Book Review: Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins (Spoilers)
It took me a couple days, but I finally finished Mockingjay and am now ready to review. I was thinking about waiting a bit before sharing my thoughts, afraid I might give some info away that could spoil another person's reading of it, but I thought I would go for it anyway.
Mockingjay is the final book in Suzanne Collins' The Hunger Games Trilogy. It has been anxiously awaited by many eager to find out what has become of Katniss after being lifted out from the Quarter Quell arena by District 13 rebels and some Capital allies in a hovercraft. Well, Mockingjay starts off right where we left off in Catching Fire. Unfortunately, instead of being full of excitement, suspense and drama, the beginning of Mockingjay is slow. It is Katniss' thoughts on what has happened, her hospital stay and use of morphling, her moping around her new home in District 13. 25 pages in, I went to bed.
Thankfully, the book is not all like this. In fact, the rest is quite interesting and exciting and full of surprises, most of which are disturbing and sad but that is what makes Mockingjay real to me. When is there ever a truly happy ending in war? I appreciated the sacrifices made, was saddened when people died (yes, there are deaths) and was pleased with how the series has ended. There are still questions, and discussions to be had about many things that happened, revelations that were made and I think that is the best way to end a series.
The most interesting aspect of the book, in my opinion, was the realization that replacing President Snow with President Coin wasn't going to change much in the lives of the people. Trading one evil for another, how we make the right choice in leaders, and how we stop from repeating past mistakes are all big concepts that the book addresses. Definitely big themes for teens but ones they need to be aware of since they play out in current governments around the world.
Excellent review! I had similar thoughts. Totally bummed at some of those who died. And am glad that Collins showed that the grass isn't necessarily greener on the other side of the fence.
I definitely felt that Coin was the other side of a bad coin with President Snow. Have you read The Chaos Walking trilogy? I feel like it explores the same idea but in way more depth.
I, too, thought it was interesting how Katniss' focus changes once she realizes what Coin is really like. I also thought MOCKINGJAY started off slowly and was kind of long and sad - in fact, it's my least favorite of the books. Still an awesome series, though!
It took me a couple days, but I finally finished Mockingjay and am now ready to review. I was thinking about waiting a bit before sharing my thoughts, afraid I might give some info away that could spoil another person's reading of it, but I thought I would go for it anyway.
Excellent review! I had similar thoughts. Totally bummed at some of those who died. And am glad that Collins showed that the grass isn't necessarily greener on the other side of the fence.
ReplyDeleteI definitely felt that Coin was the other side of a bad coin with President Snow. Have you read The Chaos Walking trilogy? I feel like it explores the same idea but in way more depth.
ReplyDeleteNo, I haven't. I will have to look into that series. Never heard of them before.
ReplyDeleteI, too, thought it was interesting how Katniss' focus changes once she realizes what Coin is really like. I also thought MOCKINGJAY started off slowly and was kind of long and sad - in fact, it's my least favorite of the books. Still an awesome series, though!
ReplyDelete