Hardcover, 390 pages
English language
Published July 9, 2010 by Scholastic Press.
Katniss Everdeen's having survived the Hunger Games twice makes her a target of the Capitol and President Snow, as well as a hero to the rebels who will succeed only if Katniss is willing to put aside her personal feelings and serve as their pawn.
Loved the conclusion to this series. Gutwrenching at times. It's great to see 1) a likeable female protaganist and 2) a YA novel that aims very, very high. Themes of war, media and morality are all handled well.
I must be the only person to have read this and thought that it was just too predictable. This reads like a rushed attempt to finish a series.
Collins failed miserably in closing out what could have been a great trilogy. Unfortunately, she compleyely disregards all socio-political commentary in the interests of finishing her book and giving her heroine a sappy ending. Very disappointing. In retrospect, it may have been better to have stopped after the first book then to continue through to an unsatisfactory conclusion.
I've enjoyed reading all of the Hunger Games books. Kind of surprised because I can be very contrary when it comes to all things faddish. (re Twilight) But these books definitely kept you reading to find out "what happens next". While this is certainly not the most high-brow literature, they are enjoyable and entertaining. And really, that's about all I want from a book. So there you go.
A fast read, pleasant, somewhat intriguing "post-end-of-the-world" society.
Ugh! What a disappointment!
Let me start with the things I liked: Too often heroes/heroines seem to have too much influence that they realistically should have. Essentially, the author has to bend the rules to make sure the hero can win against all odds. I actually liked that Katniss is a bit helpless and struggling to have an impact on the situation and events. (This is actually one of my only complaints about the Harry Potter franchise... you have to make the adults inept (unrealistically so) in order for the kids to be the heroes).
Unfortunately, that's probably the only good thing. Katniss is extremely unsympathetic throughout the entire book and never redeems herself. The ultimate resolution feels contrived and predictable. I still have to recommend it for people who've read the first two books because you'll want to find out how it ends, but I don't understand the high …
Ugh! What a disappointment!
Let me start with the things I liked: Too often heroes/heroines seem to have too much influence that they realistically should have. Essentially, the author has to bend the rules to make sure the hero can win against all odds. I actually liked that Katniss is a bit helpless and struggling to have an impact on the situation and events. (This is actually one of my only complaints about the Harry Potter franchise... you have to make the adults inept (unrealistically so) in order for the kids to be the heroes).
Unfortunately, that's probably the only good thing. Katniss is extremely unsympathetic throughout the entire book and never redeems herself. The ultimate resolution feels contrived and predictable. I still have to recommend it for people who've read the first two books because you'll want to find out how it ends, but I don't understand the high reviews this book has received.
Based on the first two books, I was expecting much better from Collins.
Katniss survived two Hunger Games. Her district, however, did not: it was bombed shortly after her entering in the arena. The few survivors of District 12 took refuge in District 13, which was thought to be deserted but is in fact hosting the rebels. And this is essentially what this third volume is about: the rebellion against the Capitol, with Katniss as their Mockingjay, human symbol of the resistance who would apparently prefer to be "useful" in the battle than "useless" in front of a TV camera.
I was not convinced by this conclusion to the series. I found the book to be messy and confusing, and that the characters lacked... I don't know, depth? They all kind of feel all clones of each other, which may be the intention, but in the end made things both confusing and bland (because I didn't really care for them anymore).
The story …
Katniss survived two Hunger Games. Her district, however, did not: it was bombed shortly after her entering in the arena. The few survivors of District 12 took refuge in District 13, which was thought to be deserted but is in fact hosting the rebels. And this is essentially what this third volume is about: the rebellion against the Capitol, with Katniss as their Mockingjay, human symbol of the resistance who would apparently prefer to be "useful" in the battle than "useless" in front of a TV camera.
I was not convinced by this conclusion to the series. I found the book to be messy and confusing, and that the characters lacked... I don't know, depth? They all kind of feel all clones of each other, which may be the intention, but in the end made things both confusing and bland (because I didn't really care for them anymore).
The story in itself is satisfying enough - it finishes properly, it gives some closure, but it definitely felt rushed.
This book deserves high praise just for how novel it is - I have never seen an ostensibly young adult book explore such abstract concepts, such as the sacrifices that the "good guys" make for victory. I found the role that Katniss was cast in and the tension between the role she had to perform and her own goals and personality particularly compelling. The use of media and "spin" by both sides was done in a very subtle, well-handled way.
