Mockingjay

Collins, Suzanne.  2010.  Mockingjay.  New York: Scholastic Press.  ISBN 978-0439023511

In this third and final installment of The Hunger Games trilogy, Collins continues the journey of Katniss Everdeen. War, love, hate and peace are all tangled to create yet another intense and thought-provoking novel. Katniss has been thrust into the heart of the rebellion, not only as a participant, but as the symbol of hope for all of Panem. Finding herself as pawn in someone else’s games once again, she must decide what her role will be. She is forced to discover that sides are not always clearly defined and that some evils are less obvious and, so, more treacherous.

As the games continue, more citizens will be affected, more lines must be crossed and more loved ones will be lost. Collins wields the desperation so prevalent in the two preceding novels while effectively dangling the tightly-held belief that there may, yet, be hope for Panem…and, just maybe, for Katniss.

For readers of The Hunger Games and Catching Fire, the characters easily live and breathe; however, new readers may be left wanting in Mockingjay because so little time is spent on character development. This is a small concern, though, as most readers will be continuing to, rather than starting with this book. While most of the character development takes place in the previous installments, as ever, the nature of the Games is to change everything the reader expects. Even the most steadfast allies are potential enemies here.

Collins consistently paints a vivid scene for readers, and this book is no exception. The first scenes of the first chapter are of District 12, now destroyed, so the reader immediately gets a sense of what has changed and is what is lost. Through Katniss’s thoughts readers are given enough reminders of the past books and prior events to recapitulate without being superfluous for readers moving directly to the sequel without a long break between books.

Being the third part in such an intense trilogy, Mockingjay had much to live up to. Overall, this was an excellent book and it will be recommended, along with its predecessors, to teens and adults alike.

"The bittersweet ending is at once heartbreaking and appropriate, as it stays true to both the determination of Katniss and the brutality of the Games."(Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books/November 2010)

"The highly anticipated conclusion to the Hunger Games trilogy does not disappoint.” (Booklist/November 2010)

Possible Activities:
1. Can be used to begin a discussion about war and its effects, as well as the effects of guilt.
2. Can be used to begin a discussion about loss, particularly that caused by war.