This paper examines how student teachers and language learners might learn to question perspectives and develop critical literacy through critiquing of texts. Focusing on work in an in-service teacher education course, the discussion explores how to help English language learners to read text representations critically, in order to identify harmful ideological slants. It outlines how teachers and their learners can -- through deep reading, in-depth learning and critical literacy -- work at contemplating ethical issues in empathy with a protagonist. Opportunities for interculturality and critical literacy are illustrated by the books and films of Suzanne Collins' "The Hunger Games."