ORDER A COPY: Mockingjay (The Final Book of The Hunger Games)
Publisher: Scholastic
Publishing Date: August 24, 2010
Hardcover: 390 pages
Rating: 3 stars
Young Katniss Everdeen has survived the dreaded Hunger Games not once, but twice, but even now she can find no relief. In fact, the dangers seem to be escalating: President Snow has declared an all-out war on Katniss, her family, her friends, and all the oppressed people of District 12. The thrill-packed final installment of Suzanne Collins’ Hunger Games trilogy will keep young hearts pounding
The rebels have managed to save Katniss from the Games before it is too late, but what about Peeta? Was he killed during the rescue, or worse, was he taken by the Capitol? He would be better off dead.
District 12 had been destroyed by the Capitol and the survivors are hiding with the rebels in the remains of District 13.
The rebellion is still using Katniss as their figurehead in their movement against the Capitol. But is the leader of the rebellion any better than the President? Will they be exchanging one dictator for another?
This was a horrible final story to a very good series. I can’t imagine that I am the only one disappointed in this story. After all that she’s gone through, Katniss has very little character growth. In fact I was frustrated in her complete lack of personality. I can understand when we started the Hunger Games she was a 16 year old with limited life experience, but after all she’s gone through, she still displays no real range of emotions. She flip-flops throughout the series between Gabe and Peeta, never really showing any preference toward either, and only thinking which one will be more hurt if she chooses the other. She has some moments of brilliance, but mostly she mopes around and hides in the closet. They said it in the prior stories, Peeta and his love for Katniss, makes Katniss likeable. Since Peeta is missing, what we see is simply Katniss and there is not much there.
Put aside everything that happens to poor Peeta in this story, which is just heartbreaking, most of what happens during in Mockingjay, is all brought on by Katniss’s actions and decisions, and turns out to be a waste of time and lives. In fact, everything that happened in this story was for nothing and everyone would have been better off if Katniss had stayed in her closet for the whole story. Since this is a first-person story, she literally spends weeks on end locked in a room and we the readers have nothing but her rambling thoughts which, again from the lack of emotions she shows, doesn’t really give us too much.
I was very disappointed in this third story. After two really good stories, this was such a let down. I wanted to toss the whole trilogy in the trash. When people ask me about it, I truly hesitate to recommend it since you can’t tell them to stop before they read the third book.
If you think I got it wrong, please comment and tell me what I missed in this last story.
I’m afraid of Gale’s answer, but I ask anyway. “Why do you think he said it?”
“He might have been tortured. Or persuaded. My guess is he made some kind of deal to protect you. He’d put forth the idea of the cease-fire if Snow let him present you as a confused girl who had no idea what was going on when she was taken prisoner by the rebels. This way, if the districts lose, there’s still a chance of leniency for you. If you play it right.” I must still look perplexed because Gale delivers the next line very slowly. “Katniss…he’s still trying to keep you alive.”
To keep me alive? And then I understand. The Games are still on. We have left the arena, but since Peeta and I weren’t killed, his last wish to preserve my life still stands. His idea is to have me lie low, remain safe and imprisoned, while the war plays out. Then neither side will really have cause to kill me. And Peeta? If the rebels win, it will be disastrous for him. If the Capitol wins, who knows? Maybe we’ll both be allowed to live—if I play it right—to watch the Games go on…
