Mockingjay Review (Spoiler-free!)

Thursday, August 26, 2010

**If you have not started the series, this post does contain spoilers for the previous two books, so please feel free to pass on by!**



Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen has survived the Hunger Games twice. But now that she’s made it out of the bloody arena alive, she’s still not safe.
The Capitol is angry. The Capitol wants revenge. Who do they think should pay for the unrest?
Katniss. And what’s worse, President Snow has made it clear that no one else is safe either.
Not Katniss’s family, not her friends, not the people of District 12.
Taken from GoodReads.


In The Hunger Games, we watched as Katniss Everdeen was thrust into a life of terror, violence, and discord when she took Prim's place in the annual Hunger Games. We watched her form an alliance, then an uneasy friendship with Peeta Mellark. Catching Fire showed us what happens when the Capitol of Panem sees the ripple of hope fluttering through the Districts, and we're forced to watch the unthinkable happen - the Tributes are thrust into the Games, or the Quarter Quell, this time. Without knowing she was doing so, Katniss sparked hope in the suffering Districts, giving them something to live and fight toward, so when we watch her pulled from the arena of the Quarter Quell, we felt hope.

Mockingjay is the third and final book in this trilogy, showing us what happens when one girl ignites the fire of hope, pride, and rebellion. Katniss never wanted a life in the spotlight. She never wanted to be a symbol, but without knowing it, she has become one. Plucked from the arena and finally aware that the ever-elusive District 13's survival is not a myth, Katniss is thrust headlong into a war that she helped spark. With her friends and family. and despite the missing Peeta, Katniss must decide whether or not she can and will remain the symbol of the new revolution. Can Katniss be the Mockingjay?

Mockingjay is not a light book. The third in this series of Dystopian novels, it's much darker than before. Suzanne Collins has created a world in Panem that forces us to look at the very base of human survival and where we find our humanity. Mockingjay strips its characters down to the core and makes it very clear that nobody acts or reacts the same in a war. Violence changes people, and Mockingjay shows that in every struggle there are sacrifices that must be made. Revealing the innermost workings of the characters is a true strength in this book, and you get to know what makes the characters tick. It's dark, and it's haunting, but it's perfect.

I know this is a weak review, but I don't want to reveal anything for those who have not yet read Mockingjay. I was prepared for it to be dark and painful, but this is definitely the darkest of the three books. Whereas a lot of the violence was "off-screen" in the first two books, Mockingjay does not hesitate to describe the brutality both felt and seen. It's heartbreaking, heartwrenching and yet, at times, just a tad humourous with glimmers of hope. I feel the ending was completely fitting, and while I wish the story could go on forever, Mockingjay ended at the perfect moment. The single qualm I have with this book is that it took me a few pages to truly understand what was happening. Either way, this book is a clear 5 out of 5, and I recommend it to all followers of the series, YA fans, and those who love Dystopian novels.

P.S. Because it's not a spoiler...still Team Peeta ;)

P.P.S. Please be aware that many people have yet to read Mockingjay, and we don't to ruin it for everyone. Please keep the comments free of spoilers. I will control comment moderation just in case!

P.P.P.S. Highlight below for my favourite quote!
"'Well, don't expect us to be too impressed. We just saw Finnick Odair in his underwear' I decide to go ahead and like Boggs."

21 comments:

  1. I'm Team Peeta too :) This book was phenomenal. I sobbed at the end and still wanted more from the series.

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  2. Oh and PS that is SO cool you grew up with Suzie's sister! I signed with her about 3 weeks ago :) I changed my blog URL so I don't think my announcement showed up in my followers' feeds, lol.

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  3. Greta non spoiler review, I have been kind of afraid to read any review at all! I am dying to read the book, and yes team Peeta here too

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  4. I found myself switching teams back and forth through this book...it was just a powerful read all the way around.

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  5. Fantastic review, I couldn't agree more! Definitely a dark and disturbing read at times, but one that left me thinking which I always like. Still team Peeta for me as well:)

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  6. i pre-ordered this book from amazon, and it's not coming until TOMORROW. UGH. thank you so much for making a spoiler-free review! ahhhhh but it just makes me insane that it's not coming until tomorrow. I am going to go crazy, i swear.
    New follower! love the blog.
    Angela Z
    http://thebookbuzzer.blogspot.com

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  7. Yay for another Team Peeta person. :) I loved Mockingjay, and I'm glad to see that someone else does as well. I was sort of surprised to see the number of people who were disappointed in it. I thought it was a fantastic end to the series. Awesome review, by the way. :D

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  8. Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh great review! I can't wait :)

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  9. Great review. I just started reading last night and am loving the evocative writing and the joy of feeling the anger/frustration/anxiety/concern right along with Katniss.

    Such a great series. Looking forward to finishing it out.

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  10. I haven't read many other reviews (since I just finished it and before then I was avoiding spoilers like the plague) so I'm surprised to hear that others were disappointed in it. It was different than the first two, definitely, but it was a lot deeper in some ways - so much of it is rather bittersweet. Anyway fantastic job of reviewing it without spoilers! I was always Team Peeta too :)

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  11. Thanks for stopping by my review of John Belushi Is Dead. I’m excited to meet another member of Team Peeta. That quote was a favorite of mine as well. I adored Finnick in Mockingjay. This book was brutal, and I’m still digesting it 24 hours later. Such an amazing trilogy.

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  12. Always been Team Peeta or Team Katniss. She doesn't really need to be with a guy.. but yes, this book was not light AT ALL. It was very brutal. Thanks for the review, glad you loved it! I liked it.

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  13. I am reading it now and have 150 pages to go! I am biting my nails :/

    Also, you have an award waiting :0)

    http://idsoratherbereading.blogspot.com/2010/08/one-lovely-blog-award.html

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  14. Great review Melissa! I couldn't agree with you more about it either. The heaviness and the darker tone was really needed to wrap up such a monumental and disturbing (when you really think about it) story.

    It's been over 48 hours sine I've finished the book and it's still stuck in my head, in my heart, even in my dreams. That shows how incredible the series and this book is/was.

    And Team Peeta all the way. I loved the boy with the bread from day one!

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  15. Liked this one, but was disappointed. Glad you liked it!

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  16. Great spoiler-free review! I am sorry that people were disappointed by the book, I fluctuate myself, but really I am not surprised.

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  17. Thanks for the comment on my blog. =)

    Great review without including plot spoilers: a very difficult thing to do!

    I love the quote you put up there. Too funny! It definitely made me giggle at the time.

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  18. I haven't read the book yet, can't wait as I looooved the first two in the series! Great review. Stopping by from the blog hop!

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  19. Great review. I agree its dark but very wonderful ending to an awesome series!

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  20. Great review! Collins really does strip the characters down. And I'm with you on the favorite quote :)

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  21. I really need to get started on this book. It's sitting patiently on my shelf. I just know I'll want to sit and read it in one go so I'm waiting until I have time to do that lol. TEAM PEETA!

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