Mockingjay- Suzanne Collins

Overall Rating: 6.5/10

((Caution: Spoilers for Hunger Games and Catching Fire))

Summary: We interrupt my unimportant spanish homework to bring you another exciting book review from MJ! Okay, okay, some would argue that book reviews can't exactly be 'exciting', but they're definitely interesting. Unfortunately it's hard to say the same for Mockingjay.

But I'm getting ahead of myself.

The third and final installment in the Hunger Games trilogy brings back all of our favorite characters. Well, the ones that weren't killed. Katniss is shuffling through the ruins of Distrcit 12, reminiscing about the past.Make no mistake, her times in the arena were trying, and she's feeling the effects of them while she stays at 13 with the survivors from 12, citizens of 13, old friends and fellow rebels. With painful memories, stress of the present and fear of the future claw at her mind Katniss is forced to work with 13's harsh president Coin to maintain the face of the rebellion. Even with Gale around to comfort her she cannot get over the loss of Peeta or the harshness of their new environment. Indeed, the people of 13 uphold a diligence that has kept them alive all these years every single day. The only reason she is exempt from the harsh punishments inflicted upon rule-breakers is because she is the Mockingjay. But how will she take seeing her friends beaten for taking an extra slice of bread? Can she save Peeta from the clutches of the Capitol? Katniss is finished with the official games, but will she make it past the Capitol's final level?

Opinion: For all of my eagerness when I opened this book I was remarkably disappointed at the end. Unlike the previous two books there is relatively little physical action. While I believe this book may be on par with Catching Fire, it wasn't really in the same realm that Hunger Games was. As with CF, the story was out of Katniss's hands, something I found more frustrating and annoying than anything. She is no longer the hero, but a figurehead. She was the spark that started the rebellion, but nothing more. Half of this book she's being sedated or on some form of medication. Not exactly the strong hero-type we saw in HG. During Peeta's rescue she is told to 'sit back and wait'. Would Katniss from the first book do that? I don't think so. But Katniss from book 3 pretty much does. There were a few fun surprises thrown in there which I appreciated, but overall the plotline had me groaning. Even the end was unusual. The book did not end with fighting. Instead we continued on with more internal grief and confusion on Katniss's part. A few more twists here and there, and then the Mockingjay is all but stuffed in a confined, observed room. There were a number of unnecessary character deaths. Conversely I thought there were a few characters who should have died and didn't. Yes, I like Collins's writing style. Yes I like Hunger Games. Yes I liked the series. But Mockingjay... just wasn't the ending I had hoped for.

Reccomendation: I'd say read it, if only so you know how Hunger Games ends. For all of its flaws it was worth the read; I just wouldn't suggest you buy it for yourself. Borrow it from a friend. I doubt I'll re-read this one.

Title: I love the title. My favorite of the three in the series. Mockingjay flows well and it's creative. If only such were true for the book itself.

Cover: It follows the theme, it's creative, eye-catching. I like it.

Series: I LOVE Hunger Games. One of my favorite books. Catching Fire is about as good as Mockingjay, but in a way this one is more depressing because its the end of the series and Collins doesn't have another chance to redeem herself. Depressingly mediocre for a series that started with such a bang.

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On a more blog-centric note, I might update more like twice a week. Say personal writing on Wednesdays and then Book reviews on Sundays. Or I might alternate on Sundays. We'll find out what school allows.

~MJ