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Mockingjay: The Hunger Games, Book 3
- By Suzanne Collins
- Genre: Science Fiction
Common Sense Media says
Exciting, dramatic -- and bloody -- sci-fi trilogy finale.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this is the final book in the bestselling Hunger Games trilogy. Like the previous books, there's plenty of bloodshed and psychological warfare in play; many sympathetic characters die, some are tortured to insanity, and, in one nightmare scene, main characters are hunted by giant reptillian creatures in the sewers as they hiss "Katniss, Katniss." But teen readers are sophisticated enough to understand that this is science fiction, not real life. And the book offers lots of food for thought on what it means to become a symbol to oppressed people, how war propaganda can sway people, what people will endure to be free of oppression, whether it's right or not to use the same dirty tactics as the enemy to win a war, and how hope and some peace can still be found after seeing the inhumanity of war.
What's the story?
After Katniss is rescued from the Hunger Games arena at the end of book two, she's safe in District 13 with a group of rebels led by district president Alma Coin. Katniss knows her rescue was orchestrated so that she could become the symbol of the resistance -- the Mockingjay; and, sure enough, she's used to shoot propaganda films that hijack TV sets across the country of Panem as battles rage in the districts and move ever closer to the Capitol. Katniss also knows that her dear friend Peeta is in danger -- tortured, brainwashed, and used by President Snow as leverage against her. Rescuing Peeta from Snow's brutal retribution isn't the only risky plan at play -- Katniss is also determined to assassinate Snow ... whether she has Coin's approval or not.
Is it any good?
Trilogy fans won't return to the Hunger Games area in this finale, but there's plenty of action to draw readers in (including a few arena-like surprises when fighting hits the Capitol) and plenty of twists to keep you wondering how it will all end. Plus, Collins continues to add depth to the series, asking readers to consider what's justified in war or to maintain order in societies. She adds so many shades of gray -- how propaganda is used to sway people and what it means to be seen as a symbol more than a person -- that readers will be left with plenty of food for thought.
Katniss is still the tormented, conflicted character who doesn't see herself as a hero figure. This amps up the melodrama at times -- and so does her love triangle. Who will she choose? Team Gale or Team Peeta? And, yes, she does finally decide.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about the popularity of this trilogy. What do you think has made it so successful? How does it compare to other popular series, like Harry Potter and Twilight?
This book provides a frightening look at the future. How does it compare to other future worlds you've seen depicted in movies, books, or video games? What is so appealing about reading books like this? Why is it important to read books set in the future?
How does the book portray the media? What role does it play in the war? Can you see any similarities between the way media is used in the book and the role that it plays in our lives today?
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AGE
As an adult, I was obsessed with this series, which my 11 year old read and insisted I read, too. It is riveting and extremely thought-provoking and intelligent!
As for age appropriateness, it is definitely very violent and grim. My daughter is more scared than average for movie watching, but was not affected by these books.
I think this is up there with some of the classic dystopian novels I remember reading long ago when i was in 7th grade... Brave New World, Animal Farm, Lord of the Flies.
What is wonderful about it? Aside from being a really good story you can't put down... I am THRILLED to have a female hero who is really not at all focused on romance, though the reader is wondering throughout the trilogy if she will end up with Gale or Peeta. But Katniss "knows" early on that she doesn't want to marry, and she spends zero time mooning over boys. It is the boys who are interested in her!
The references to Roman times add to the depth of the novel. I found myself thining about places like North Korea today -- this novel made me realize how incredibly difficult it is for a people to throw off a powerful, totalitarian government.
It also portrays realistic responses to humans exposed to torture and war... they all have Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. What's neat is we meet Haymitch and initially see him as a drunk and are judgemental of him... Once we are initiated to the Games, we realize he is suffering the inevitable consequences of having survived them.
I found Katniss' decision to assassinate Coin to also be extremely surprising and brilliant and made me really think! Katniss was right, but I would not have been as smart as her. And one can have great discussions about: can one person be judge, jury and executioner? What if the person they are killing will otherwise become an evil dictator who kills children?
While my 11 year old read and loved it, I think this book is better for teens and adults who want to intellectualize away!
And unlike some other reviewers who were disappointed, please re-read Katniss' explanation of why she NEEDS Peeta and not Gale in the end.. Gale represents anger... the anger necessary for a successful revolution Peeta represents hope and rebirth, which is necessary for survival and carrying forward.
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AGE
Good for older teenagers, but too much for tweens
I read the trilogy, and while I liked it a lot, I would not want my kids to read it before they are in high school. Particularly this last book, Mockingjay, contains some disturbing content and is quite violent. A number of essential characters are killed off in horrible ways, and the main character goes through horrifying experiences. I am not sure why this is being marketed to tweens. There is much more graphic violence than in the Eclipse books, for example.
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Kid, 12 years old
April 6, 2011
AGE
Definately my Favorite Book.
I had finally finished two of three books in the Hunger Games Trilogy. I strongly believed that they were the most fantastic books I had ever read. However, after I opened Mockingjay, I knew that I had been wrong. This book was packed with even more drama and detail than the books before it. The reason I think this book was better than the previous books, The Hunger Games and Catching Fire, is because the situation is much more difficult than before. Instead of having the Hunger Games themselves as a conflict, the conflict in Mockingjay was an entire war, putting tens of thousands of lives at risk rather than just 24. Many characters that I feel like I knew and loved died over the course of the story. I shed many tears over the perfectly written pages. This book reached out farther than any other book had before, right through my heart. That is what I admire most about the series’ author, Suzanne Collins, the most. The way she writes makes the words come alive, makes the characters jump right out of the page, the landscape painting itself right before your eyes. Mockingjay is probably the most inspirational novel I have ever read.
