Mockingjay (The Hunger Games trilogy, Book 3) by Suzanne Collins
**SPOILERS!**
(But only if you haven't read The Hunger Games or Catching Fire. And if you haven't read them, then what the hell are you waiting for?! Go. Read. NOW.)
Quick recap: Welcome, ladies and jellyspoons, to District 13!
Katniss Everdeen and those other crazy kids who escaped the Quarter Quell, the Capital and/or District 12 are in the mysterious District 13, and it smells a bit like the state of Denmark. President Coin has been watching over this group of survivors, and she's a big fan of having everyone's daily schedule tattooed on their arms and beating and imprisoning people for taking bread out of the eating area. Yeah, Coin's a blast.
Meanwhile, there's widespread rebellion in all the Districts, Kat's suffering from a raging case of the PTSDs, Peeta is still M.I.A., and Gale is learning how to be the best he can be. The end, she is nigh.
Well...?: With Mockingjay, Collins takes her Hunger Games trilogy to the next level. This book isn’t another glossy, action-packed adventure; it’s a gritty and unflinching portrayal of what it truly means to be at war. It’s one hell of a tough ride, and it’s definitely not everyone’s cup of tea. I’ve talked to a couple of people about Mockingjay and most of them either loved it or they hated it. Here’s what it seems to come down to:
DON’T read this book if you’re simply looking for a good-triumphing-over-evil, pat, happy ending. You’re not going to find that here. Seriously, turn back now.
DO read this book if you’re willing to be challenged by a messy, complicated, and very realistic story about a damaged seventeen-year-old trying to negotiate her way through a bloody revolution. This book is dark and difficult and, even though there is some hope at the end of it, it’s definitely not the kind of story that will leave you with a case of the warm fuzzies.
Overall: Read these books! The Hunger Games and Catching Fire are excellent, but with Mockingjay... well, not to overstate it, but I think Suzanne Collins has written the best war book I've ever read. I know. That's quite a claim, and you may disagree, but the woman managed to write YA-appropriate book that takes a raw and complex look at war and its weight on humanity without becoming patronizing or pedantic. Even if you don't think Mockingjay is the best thing since All Quiet on the Western Front, I think you have to admit that what Collins has accomplished is still pretty damn impressive.
If you liked this series, you may also like these: The Carbon Diaries, 2015 by Saci Lloyd, Fearless by Tim Lott, The Declaration by Gemma Malley, Fray by Joss Whedon
