Review: Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins (Hunger Games Trilogy - Book #3)

     Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins is the final book in The Hunger Games trilogy and completes the story for those of us who need endings. In my opinion the second and third books in this trilogy are not as good as the first, but they are enjoyable to read nonetheless and quench the thirst of readers who can’t get enough of this dystopian series.

     Katniss, the main character in the series, has now survived the Hunger Games twice.  In Catching Fire (Book #2) she not only survived her second imprisonment in the games, but sparks (hence the title) a revolution of the districts of Panem (the dominant nation where the story takes place) against the Capitol. Mockingjay (Book #3) is the story of the final war of the districts against the Capitol.

     In Mockingjay we see what many of the characters are really capable of and we get resolutions to the pressing questions that have developed over the course of the series. THE most important question for most readers being the choice Katniss must make between Gale and Peeta.

     ** SPOILER ALERT** Like in the conclusions of many book series’, in Mockingjay the reader is faced with the deaths of some major characters; the most jarring being the death of Prim (Katniss’ little sister). What makes this worse is that she is killed by an explosive created by Gale. In the end this is what makes the decision for Katniss between Gale and Peeta. Up until this point it is very difficult (in my opinion) for the reader to pick a side completely.

     This series is meant to be read in order without skipping any books; otherwise you will no doubt be extremely confused. It is easy to read and can satisfy a variety of reading tastes. I highly recommend it to anyone.

     A movie for the first book is due out in 2012. While it is understandably not going to be an R rated movie (the main readers and those mostly responsible for the book’s success are young adults), a small part of me hopes that a violent adult version will be made in the coming years. I realized the irony of this just recently…

     This book hinges on the idea that a society that thoroughly enjoys violence and blood sport will self-destruct. What makes this scary is, how many of you (like me) wanted that R rating as well?


Book Information
Title: Mockingjay
Author: Suzanne Collins
Year of publication: 2010
Publisher: Scholastic Inc.
Pages: 400 pages
Rating: 4/5