I would recommend this book to more mature 9 year olds and up. Younger kids might not be able to understand some of the elements in Mockingjay as well as older kids and teens. The book brings up deep subjects like war, assassination, drug abuse, and alcohol. Although the drug and alcohol themes in the book are minor, it may bother some people. Readers should expect plenty of detailed violence and gore. If you enjoyed the other two novels in the Hunger Games Trilogy, and enjoy a fast-paced book with an excellent plotline, I think you will find that Mockingjay is absolutely breathtaking.
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AGE
Torture scenes too intense for teens
**SPOILER** If I were to make a movie in which a main character sees a friend's limbs being cut off methodically or another friend being drenched with water and then electrocuted repeatedly, there would be no question of an R or even NC-17 rating. Why are books not treated the same way? This is not young adult literature.
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Kid, 12 years old
April 5, 2011
AGE
Way to go Katniss!
This series really makes you grateful for what you have. Great ending to a great series. Peeta was always my favorite! Katniss needed someone calm but not wimpy to balance out her violent, rebellious side. Gale was too....violent and would've
driven Katniss crazy listening to him rant.
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AGE
overall satisfying
this was my personal favorite in the hunger games serries. colins exibited a true understanding for the emotions katniss is feeling. at one point she is considering suicide and is refusing food. younger teens who havent been exposed to these trials may be overwelmed or burdened. throught the serries katniss matures and grows into the strong and detrmined woman that she is in the epiloge. it is evident that the strugles that she faced made her who she was ment to be. the violence in this final book is particularly explicit. durring a battle scene, a minor character`s eye is severly ingured and fully described. a certain leval of maturity is required to appritiate the love that peeta and katniss share, and some yonger kids may not understand. overall this book gives new hope and it was a privilage to read
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AGE
Disappointing Ending to Promising Series *SPOILERS*
I love this series, and 1 and 2 were amazing, but this book was a HUGE disappointment. Many deaths were unnecessary and Collins handled Katniss's reactions very poorly. She seemed more sad when Boggs died than when Prim did! For Prim she's like, "Oh. Gale and Coin killed her. Darn." Then she goes more insane. For Boggs, she's like, "NO! ICK! Blood! Boggs, speak to me! Give me instruction for this machine thing! Don't go!" And, worst of all for Finnick, she's just, "I said, 'Nightlock, nightlock, nightlock,' through choked sobs. Poor Finnick. Let's go."
Katniss was a jumbled mess, and she wasn't even present during important events, like her trial. She was OOC (read: out of character) and all mentally disoriented. Yes, her reaction was realistic from pain and everything, but Collins should have changed it so she didn't need to be all weak and pale and angry most of the time. We wanted to see the real Katniss, the brave, valiant one! The plot was dry compared to HG1 and HG2 in comparison. Sure, cool twists, but it didn't meet my expectations. Also, finding her love triangle too tangled to untwine, Collins put Katniss with Peeta by relating Gale to Prim's death. I was a big fan of Katniss/Gale, and was really disappointed that it didn't end up that way, but it would've been tolerable if she had forgiven Gale and kept contact with him. The ending is maddeningly vague and is basically: the war ends with Coin and Snow gone, her best friend since forever just vanishes off the face of the Earth, she gets knocked up by Peeta for real, has kids, doesn't have any visible affection for them, and is still not happy. Her message is, "Ah well, life sucks and then you die, but it used to be worse so might as well try to be happy." WTF??
Anyway, I'm surprised at this website, because the sexual items in this series are big and not even mentioned in the reviews for HG and CF. In CF, Johanna is publicly oiling her-*coughcough* and is stark naked. There are mentions of Cray luring hungry young prostitutes during wintertime, and of course the kissing between Katniss, Gale, and Peeta. Not to mention in CF Peeta has gotten Katniss "pregnant". (They're 16 for God's freaking sake!) "Sex symbol" is used to describe finnick at the beginning of the book 3, and there was Katniss and her alterations way back in Book 1 (padding).
Anyway, I'm disappointed in Mockingjay, but it is one of my favorite series nonetheless. You should finish, but brace yourself for disappointments in 3. Oh yeah, and get ready for a lot of gory violence, it's teeming with that. (Action too, no worries!) Get ready for some tearjerking deaths as well.
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AGE
Amazing but Not
I thought it wasn't very bad but it lots of places it was very depressing. It left me feeling that the book was seriously missing something.
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AGE
A good, albiet scary book - except for the end
Chances are, the ending won't leave the reader happy. The plot is very dark, very few people get out alive, and there are very scary images described. The book brings up an interesting idea about the "right" thing to do about war propaganda, loss of a loved one, and leading an army. Warning: this book isn't as good as the previous two, in part because she doesn't go to the Hunger Games. There is almost none of the previous books' humor.
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| Author: | Suzanne Collins |
| Book type: | Fiction |
| Genre: | Science Fiction |
| Publisher: | Scholastic Press |
| Publication date: | August 24, 2010 |
| Number of pages: | 390 |
| Hardcover price: | $17.99 |
| Publisher's recommended age(s): | 12 - 17 |
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