Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

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Short Summary:

Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen has survived the Hunger Games twice. But now that she’s made it out of the bloody arena alive, she’s still not safe. The Capitol is angry. The Capitol wants revenge. Who do they think should pay for the unrest? Katniss. And what’s worse, President Snow has made it clear that no one else is safe either. Not Katniss’s family, not her friends, not the people of District 12. Powerful and haunting, this thrilling final installment of Suzanne Collins’s groundbreaking The Hunger Games trilogy promises to be one of the most talked about books of the year.

My Review:

This is a SPOILER-FREE review. I promise!

So in reviewing MOCKINGJAY what I want to do is talk about the things I love when it comes to Suzanne Collins imagination and style.

I remember my first read through of The Hunger Games. I remember wondering why in the world people would willingly read a story that contained so much senseless death. I also remember being caught up in the sensation, feeling myself looking forward to page after page in spite of myself and wondering what that said about me.

When Catching Fire was released I drove to the bookstore and made my way through the store. When I asked the people working there where it was… it hadn’t even been put out yet and this was half-way through the day. The sales clerks didn’t even know what the series was!

I didn’t bother with a re-read of The Hunger Games … I just dove right in to Catching Fire and, like my first read of The Hunger Games, I found myself reacting the same exact way.

I prepared myself this time. I revisited Katniss’ journey from the moment she throws herself forward for Prim to the moment she’s plucked out of an arena and the shocking news is delivered to her. I re-acquainted myself with Cinna, Haymitch, Gale, Peeta, Rue, Prim and many other memorable characters. I felt the twisting of my gut and the breathless anticipation I experienced a year ago when I read the last paragraph of Catching Fire.

I haven’t really speculated in the last year what would happen in Mockingjay – choosing instead to open the book with no expectations. If I was on a team it would be most strongly Team Katniss, as she is a female character who exhibits strength, courage and, in spite of that, how frail we are as humans.

I was not disappointed with Mockingjay. I loved it – but not in the sense that I normally love books. I’ll be thinking about it for a while and will be re-reading it probably this week. Most of all I was satisfied. Mockingjay provided a resolution that was, for me, perfect for the trilogy.

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