Taneytown library holds "Hunger Games" movie release party

TANEYTOWN - Children ran to the makeshift cornucopia and swiftly grabbed one item before heading back to their groups. Each participant had one goal in mind: obtain something that is beneficial to survival.

The Taneytown branch of the Carroll County Public Library held a release party Wednesday in celebration of "The Hunger Games" movie, which opens in theaters Friday.

"The Hunger Games" is a young adult novel written by Suzanne Collins that depicts a post-apocalyptic world where tributes, a boy and a girl chosen from each of the country of Panem's 12 districts to compete in a televised battle, fight until one remains. It is the first novel in a trilogy, followed by "Catching Fire" and "Mockingjay."

A hunger game scenario was then read aloud and point values were given to each group to determine a winner based on the supplies they gathered. Water was useless in the arena simulation while rope, swords and blankets, for instance, helped or hindered the tributes.

Taylor Dentinger picked up a mace from the cornucopia. The 16-year-old from Taneytown concocted a defensive survival strategy when choosing his item, he said.

"Food is important, but you won't survive if someone kills you," Taylor said.

He has plans to see the movie Saturday in celebration of his birthday. Taylor is an avid fan of the books and is especially praising of the storyline.

"If that actually happened, it would be really scary," he said.

After the cornucopia game, attendees went to different stations to participate in book-related activities. Some decorated cupcakes to represent the gluttony of Panem's Capitol while others decorated each other with streamers and toilet paper to mimic the costumes the tributes wear as they are paraded around before the start of the games.

Children were also able to make play arrows from wooden sticks and foam pieces, since the main character, Katniss, is an expert at using a bow-and-arrow, and some people placed fake tattoo designs on one-another to mimic the elaborate way people of the Capitol decorate themselves.

Rose Hennick enjoyed dressing up her friend with all different colored streamers. The end result was a vibrant, flowing pattern.

"It was just fabulous and rainbow," she said. "Nothing's better than rainbow."

The 15-year-old uses the books as an escape from high school and baby-sitting. She loves that the books are unique, she said.

"It's just so different from anything else I've ever read," Rose said.

Nathan Fritz, of Taneytown, wore a mockingjay pin during the release party and said that he is a huge fan of the books. Nathan, 13, most enjoyed designing the arrow with materials of various colors and designs, he said.

"It's one of the many books about how the world could be if something happens," Nathan said.

Library Associate Mark Foley directed the activities at the party and also read trivia questions to the group. He hopes the books and movie will get children interested in reading, he said. Each attendee was placed in a raffle to win either a gift certificate to the movie theater or a movie poster.

The book makes reference to underlying issues in our society, such as the ever-growing divide between the rich and the poor and the value that is placed on certain individuals, Foley said.

"It's a way of letting kids explore issues in our society through hyperbole," he said.