Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins
Teen

(Spoilers from the first two books)
The final book in the Hunger Games trilogy sees Katniss rescued from another Hunger Games in an attempt by District 13, which everyone thought didn't exist, to overthrow the Capital. The problem is that Peeta was taken by the Capital and Katniss feels completely responsible. District 13 wants her to be the mockingjay and the face of the revolution against the Capital. It doesn't take Katniss long to decide when she sees Peeta show up multiple times on Capital television looking worse and worse. Only one person knows what she's going through, a previous victor who also made it out of the last Hunger Games, Finnick. As they commiserate with each other, District 13 is crafting a plan of how to capture the Capital and Katniss wants President Snow for herself.

The relationship development in this book was great and I would have liked to see it a bit more in the second book. I really enjoyed Finnick, once we got to know him and liked seeing Prim grow in to her own as well. Though not as captivating as the first two books, this still rounded out the series quite nicely. I don't think I fully understood Katniss' final decision of the Hunger Games. Was it for revenge or to save herself from Coin? This was a fabulous story and books I will be keeping in my collection!

First Line: "I stare down at my shoes, watching as a fine layer of ash settles on the worn leather."

Rating:
(4.5/5)

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
Teen

Spoilers from the first book!
Katniss Everdeen, the girl on fire, has survived the arena of the Hunger Games only to be forced on a victory tour with the threat that if she can't make people believe that she loves Peeta, bad things are going to start to happen. Still not entirely sure of her feelings for him, she knows she has to do this because her loved ones are in danger, including her family and Gale. With the Quarter Quell coming up, an even more horrific Hunger Games, Katniss adds to her worries of being a mentor for some other poor children. But when the rules suddenly change, Katniss struggles to figure out how to protect her and her loved ones while determining if she should be for or against the murmurs of uprising against the Capital.

Katniss is such a strong female character but has some obvious flaws which make her such a refreshing character to read about. Some times her reaction to situations annoys me but no character is perfect. I simply couldn't put this book down. I enjoyed book 2 more than book 1 as there was a good mixture of tension with the Capital and another Hunger Games. This was a great second book to the series and I think it'll make an even better movie than the first one.

First Line: "I clasp the flask between my hands even though the warmth from the tea has long since leached in to the frozen air."

Rating:
(5/5)

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Teen

Katniss Everdeen is a teenager living in District 12 of a land once known as North America, now known as Panem. The Capitol runs the land, surrounded by 12 districts and an area where the 13th was but was obliterated when an uprising occurred. As part of the punishment for the districts rebelling, every year a Hunger Games is held where two teens from each district are selected as tributes to compete in a gruesome game to last person standing. Each tribute is tasked with killing the others until they is only one left and it is televised for all to see.

When Katniss' younger sister Prim's name is pulled to join the Games, Katniss volunteers to go in her place. Peeta, the baker's son, is picked to go with her and he has had a crush on Katniss for a very long time. The two play up the lovers angle trying to get sympathy from viewers because gifts can be given during the Games. When thrown in to the Games, the two require a lot of strength, courage, and determination to get through one of the worst experiences of their lives and make sure they come out alive.

I had a lot of trouble putting this book down at night because I needed to know what was going to happen to Katniss and Peeta at the end of the book. I was continuously surprised that there wasn't more anger from all of the tributes at being thrown in to this situation by the Capitol and the parents of the tributes didn't seem to care much either. The Games have been going on for over 70 years, why wasn't there another uprising to stop their kids from being slaughtered?

I really enjoyed Katniss as a character. She's just what young girls need as a literary character to look up to. I'm sure this will make a great movie.

First Line: "When I wake up, the other side of the bed is cold."

Rating:
(4.5/5)