Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

The book begins after the Hunger Games which takes place in the second book in the series (Catching Fire). Katniss Everdeen, the book’s main character, is in district thirteen (led by President Coin) which is now the base that is underground for the rebellion against the Capital and President Snow. Katniss and the others including her sister Prim, her mom, and Gale, Katniss’ hunting partner, and friend take classes and try to better themselves for the rebellion. However, Peeta Mellark, who was the co-Hunger Games winner with Katniss was captured after the games by the capital. When the rebels finally get Peeta back, they reunite Katniss and Peeta only to find Peeta has been brainwashed and tries to kill Katniss. After some time, the rebels gather a group to go and try and take over the Capital, this includes Katniss, Gale, and a now somewhat but not completely better Peeta. They overcome many obstacles and lose lives, but they eventually make it to the Capital. They are greeted by bombs from the rebels that they did not know about. It is a chaotic scene with fighting and doctors and nurses trying to help wounded people. Katniss sees Prim who is now a nurse only to have Prim get hit with a bomb from the rebels, killing her. Despite the loss, the rebels win the fight and overthrow President Snow. While planning the execution of President Snow and the future of Panem, President Coin decides they should have a Hunger Games with the Capital’s children as revenge. At the execution of President Snow, Katniss who is meant to put an arrow through Snow realizes that Coin will be just as bad, so she kills Coin instead. Ten years later, Katniss and Peeta now have a happy family in their free country. I thought this was a very good book. I gave it a four-star rating out of five because most parts were very entertaining and page-turning, especially when they invade the capital, however, some parts were very slow, especially the parts where nothing much was happening in district thirteen.

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Review by Brendan M.