Thursday, September 16, 2010

Review: Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

Mockingjay is the third and final installment in the Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins and a YA novel from Scholastic Press.

Book Blurb:

My name is Katniss Everdeen.
Why am I not Dead?
I should be dead.

Katniss Everdeen, girl on fire, has survived, even though her home has been destroyed. Gale has escaped. Katniss's family is safe. Peeta has been captured by the Capitol. District 13 really does exist. There are rebels. There are new leaders. A revolution is unfolding.

It is by design that Katniss was rescued from the arena in the cruel and
haunting Quarter Quell, and it is by design that she has long been part of the revolution without knowing it. District 13 has come out of the shadows and is plotting to overthrow the Capitol. Everyone, it seems, has had a hand in the carefully laid plans - except Katniss.

The success of the rebellion hinges on Katniss's willingness to be a pawn, to accept responsibility for countless lives, and to change the course of the future of Panem. To do this, she must put aside her feelings of anger and distrust. She must become the rebels' Mockingjay - no matter what the personal cost.


It would be very hard for me to review this book without spoilers. So I am not even going to try. I am going to give my opinion only.

The Hunger Games trilogy is one of the most stressful series I have ever read.

With every book I was on the edge of my seat - wondering what could possibly happen next. How was this child, Katniss and the other children to survive this horrible Game?

How could the people in the Capitol be so cruel as to think of this Game as entertainment?

I can't even say that it was a roller coaster ride of emotion - because with roller coasters, you occasionally get a straight away and can catch your breath.

But this series is very tense. The characters are so real - and I was involved, invested in what was happening.

Katniss was pulled in every direction - no one gave any thought to her as a person - only to what she could do for them. And in the end - she had to make the biggest decision of her entire life - to trust those around her - or trust herself.

I enjoyed this series and I LOVED the way it ended. :)

I give Mockingjay 4 out of 5 stars.

M


4 comments:

Blodeuedd said...

So I made a startled noise and only read that you loved the end :) No spoilers for me..though I did see one by accident on Goodreads :(

Julia Rachel Barrett said...

Really interesting review. Have you ever read Ender's Game, by Orson Scott Card - 1985 - classic sci fi and sounds a bit similar.

Amber said...

Like you, I've been invested in all of these books since I've read them and Mockingjay was no exception. I felt it was actually MORE intense than the last two books and you are so right about it never giving you a minute to breathe. Great review!

Michelle Greathouse said...

B,

So much happened in this book - I couldn't review it without giving away spoilers - and I don't do that. :) I loved this entire series and I thank you for bringing it to my attention in the first place. :)

Julia,

I have not read that book - but I will google it. :) Thank you for the suggestion.

AnJ,

I agree about the intensity level in this book. This whole series was tense - it was great. I wonder if they will make a movie out of this series. I think it would be awesome - but only if they go exactly by the books. :)

Thanks for stopping by ladies.

M