Mockingjay (The Hunger Games #3)

I inhaled Mockingjay in one day. And while I wasn't as satisfied with the conclusion as I wanted to be (I was really hoping Katniss would step up and start being a decision maker far earlier than she did, and I wasn't sold on her ending up with the boy she chooses), it was as action-packed and heartbreaking as I'd come to expect from Ms. Collins. I highly recommend the entire series.

Reader reviewed by Korbin S

Personally Mockingjay made me sick.
The Hunger Games and Catching Fire were amazing, but it seemed like the end to the trilogy didn't have that Hunger Games vibe to it. Meaning, of course there's going to be a slow point in the series, but ever since the beginning I was expecting something more than a run through a war torn city to kill the President. As soon as i found out that the Hunger Games was a trilogy I thought that it would be a hundred times better than both of the first two novels.

When I read Mockingjay I immediately saw something different about it. Knowing that it was the end of the trilogy I couldn't believe how it had almost ruined the series for me. The first part was about her doing a "propo" for her film crew. Not her fighting back against the capitol. The second part was a little bit better, but still made no sense whatsoever. Most of it was about Katniss arguing with Coin because Coin woudln't let her go into battle. So what happened to the Katniss that dissobeyed the laws of the capitol in book 1 to go into the wilderness. And the Katniss that took a stand to take down the forcefield in book 2.

I know that Mrs. Collins didn't want to end the trilogy too violently, but for a violent trilogy like this one there is really no other way to end the novel. Of course the third part of the novel was violent, but still there wasn't the Hunger Games vibe to it. So after reading Mockingjay I just decided to not even look at the trilogy again. It was about the same decisions of a teenage girl not knowing how to love. I didn't realize it until I got into the third book seeing that Katniss was really starting to fall for... But Peeta and Gayle were always really fighting over each other.

Now is there really any repetition in this novel, because it kinda reminds me of the whole plot of Twilight. A vampire and a warewolf fighting over each other. it's the same thing in this novel. A girl choosing between two guys that don't know who they love either.

Reader reviewed by Linda L

Mockingjay
Author: Suzanne Collins
Publisher: Scholastic, Inc.
Release date: August 24, 2010
Copy: Hardback, gifted

L: Amazing and haunting. Those are the two words that first come to mind when I think of this book. This trilogy definitely ended with a big bang when all the threads unraveled in this last book. Things in this book will shock you, bring tears to your eyes, and cause you to beat the heck out of your feather pillow (or, well, at least it did for me). All because the unexpected happens.

Rating: 5 out of 5 letter blocks

Sexual content: Only kissing. (And not even lots.)
Profanity: None.
Violence: Very.
Other notables: Occasional drinking.

Reader reviewed by Brianna

This was a wonderful conclusion to the Hunger Games series. But the ending was not what i thought it would be but was okay. I abosultely loved this series and hope to someday see it in the theaters i think it would be a really big hit like Harry Potter and Twilight saga. so all i have to say is read this book and you will love it just like i did although everyone has different tastes in books so you may not like it but i garentee you will not like it but LOVE IT!!!!!!

Reader reviewed by Brianna

This was a wonderful conclusion to the Hunger Games series. But the ending was not what i thought it would be but was okay. I abosultely loved this series and hope to someday see it in the theaters i think it would be a really big hit like Harry Potter and Twilight saga. so all i have to say is read this book and you will love it just like i did although everyone has different tastes in books so you may not like it but i garentee you will not like it but LOVE IT!!!!!!

Reader reviewed by Julie

Mockingjay wraps up the compelling and sometimes disturbing trilogy that began with The Hunger Games. Katniss, Peeta, and Gale continue on their journey to find a way to right their world. With plot twists and heart pounding action, this book was impossible to put down. Literally. I read it in one sitting. Collins weaves together pieces of background the reader discovers with Katniss along the way. Battles are fought, Katniss finally faces her monsters, there is loss, and finally, there is love.

A plot-driven sci-fi thriller, The Hunger Games trilogy also had enough development to make me care about these characters, deeply. Much like with HP and Twilight, I was thirsty to learn the outcome, but found that finishing the series was bittersweet, as I knew I'd miss these characters. I'm nostalgic. A little melancholy.

Katniss, Peeta, Gale, and even Haymitch...I miss you already.

