We’re loving this fantastic letter to the editor that 7th grader Hannah Smith-Erb wrote about violence in The Hunger Games and many schools’ decisions to show it in class. When asked what motivated her to write the piece, Hannah said, “I think schools are trying to normalize violence and that really bugs me.”

Hannah has attended our Girls Unlimited Conference, a Girls Rock Weekend event, for the last couple of years which focuses on girls’ activism and leadership – both so clearly demonstrated in Hannah’s letter, published on April 9th.

In Hannah’s own words:

“Violence. It’s horrific, it kills, it is part of our culture. Knowing this, I find it more than astonishing that 7th and 8th graders are watching “The Hunger Games” as a part of their curriculum. And please don’t accuse me of being an overprotective parent, because I’m not. I’m a 7th grader.”

Rock on, Hannah!

Hannah and friends at the Projection Action Spot at the 2012 Girls Unlimited Conference on March 30th