Review Detail

Reader reviewed by Julie M. Prince

It's the inevitable ending that ripped my heart out...that rocked my world.

One of the few books I've ever found myself standing in line at the bookstore waiting for. The guy in front of me bought two copies. It's being assigned by teachers as required reading about Dystopian Societies.

Of course I'm talking about the third and final installment of Suzanne Collins' The Hunger Games.

Mockingjay became an obsession, even as I read it. I'd see it next to me on the table/couch/desk and know I was going to have to pick it up and continue the tale of Katniss Everdeen to its conclusion.

It was so hard to pick up though. For several reasons: 1) It wasn't The Hunger Games, and no matter how hard I tried, I'd never be able to read that again for the first time. 2) It was the end, and I didn't want the end to come. 3) It was really that hard to read.

Putting aside the Dystopian message that Collins has laid painstakingly into each book, it was just hard to watch Katniss go through so much mental (and physical) anguish. To see her shredded again and again. Each time she got up, wiped herself off, and limped forward, I wanted to scream out, "Stay down! It hurts too much to keep going! Just stop!" But we all know she couldn't.

She couldn't stop anymore than I could stop reading her story. So, I read to the end. And yes, it ended the way it absolutely had to end. There was no choice, really. Human nature is.

Off to turn another page....