Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

I don't think it has spoilers, but you never know...proceed at your own risk.


Mockingjay
Author:  Suzanne Collins
Publisher:  Scholastic Press
Date Published:  August 24th 2010


From Goodreads:

Katniss Everdeen, girl on fire, has survived, even though her home has been destroyed. Gale has escaped. Katniss's family is safe. Peeta has been captured by the Capitol. District 13 really does exist. There are rebels. There are new leaders. A revolution is unfolding.



It is by design that Katniss was rescued from the arena in the cruel and haunting Quarter Quell, and it is by design that she has long been part of the revolution without knowing it. District 13 has come out of the shadows and is plotting to overthrow the Capitol. Everyone, it seems, has had a hand in the carefully laid plans -- except Katniss.


The success of the rebellion hinges on Katniss's willingness to be a pawn, to accept responsibility for countless lives, and to change the course of the future of Panem. To do this, she must put aside her feelings of anger and distrust. She must become the rebels' Mockingjay -- no matter what the personal cost.


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I stayed away from any reviews on Mockingjay until after I read it, then went back and checked out what people thought, and I see that it really is split 50/50 between people who liked it, and vice versa.  I put myself in the "like" catagory. 

The beginning seemed slightly off kiltered, almost like I didn't recognize the characters, and series, but I quickly fell into the groove.  Honestly, I didn't want to read more of the same, so after the initial puzzlement, I'm glad Ms. Collins gave us a little jolt.  Most of the complaints I've been seeing have to do with the characters, and how they seem unrecognizable, and though I agree to an extent, I also feel that Mockingjay was about the characters trying to break free from oppression with courage and fear, and had so much responsiblity.  Wouldn't that change you?  I think author Suzanne Collins brought them down a peg or two and made them real.  Yeah, Katniss is suppose to be bad ass, but even bad asses get discouraged, are afraid, and feel beaten down. 

Mockingjay didn't sway from the gruesome as neither did Hunger Games, or Catching Fire, so many moments are spent wincing while reading.  Plain and simple, it's sad just like the first two, but do I think Suzanne Collins have unneccesary things happen...no.  


As for the ending..I loved it.  I can understand how some might not, but things went my way, unlike the other popular YA series that took the world by storm and who's final book I couldn't stomach reading so I abruptly gave up (ya know which one i'm talking about).