Mockingjay (review)

Months after her rescue from the Quarter Quell by rebel forces, Katniss Everdeen (from Hunger Games, BCCB 11/08, and Catching Fire, 12/09) stands among the firebombed ruins of her hometown, torn between seething rage and exhausted resignation. As she considers her role in the Hunger Games and the subsequent rebellion against the Capitol, Katniss takes stock of her losses: her home is in ashes; Peeta, her partner and friend (and possibly more?) from the Games, is being held prisoner by President Snow; and her guilt strains her remaining relationships so much that she feels completely and utterly alone. The leaders of District Thirteen, the rebels' stronghold, want her to become the Mockingjay, the symbol of the revolution that will finally eliminate the Capitol—but at what additional cost to Katniss? The opening scene of this highly anticipated conclusion to the Hunger Games trilogy makes it immediately clear that the tone of this final installment will differ greatly from its predecessors. Gone is the stubbornly resourceful heroine, the pulse-pounding action, the thrill of dissent as Katniss answers each of the Capitol's challenges. Instead, we are left with a damaged, despondent girl who's forced to play yet another game by the rebel leaders, who have quickly revealed themselves to be just as cruel as the Capitol. Readers will not be disappointed by the series conclusion, as the superb characterizations and unending plot twists that were hallmarks of the previous books are all here, but they may be surprised by Collins' bleak—albeit accurate—depiction of war. Neither the Capitol nor the rebels can claim innocence as their separate quests for power continue to rack up the body count and destroy Katniss' world. The bittersweet ending is at once heartbreaking and appropriate, as it stays true to both the determination of Katniss and the brutality of the Games.