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All parent reviews for Mockingjay: The Hunger Games, Book 3
Average rating based on 33 parent reviews:
- 67% say violence is an issue
- 52% say there are positive messages
- 48% say there are positive role models
- 33% say it's educational
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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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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AGE
Not a PG-13 book.
I am appalled by this and the preceding two books in the series. Maybe I got stuck in time somewhere, but this level of violence, even if fake, is simply not acceptable in my opinion. When I read these books I am constantly wondering how my daughter's perspective is being changed. I am trying to talk to her about this and that we should guard against violence of this nature. We've talked about Roman gladiators and the torture of Christians in Roman times, about witch trails and about the holocaust, as well as torture in dictatorships and other situations.
I'm constantly trying to tell her that violence is NOT an OK choice and that we abhor violence and especially torture and creative ways of killing human beings.
What I fail to understand is how this book is appropriate for 12-year olds. All I want to do is toss the entire series in the trash can, where I think they belong - right with slasher movies and the like. If this book was made into a movie, it would not carry a PG-13 rating, but an R or NC-17.
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AGE
A fantastic, but bloody ending - really for 16+
This is the bloodiest book of the series, where they dive into a full out realistic war. This is not pretty - friends die and bad things happen to our 2 heroes. Not for the light-hearted. Still, I believe this is a great story line and a very exciting plot. But, it REALLY isn't for kids below high school. I believe the author is trying to show the true ugly side of war, cruel governments, and the corruption of power.
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AGE
Horrible ending to a great series.
I loved the first two books, this one doesn't even feel the same. Unfortunately the main character spends most of the book injured, on drugs, hiding in corners or just unable to deal with reality. They've taken a character that could have been a leader and turned her into a self absorbed fool. No roll model here. A real disappointment.
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AGE
Brilliant, shattering conclusion to The Hunger Games trilogy
Brilliant, shattering conclusion to The Hunger Games trilogy. I turned the last page, put down the book, and wept for what was lost--and what was found. Again, a gripping plot, but what will linger with me longer is the unsettling portrayal of the corruption of power. The three main characters of Katniss, Peeta, and Gale are taken to their breaking points and beyond, and the compassion with which Collins portrays their descent is painfully raw. The book's ending is satisfying. Not a happily-ever-after, but a quiet, believable conclusion.
The violence is even more brutal in this book than the previous two, and I am again convinced that this is a book only for older, mature teens--but a very worthwhile read. For me this ranks with Orson Scott Card's Ender's Game and Lois McMaster Bujold's Shards of Honor.
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AGE
I thought the first book would be OK for the middle schoolers I taught, but by the time I got to this one, I wouldn't be recommending the series to students unless they were in high school. Pimping the victors seemed like a little much for younger than high school.
The issues it raises (the effect of power, how far is too far for a cause, the effects of war on soldiers and survivors, what is justifiable in a war, etc.) would certainly make for interesting and meaningful discussions with older students.
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AGE
Just wish there was a 3rd book!
My daughter is so upset that she only has 20 or so pages til the end of the book. She LOVED this series.
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AGE
Great ending
A great ending to the trilogy! Very exciting, but it could get confusing with the political details. Also, some very upsetting and well - detailed tortures/deaths to important characters.
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AGE
A Little Too Mature for Under 14 to Really Understand
I personally loved this book (heck, I love the whole series), but I won't let my tween daughter read it until she's a little bit older. I think the content and issues are a little over her head at the moment. Probably kids 14+ will understand the issues and not be too shocked or disturbed by the violence.
The best thing about the Hunger Games series are the characters. The main character, Katniss, seems very realistic to me in her reactions and thoughts. I really enjoyed reading about the choices she made and how she kind of gets swept along on this adventure. Definitely an original take on the futuristic society theme. My husband even enjoyed these books. Love, love, love this series!
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AGE
Consuming and Exciting...A great read
This was an amazing trilogy - my oldest (13) devoured the series and encouraged me to read as well. Anytime mom and daughter can read and discuss books is a positive bonding experience.
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AGE
More than Just a Good Story
This whole series, and especially this book, moves beyond simply telling a good tale to making the reader think. When is war justified? Are we, in our wealth, at all like the oppressive Capitol, as we send soldiers off to fight? Do the trivialities of entertainment keep us from recognizing the great needs of the world around us? The fact that these books wrestle with these questions, while also keeping us enthralled with a gripping story, makes this series quite worthwhile for parents and teens alike.
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AGE
I think that this book gives a good idea of the harsh and unforgiving environment that war produces. It conveys the deaths of the innocent in such a way as to show the blurred line between death by necessity and massacre. The book shows a slightly disturbing aftermath of war for the main character, and has many popular supporting characters meet their ends. Mockingjay shows in a tear-jerking end to the trilogy that war can change things so drastically that the only thing you can count on is your name; and maybe not even that.
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AGE
For Young Adults, not MIddle-Schoolers
I don't agree with the "on for 12+" rating. The books in this trilogy are thought-provoking, intelligently conceived, and real page-turners, but they're also about children who are forced to participate in a twisted reality television show where they must kill each other in extremely brutal ways for the entertainment of the masses. This is not a concept that any kid under high school age can or should wrap their head around, however intelligent or mature the kid might be. Middle schoolers used to horror-movie or video-game violence may not be as disturbed by the violence in these books as they should be. High schoolers and adults have enough life experience to get the true horror of this concept and understand the author's message. For younger kids, these books will seem like nothing more than extra-violent thrill rides, and that's just a waste of an excellent trilogy.
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AGE
This book shows the brutality of war, and how propaganda in the media can be used as a weapon. We are shown genuine consequences of the horror that Katniss and the others have been through. Showing that even though on occasion violence may be necessary, but that it is nor something to be taken on lightly and that any harm done to others, hurts the person causing said harm as much as the one it's done to. .
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AGE
Intense With a Satisfying Ending
All three of these books are great, but I wouldn't recommend them for kids younger than 14 for the same reasons that I don't let my younger kids watch PG13 movies. What's the rush? However, if your kid is old enough to handle the gruesome violence and death and you want something to talk about with him or her (yes, I think boys as well as girls would love this series) then I think that parent and teen could have some interesting philosophical discussions. This same theme was published earlier in the translation of the Japanese novel Battle Royale. It would be fun to compare the novels (and movies when Hunger Games comes out). For teens that like more suspense and a situation that is current I'd recommend Edge of Escape. It's about stalking but I haven't seen it reviewed here.
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AGE
Realistic about the issues of war
Yes, this book is dark and violent. It's a no holds barred look at war, the effects and ethics of rebellion against an unjust government, and of war in general. I've loved all 3 books in the trilogy, but am amazed at how well Collins brings out the issues in a way kids and adults can see and relate to.
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