Mockingjay – Suzanne Collins

Name: The Hunger Games Mockingjay (Book Three)

Author: Suzanne Collins

Publisher: Scholastic Ltd.

Genre: Dystopian Fiction

Themes: Dystopian, Injustice, Rebellion, Sacrifice

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Note: If you haven’t read the first two books in the series, this review may give some plot lines away.

After surviving two Hunger Games, the battle is far from won as Katniss and the others face their most challenging obstacle yet: revolution. Years of repression have led to this moment, and they all must face up to what is morally right and sacrifice everything in order to achieve their freedom. Katniss Everdeen must become the Mockingjay: a symbol of rebellion that will fuel the 12 districts in their plight for freedom. If she doesn’t, she will die. Her friends will die. Her family will die. In this final book in the Hunger Games Trilogy, we see a monumental rebellion by the districts against the oppression of the Capitol that they have faced for 75 years.

Instead of writing about the Games, Collins uses this third and final book as an incredible finale and conclusion to the trilogy. The third book plummets into destruction, heartbreak and rebellion like never before. In Mockingjay, we see Katniss grow from a brave girl from District 12, into a powerful and influential young woman, who has become the face of the rebellion. I admire Katniss the most in this book, as she faces so many choices which will all impact the future of Panem forever. Her strength in overcoming every obstacle the Capitol throws at her, her continued loyalty and protection of her family and her sister, and her drive to achieve justice for the people is what makes her one of my favourite heroins of all time.

Mockingjay is action packed from the very beginning and Katniss and her team face challenges and obstacles, designed to prevent them from executing their plans. They must attempt to rescue Annie and Peeta from the hands of the Capitol, produce media campaigns and propaganda to unite the Districts into rebellino, and finally, take down the Capitol and with it President Snow.

Out of the three books, I found Mockingjay the most political, and most complex plot line. Collins delves into the deepest parts and details of the characters, bringing them closer to the reader (which made it all the more heartbreaking when my favourites were killed) and exploring themes of betrayal and corruption running deeper than what Katniss initially saw on the surface.

I thoroughly enjoyed the complexity of the novel, and how the themes of the Games was continued but in a very different way. More characters were introduced which I absolutely loved, and we see Primrose grow as a character and as a person in huge ways. I think one of the biggest themes of the book was sacrifice, which was heartbreaking to read but further reinforced the necessity of their actions and of the rebellion.

Rounding off the series then, for me, The Hunger Games is and always will be my favourite dystopian series. As the first of it’s kind that I have read, I adore the characters, the plot-line and the themes, and it is a series I know I will read over and over again. I enjoyed the complexity of the characters, their relatability, and the various subplots of friendships, romances and family. I felt connected to Katniss and her emotions, and her relationships with other characters. I wasn’t disappointed by the ending, in fact I felt satisfied with the life that Katniss was eventually able to enjoy – a life of simplicity back home as opposed to a life of grandeur.

Overall, I recommend the series to anyone who has seen the films but not yet read the books, and any fans of dystopia, action and romance novels. An amazing read!

Sasha x