about random violence; it's about survival skills," says LeGrand, an Evergreen Teachers Association member. "It's about keeping your humanity in challenging circum- stances. It's something these kids can relate to.
dents identified with Katniss, the lead character, because they, too, are poor. "They said that they envisioned the Capitol being white people and the districts filled with poor people who are Mexican." Like Katniss, her students also
She said that many of her stu- "
"The book is violent, but it's not
take care of younger siblings and see themselves as caregivers, says LeGrand. "And they liked the fact that Katniss was a strong, indepen- dent young woman who was able to take care of herself.
"
May 2012 / www.cta.org
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