Reader reviewed by Lia

Mockingjay, the third and sadly the final installment of the Hunger Games Trilogy starts out with Katniss in the very real District 13. District 12 has been destroyed, with only a couple of survivors who are taking refuge in District 13, among them are Katniss' family and Gale. Peeta is in the clutches of the cruel President Snow, Katniss no longer trusts Haymitch, and all the Rebels see her as the Mockingjay to their cause. Katniss is torn between saving Peeta and helping the rebellion against the Capitol.

I was blown away by this book. It completely sucked me in. There were so many terrifying and heart-wrenching moments that took me on an emotional roller-coaster. Katniss has to be the best strong female character I've read about. No matter what she goes through, she gets right back up. Any tragedies only make her more determined. The other characters I loved alot were Gale, Finnick, Johanna, Peeta and of course Haymitch. There were new additions also: Boggs, Cressida, and Paylor. This was a dark, and violent read; Collins portrayal of war is real and raw as well as the human emotions accompanying it. I couldn't stop thinking about this even after I done reading it. There is no sugar-coating the gruesome aspects of war and human cruelty. The book is one whole non-stop suspenseful and action ride. I loved this series and I'm sad it's done. I can't wait for more of Suzanne Collins' books. By the way, I am still firmly Team GALE!!!!!

Reader reviewed by Josh

The stunning conclusion to The Hunger Games trilogy was finally released on August 24, 2010. Anyone who had read the first two books was as eager as me to get their hands on the book. After reading this amazing book I was devasted that the fire had finally been put out and the series had finally come to an end. The story follows the character Katniss Everdeen, who in the first two books had been to the Hunger Games twice and won both times, each by pulling a wild stunt that the Capital didnt like. Now Katniss finds herself in District 13, which was thought to have been wiped out during the Dark Days, and in the middle of a war between the Capital and the Districts. Having sparked the war by defying the Capital in the Hunger Games, she is chosen to be the leader of the district rebels. She reluctently agrees. Still heartbroken over the fact that her friend and so-called lover Peeta is in the hands of the capital, a rescue team is sent and they retrieve him. It turns out that his mental state is unsecure, and they find out that he had been subjected to a sort of brainwashing torture done by the Capital, and he now hates Katniss. They make progress though, and in the end when they launch their final attack on the Capital, he arrives there to be on Katnisss team. After a freak accident leaves two members of her team dead, she decides to lead the rest on a false mission to assassinate the President. In the end, she fails but the President is captured and is to be executed by Katniss, who in turn instead kills the President of District 13 for causing the death of her sister. At the end, she is forced to choose between Peeta and Gale, and she chooses Peeta. In my opinion, the book was amazing. Katniss is a character with depth, and her strong, brave personality shines throughout the series even in her darkest times. Though she hates to admit it, she has leadership qualities. Her reactions to events are just like a normal person would react, not overly stressed like in other books. I liked the book because the author didnt hold back to make it less intense for the younger readers, she exposed the raw terror and violence. Though the book felt a little rushed with lots of things happening in a short period of time, it was really good. Suzanne Collins ends this series with a bang, and any reader will be left thinking for hours after they have finished they book. Throughout the book Katniss demonstrates extreme acts of love, courage, and strength.

 

Reader reviewed by Kelsey

When Mockingjay FINALLY got to me at the library, I was so excited!! The last book of the Hunger Games
trilogy! What will happen next?? Who will Katniss end up with?? How
will they defeat the Capitol?? I couldn't wait to delve into the world
of Panem, no matter how depressing it is.

I can't saw I LOVED it. In my opinion, the first two were definitely better. I don't know if it was just me, but Mockingjay
moves a bit slower than the others (except for the last hundred pages,
when there's some strong action). There's still surprises and twists
that I could never expect to happen, but it just didn't reach the
magnitude I thought it was going to be.

I didn't like the ending...*SPOILER* What
happened to Gale? Why doesn't Collins tell us the whole story. I
actually wanted her to end up with Gale, and I don't really know why she
didn't. I guess their strong connection since childhood and all the
time they spent together is no match for what Katniss only thinks might have happened (that Gale blew up her sister). *END OF SPOILER* The way it ended, there could be another book(s) after, but I kind of doubt the author will write more.

And
I couldn't be more excited about the movie that's coming out based on
the books (or is it just based on the first one?). Suzanne Collins is
writing the screenplay, so it shouldn't be totally botched. I think
it'll make a great movie though, because there's so much physical action
and visual stuff that's going on. It would be awesome to see it on the
big screen!

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....