Book Review: Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

Publisher: Scholastic
Publication date: August 2010
ISBN: 9780439023511
Source: Purchased :)

Katniss has survived her second Hunger Games.  She's now living in the mysterious District 13, part of a rebellion that she's been a pawn in without knowing it.  Peeta was taken by the Capitol and she doesn't know what's happening to him.  Will she be able to keep him, herself, her family, Gale, and everyone else safe or will she have to risk it all to be the leader of the rebellion?

Things I Liked: 
After all the hype and the waiting, it was so great to finally pick up the final book.  Just reading a highly anticipated book like this is an experience apart from the book.  But, enough about that.  I was happy for nearly all of the book (though the beginning was pretty slow for me). I loved how there were several plot twists that threw me, specifically Peeta. [Purposely vague to avoid spoilers.]  It was, once again, really hard to put down and kept me on the edge of my seat for most of it.  I love what Collins manages to do, creating this world full of horrible things and yet not making us despair because of the hopefulness and the happy parts.  This book delves into Katniss' inner thoughts and emotions.  We get to see just how raw and difficult it is to survive after all this psychological, emotional, and physical stress.  It feels quite real to me.  Exciting, non-stop, grueling, heart-breaking (oh the heartbreak in this book)!  Favorite parts:

It isn't enough, what I've done in the past, defying the Capitol in the Games, providing a rallying point.  I must now become the actual leader, the face, the voice, the embodiment of the revolution.  The person who the districts - most of which are now openly at war with the Capitol - can count on to blaze the path to victory.  I won't have to do it alone.  They have a whole team of people to make me over, dress me, write my speeches, orchestrate my appearances  as if that doesn't sound horribly familiar - and all I have to do is play my part. p 10-11

"Oh, no.  It costs more than your life.  To murder innocent people?" says Peeta.  "It costs everything you are." p23

Things I Didn't Like: 
Right about when we hit chapter 25, I started to not like the book.  Up to that point it was everything I hoped for and more.  The rest disappointed and confused me.  I just didn’t feel very satisfied with the ending.  It felt half-hearted and vague and totally confusing to me.  If you'd like to read more of my thoughts on this, do check out the discussion in Natasha's spoiler post.  I didn’t much like the romance either, but that was just my personal preference. :) 

Read-alikes:
Read the first two books in the series The Hunger Games and Catching Fire
Unwind by Neal Shusterman
Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer
The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan
The Maze Runner by James Dashner

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: !
a few (though I admit I wasn't paying much attention)

mrg-factor: X
romantic, but not much else

v-factor: ->->->->
again, quite gory and violent - there's a lot of blood

Overall rating: ****

Well, what did you think? (Note: spoilers in the comments!)

For more dystopian reviews, check out Presenting Lenore's Dystopian August celebration!

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Posted in 4 stars , dystopian , hunger games , Young Adult