Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins
It's finally here and I'm finished: the final book of The Hunger Games trilogy, Mockingjay, was published on Tuesday and I've read my copy in two days. I needed to have a little time to think about the book before I reviewed it. DO NOT READ FURTHER IF YOU HAVE NOT FINISHED.
I was expecting the immediacy of the Games to carry into the beginning of Mockingjay; instead there was a lot of waiting, discussing, and politics. I thought it was interesting that Collins chose to show so much of the war was on appearances--something that we know is true, but that doesn't really call our attention. District 13 wanted to use Katniss as a rallying symbol for the rest of the districts, but Katniss was of course wary of being a symbol--the girl on fire can only do so much. But when she decides to help out, to overthrow President Snow, Katniss throws herself into it, visiting the different districts, helping how she can, training to be a soldier, and working to bring about the downfall of President Snow.
Gale is in District 13, and is responsible for the survival of people from District 12--it was his recognition of the bombings that got people to the Meadow and to escape with the help of District 13. He is as adamant as ever to bring down the Capitol, even teaming up with Beetee to come up with some new weapons and strategies. While Gale would not tell Katniss what decision to make, he is glad when Katniss makes the decision to be the Mockingjay.
At first all Katniss does is help make "propos", or propaganda spots, cursing the Capitol, trying to encourage the Rebels in the various districts to keep fighting. This is not quite enough for Katniss and in her usual determined manner she disobeys orders to help how she wants to help. But the cameras, as always, love Katniss and her fire.
Things get a little tricky when Peeta is rescued from the Capitol--but he's hardly himself. President Snow has "hijacked" Peeta, changing Peeta's memories so that every thought of Katniss is dangerous, that he perceives her as dangerous, and that his primary purpose is to kill Katniss. After he does attack Katniss, she is shocked and frightened and defensive--Peeta has always been the only person who thinks positively of her, but now Peeta sees her as everyone else sees Katniss.
When Katniss discovers she's not allowed to participate in take over the Capitol, she is angry--after all, she's the one who helped make this happen. But President Coin has only ever needed Katniss as a rallying point and now that all the districts are united, her usefulness has worn out. Never one to be left out, Katniss does the training that all soldiers in District 13 undergo to make sure she can participate. Katniss' greatest test comes when she has to obey orders instead of doing what she wants. But she passes the tests to become a soldier and is part of a sharpshooter team in the Capitol.
Everything that can wrong, does. The abandoned streets of the Capitol have been essentially turned into a giant Arena and the sharpshooter team--and the rest of the Rebel soldiers--must work their ways through the booby-trapped streets to reach the Circle, the center of the Capitol. It's not easy, but the remainder of the sharpshooter team reaches the Circle, where Katniss sees a group of Capitol children roped off in the cold, huddled together. Suddenly packages, like those in the Games, drop from the sky, with food and clothing. The children take the packages and begin to open them when half the packages explode. Rebel medics, who have already reached the center of the city, rush in to assist the children when the other half of the packages explode. Katniss is injured, being on the edge of the explosive range, and Prim--lovable, caring Prim--is one of the medics killed.
When Katniss' burns heal and she comes out of some of her shock, President Coin has taken over Panem, President Snow has been tried and condemned to die, and Katniss will perform one last work as the Mockingjay. She is the one to kill Snow.
She speaks to him before he is set to die, and he plants the seed in her head that it was Coin who ordered the bombing of the children, with the twice exploding packages.
The seven remaining Hunger Games victims are asked by Coin whether or not there should be a final Hunger Games composed of Capitol children--the majority vote will rule. Johanna, Enobaria, Haymitch, and Katniss vote yes. Peeta, Annie, and Beetee vote no. There will be another Hunger Games--perhaps even including Snow's granddaughter.
Katniss is in front of the Capitol in her Mockingjay suit, with her specially designed bow, facing down President Snow. But it's not Snow she kills ....
Once the war is over, Katniss is returned to the remains of District 12, but she doesn't want to be there, she doesn't want to interact with anyone--which works well because the only people who are in District 12 are a drunken Haymitch and Greasy Sae, who cooks for Katniss. Her mother won't return, and Katniss is left to spend most of her time alone. Gale is working in District 2.
Peeta eventually returns, after having been through so much, and having been un-hijacked--he can look at Katniss without wanting to kill her. She rebuilds her relationship with Peeta, beginning with friendship.
It's a good ending to the trilogy, though I was surprised that Katniss' mother and Gale were so willing to leave Katniss to herself. I did like the darkness and light comparison--Katniss is the dark, and Peeta is the light, has always been the light, to keep Katniss balanced. I thought it interesting that Collins showed so much of the war being propaganda, that there was little following the troops on the ground, the feelings of the people. It felt more about Katniss and District 13's revenge against Snow than the liberation of the people. It was a moving book, I did nearly cry at the end (but then I cry a lot at well written books), and it was good to feel it completed. The epilogue was nice, as it gave a nice wrap up of Katniss, but not of the other characters. I wish there had been a bit more about the remaining characters and not just Katniss and Peeta. One day I will re-read all three books and take more time to read them to catch what I have missed, because I always feel like I miss something.
