I'm looking for a story that I read back in 5th grade.

February 24, 2007 3:08 PM

I'm looking for a story that I read back in 5th grade.

I know the story wasn't new back then so I doubt the time frame will help. It was about a group of people who were sent somewhere to eventually hunt each other down(or something along those lines). I think it took place in a jungle, and i feel like everyone was kinda reluctant to do it. I think it might have had some deeper social meaning, but I was only 5th grade so I didn't realize it then. Thanks for the help guys.

posted by zacharyseibert to writing & language (11 comments total)

The most obvious answer (though perhaps a bit advanced for 5th grade) is Lord of the Flies. Or maybe you mean the short story The Most Dangerous Game.
posted by sueinnyc at 3:15 PM on February 24, 2007

Maybe The Most Dangerous Game, by Richard Connell.
posted by wryly at 3:28 PM on February 24, 2007

Surviving the Game (1994)

"The rules are simple: kill or be killed."

This movie is loosely based on Connell's 'The Most Dangerous Game.'

Here's the trailer for 'Surviving the Game.'
posted by ericb at 3:47 PM on February 24, 2007

I just noticed that is my 1,000^th answer on AskMe.
posted by ericb at 3:50 PM on February 24, 2007

The Most Dangerous Game is only the most famous version of this extremely tired story, which is being trotted out yet again in the form of The Condemned, a new movie whose trailer I just today discussed with regard to this very issue in my blog (self-link).

Anyway, if the participants are that reluctant, it wasn't The Most Dangerous Game.
posted by bingo at 3:54 PM on February 24, 2007

bingo? what are you talking about? The narrator of the story is reluctant in a way. I just reread the story to be sure.
posted by frecklefaerie at 4:12 PM on February 24, 2007

Ah, you're right, frecklefaerie. It had been a while; I just skimmed it again.
posted by bingo at 4:41 PM on February 24, 2007

A few more recent titles in this "genre," in case you're interested: Battle Royale, The Manhattan Hunt Club, or the bizarro Italian film The 10th Victim.
posted by jbickers at 4:54 PM on February 24, 2007

Could you be referring to "Tunnel in the Sky"?
posted by Steven C. Den Beste at 5:55 PM on February 24, 2007

There's also Elizabeth Moon's Hunting Party, in which people are set up to hunt each other. This was published in 1993. Not sure if by 5th grade you mean you read it at school - if so, unlikely.
posted by paduasoy at 7:01 AM on February 25, 2007

There was a Hardy Boys Casefiles book where one group of people are hunting another group, like a safari. Not sure if there was any "deeper social meaning" in that one though. ;-)
posted by salvia at 1:51 PM on February 25, 2007