Mockingjay

This is a review of the book “Mockingjay” by Suzanne Collins, published in September 2010. Mockingjay is the third and final book in “The Hunger Games” trilogy, meaning it concludes the series. The previous book in this series is Catching Fire. This books theme is dystopian fiction/sci-fi action, and is about a country with a cruel and oppressive government where the people are having a revolution against the government.

This book takes place in an unknown time in the future, probably a couple hundred years from now at my guess. All of today’s civilization is lost, and what remains is a country in North America called Panem. Panem is divided into 12 unfairly treated districts and a rich, high tech Capitol that rules the nation. In Mockingjay, there is finally a revolution against the Capitol which is unintentionally started by the protagonist Katniss Everdeen throughout the first two books. Katniss is part of an underground military group in District 13, which was mythologically supposed to be destroyed long before, and they are basically planning out the whole revolution themselves. Their plan is to take over each District one by one, and then the Capitol to finish it off. District 13 is using Katniss as their symbol, the Mockingjay. The cause of this being that Katniss accidentally started the revolution throughout the first two books and had her Mockingjay pin as her own symbol. This way District 13 knows that people will look up to her giving inspiration to the revolution. Throughout the book, District 13 makes a series of propaganda commercials cast throughout Panem called Propos, each one starring Katniss. The main characters are Katniss, of course, Peeta, who was captured by the Capitol but eventually rescued, Plutarch Heavensbee, one of the leading military officers, Boggs, another high ranked military officer, Gale Hawthorne, Katniss’s best friend, Cressida, who is in charge of the propos, Alma Coin the President of District 13 who barely even does anything, and the antagonist, President Snow, who is the president of Panem and who District 13 is trying to capture.

I loved this book, although it was not as good as Catching Fire. I love the setting because I think the whole idea of a cruel, dystopian nation being all that’s left in the far future is just really cool and creative, the story is gripping and intense, although the characters could have been better. It is full of action and violence, and the story gets interesting as it progresses. I like how Katniss traveled throughout Panem so I could see what some of the other Districts looked like. One thing I will say is that this is probably the most depressing book I have ever read. A LOT of people die throughout the book, and there were some scenes and descriptions that almost made me cry. I did not like Katniss that much. She is very tough and smart, but she is very negative and kind of mean. I can understand why she’s so grumpy, considering the situation she’s in, but she does take it out on other people and herself. At one point, she says “I hate almost everyone now, myself most of all”. If you like books with lots of action, a gripping story, and an interesting and creative setting, then read the Hunger Games series, they are awesome. My favorite book in the trilogy is Catching Fire, and Mockingjay is just a tiny bit worse. Although most people I know like the first book the best, but this is just my opinion. So read this series as soon as possible, it will suck you in until the last page of the last book, and you will be satisfied.

Book Review by Alex O.