I was expecting the immediacy of the Games to carry into the beginning of Mockingjay; instead there was a lot of waiting, discussing, and politics. I thought it was interesting that Collins chose to show so much of the war was on appearances--something that we know is true, but that doesn't really call our attention. District 13 wanted to use Katniss as a rallying symbol for the rest of the districts, but Katniss was of course wary of being a symbol--the girl on fire can only do so much. But when she decides to help out, to overthrow President Snow, Katniss throws herself into it, visiting the different districts, helping how she can, training to be a soldier, and working to bring about the downfall of President Snow.
Gale is in District 13, and is responsible for the survival of people from District 12--it was his recognition of the bombings that got people to the Meadow and to escape with the help of District 13. He is as adamant as ever to bring down the Capitol, even teaming up with Beetee to come up with some new weapons and strategies. While Gale would not tell Katniss what decision to make, he is glad when Katniss makes the decision to be the Mockingjay.
At first all Katniss does is help make "propos", or propaganda spots, cursing the Capitol, trying to encourage the Rebels in the various districts to keep fighting. This is not quite enough for Katniss and in her usual determined manner she disobeys orders to help how she wants to help. But the cameras, as always, love Katniss and her fire.
Things get a little tricky when Peeta is rescued from the Capitol--but he's hardly himself. President Snow has "hijacked" Peeta, changing Peeta's memories so that every thought of Katniss is dangerous, that he perceives her as dangerous, and that his primary purpose is to kill Katniss. After he does attack Katniss, she is shocked and frightened and defensive--Peeta has always been the only person who thinks positively of her, but now Peeta sees her as everyone else sees Katniss.
When Katniss discovers she's not allowed to participate in take over the Capitol, she is angry--after all, she's the one who helped make this happen. But President Coin has only ever needed Katniss as a rallying point and now that all the districts are united, her usefulness has worn out. Never one to be left out, Katniss does the training that all soldiers in District 13 undergo to make sure she can participate. Katniss' greatest test comes when she has to obey orders instead of doing what she wants. But she passes the tests to become a soldier and is part of a sharpshooter team in the Capitol.
Everything that can wrong, does. The abandoned streets of the Capitol have been essentially turned into a giant Arena and the sharpshooter team--and the rest of the Rebel soldiers--must work their ways through the booby-trapped streets to reach the Circle, the center of the Capitol. It's not easy, but the remainder of the sharpshooter team reaches the Circle, where Katniss sees a group of Capitol children roped off in the cold, huddled together. Suddenly packages, like those in the Games, drop from the sky, with food and clothing. The children take the packages and begin to open them when half the packages explode. Rebel medics, who have already reached the center of the city, rush in to assist the children when the other half of the packages explode. Katniss is injured, being on the edge of the explosive range, and Prim--lovable, caring Prim--is one of the medics killed.
When Katniss' burns heal and she comes out of some of her shock, President Coin has taken over Panem, President Snow has been tried and condemned to die, and Katniss will perform one last work as the Mockingjay. She is the one to kill Snow.
She speaks to him before he is set to die, and he plants the seed in her head that it was Coin who ordered the bombing of the children, with the twice exploding packages.
The seven remaining Hunger Games victims are asked by Coin whether or not there should be a final Hunger Games composed of Capitol children--the majority vote will rule. Johanna, Enobaria, Haymitch, and Katniss vote yes. Peeta, Annie, and Beetee vote no. There will be another Hunger Games--perhaps even including Snow's granddaughter.
Katniss is in front of the Capitol in her Mockingjay suit, with her specially designed bow, facing down President Snow. But it's not Snow she kills ....
Once the war is over, Katniss is returned to the remains of District 12, but she doesn't want to be there, she doesn't want to interact with anyone--which works well because the only people who are in District 12 are a drunken Haymitch and Greasy Sae, who cooks for Katniss. Her mother won't return, and Katniss is left to spend most of her time alone. Gale is working in District 2.
Peeta eventually returns, after having been through so much, and having been un-hijacked--he can look at Katniss without wanting to kill her. She rebuilds her relationship with Peeta, beginning with friendship.
It's a good ending to the trilogy, though I was surprised that Katniss' mother and Gale were so willing to leave Katniss to herself. I did like the darkness and light comparison--Katniss is the dark, and Peeta is the light, has always been the light, to keep Katniss balanced. I thought it interesting that Collins showed so much of the war being propaganda, that there was little following the troops on the ground, the feelings of the people. It felt more about Katniss and District 13's revenge against Snow than the liberation of the people. It was a moving book, I did nearly cry at the end (but then I cry a lot at well written books), and it was good to feel it completed. The epilogue was nice, as it gave a nice wrap up of Katniss, but not of the other characters. I wish there had been a bit more about the remaining characters and not just Katniss and Peeta. One day I will re-read all three books and take more time to read them to catch what I have missed, because I always feel like I miss something.
Labels: dystopias, female characters, young adult
posted by austentatious at 8:03 AM
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