MOCKINGJAY
by Suzanne Collins
Published August 24th 2010 by Scholastic Press
Hardcover, 390 pages
Source: Purchased
Placement in the Pile: Top Picks
Summary:
"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.
Review:
*Non-spoilery, I promise!* I figure it's been long enough that most of you have read this already anyway, yes?
When I closed this last chapter in the Hunger Games trilogy, the only thing my brain could wrap around was, "WOW".
I could not put this book down. It was expected and yet unexpected in every way. That, I believe has been the genius of Suzanne Collins' writing - her ability to write something that the reader is fully engrossed in and believes, yet still being able to be one step ahead of us, and shock us.
One thing about this novel is it has a very different feel than the other two books that take place mostly in the "games". Here, we see Katniss a bit broken, a bit vulnerable and a bit lost trying to navigate her way in the real world. On top of that it has a much more military feel to the world than the other books did, and I found it much more violent and disturbing at places...but I don't think it should have been less shocking.
I of course had my issues with a few things. One character's end to their story in the books really didn't sit well with me, and felt like "a way out". Also one part that should have been arguably the most emotional part of the series in total, fell flat and was just a bit confusing until later on.
In the end. I was satisfied with how she ended it all, and I can't wait to hear what you have to say!
This is a series I will read and love for years to come.
What did you think? (Please warn people if your comments are going to contain specific spoilers rather than general statements.)
7 comments:
What do you think about this series being marketed to a Juvenile/YA audience?
I personally love the series--even though the violence puts me off--but I don't think it's appropriate for younger readers (like 4-6 graders).
PS--I'm not a "ban the book" type, but am just curious. :)
Good question!
I actually have quite a long answer and reasoning for that one, so I will answer in a post tomorrow.
But, basically, no I don't have a problem with it. Tomorrow you'll find out why. ;)
I loved the book. I have heard a lot of people say they were disappointed in it, but I didn't feel that way. I do agree with you on the one character's end to their story. I had to re-read it a few times to understand what happened, which took away the impact. I should have been crying, but instead I was confused. I think wrapping up a series is so difficult and I think Collins did a great job. I would have made a few minor adjustments, but not much.
Great series! And as for the age thing, I think it depends on each individual child. Each kid develops and matures at a different rate. I think it is up to the parents to decide and to know where their own child stands and if they could handle the book. I have a 12 year-old niece who is reading the series and I think she can handle it.
I love the whole series. Collins is a genious to me, and I'm glad she didn't shy away on anything. I did see the end coming, but it didn't bother me since she was able to surprise me in other ways with her writing. It was a bit too intense for me though, so I found myself having to take breaks within chapters to process what I just read. Great series and great final book!
I agree. After I read the first sentence of chapter 12 I needed an emotional break!
I was so mad about a certain characters demise. The end was a bit bittersweet to me, I didn't particularly like it, but it made sense.
Wonderful review :)
Lea I agree about the end. There was ONE line that saved it for me that I went. Okay I can see that. But I still didn't like what happened to the other person.
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