I continue to object to Collins' writing style - her word choice and her decision to very explicitly explain concepts as she goes along both play to a much more juvenile audience than the audience who would be able to appreciate the concepts in the Hunger Games anyway, so I am not sure why that choice was made.
The last book in the Hunger Games trilogy, wrapping up the story as the rebellion escalates and Peeta and Katniss are once again forced to act as figureheads. I think I liked this book least of the three, Katniss's stubbornness becomes less likeable and some of the plot seems a little forced in order to wrap up the story, but overall this is still a really good trilogy for younger readers and an enjoyable quick read for older ones.
I don't know if, after reading these books so long ago, I could write a review for each one...so I'm going to write and all-encompassing review of The Hunger Games Trilogy.
The Hunger Games (Book #1) - The best of the three.
Catching Fire (Book #2) - Gets better from about the half-way point on.
Mockingjay (Book #3) - Not that great. Probably the weakest of the three. Then the ending sucked HARD.
The Hunger Games is a story about North America after a horrific war has wiped out life and government as we know it. The survivors have banded together to form the Capitol City and various outer Districts, each with its own jobs/manufacturing tasks. The Capital City controlled everything to the point that the Districts rose up and revolted. And they were crushed. To remind the Districts that they must never revolt again, the Capital initiated The Hunger …
I don't know if, after reading these books so long ago, I could write a review for each one...so I'm going to write and all-encompassing review of The Hunger Games Trilogy.
The Hunger Games (Book #1) - The best of the three.
Catching Fire (Book #2) - Gets better from about the half-way point on.
Mockingjay (Book #3) - Not that great. Probably the weakest of the three. Then the ending sucked HARD.
The Hunger Games is a story about North America after a horrific war has wiped out life and government as we know it. The survivors have banded together to form the Capitol City and various outer Districts, each with its own jobs/manufacturing tasks. The Capital City controlled everything to the point that the Districts rose up and revolted. And they were crushed. To remind the Districts that they must never revolt again, the Capital initiated The Hunger Games. Each District must deliver one boy and one girl to fight to the death against the other District children for food.
All this happens before our story begins...
We begin with the 74th annual Hunger Games and our main character, Katniss Everdeen from District 12, is competing in the Games. While it won't shock readers to know that the main character wins the Hunger Games, there are still surprises, twists, and gut-wrenching scenes of loss and heartbreak. This is the first book. It was fantastic and an exceptional read. The Hunger Games could stand alone without the other two books and still be a knock-out first novel. In fact, I kinda wish I stopped reading here.
The second book picks up with the Victory Tour that follows the Hunger Games. Katniss, am anti-authoritative rebel, ended up pissing off the leaders of the Capital City with her actions in the 74th Hunger Games. So during the Victory Tour, she has to deal with the consequences of her actions from her Hunger Game win. This part really seemed somewhat repetitive and boring, especially after all the excitement of the first book. Then, everything changed from the middle of the book on. And it was almost as good as the first book. Definitely full of unexpected surprises until the cliffhanger ending...
The third book picked up from the cliffhanger ending of book two and completely different than the other two books. Mockingjay deals mostly with Katniss Everdeen being the figurehead of a District-wide revolt against the Capital City. The difference in plots alone doesn't make the book bad, just not as interesting as the other two. Then came the surprise "dramatic" conclusion to the trilogy and...IT SUCKED HARD. The ending was SO BAD it pretty much ruined the entire trilogy for me. I don't think I'd ever read these books again, cause I know how it ends and IT. IS. HORRIBLE.
My advice to anyone...Read "The Hunger Games" book #1 and THEN STOP.
I was pleasantly surprised by the ending. It was much more complicated than what I'd expect from a YA novel that built up such a villainous enemy. Though when I think about it, it is consistent with the spirit of the Trilogy.
So. Bleak. Loved it though. I hope this series is being taught in schools, very powerful.
Ready for the film now :)
Gloom and doom, twists and turns, thought-provoking political commentary; can one ask for a better young adult novel?
The biggest issue with Mockingjay is that it takes far too long to get going. This 400-page book could easily have been turned into a 200-page novella that conveyed the same punch, but without the sense of characters overstaying their welcome.
It feels like it was written to be a movie, with plenty of filler that could be cropped out to fit a two-hour runtime.
This one was the weakest of the three books in the Hunger Games Trilogy. It was skattered and several plot points seemed to come out of nowhere.
