves her family, all of her readers and mythology
Who fears failure, rats and war
Who gives her readers a thrill, love and care to her children and passion to her books
Collins
Personal Qualities of Suzanne
Concluding Suzanne's Journey
Bibliography
ProQuest LLC.
Britannica School Middle
Newsmakers