The End of A War, Review of Susan Collins’s “Mockingjay”

Now, I know a lot of people are going to disagree with me in a lot of ways, but I just didn’t like this book.  I was pleasantly surprised with “Catching Fire” but “Mockingjay” just didn’t seem to do the other two books justice.  I thought the ending was done excellently, but the bulk of the plot was slow, frustrating, and hard to get through.  By no means does that mean I think you should skip the series.  You should read all three of these books. No question.  Just don’t expect this one to live up to its predecessors.

In the final book of the Hunger Games trilogy the fate of Katniss and the rest of the districts is finally revealed.  Collins begins the book giving a description of the secret, underground District 13 where Katniss and the survivors of District 12 are starting new lives.  Katniss is quickly thrust into her role as figurehead Mockingjay and, unfortunately, the hands on role she played in the arena is given up for one where she smiles for the cameras, gives some speeches, and is on constant watch so she can’t get her hands dirty.  While Katniss is tyring to come to terms with her future in District 13 Peeta is being tortured by President Snow, eventually becoming the voice of the Capitol and Katniss’s most dangerous enemy.

As a stand alone book Mockingjay doesn’t deliver the way the other two books in this trilogy have.  There is a lot of action but somehow this doesn’t help the plot along.  Of the three books this is the one that

drags the most.  Katniss is out of her element in the role of figurehead and, while she is still the girl on fire we’ve come to love, the rest of her team is less than lovable.  It’s hard to love former head-game maker Plutrarch and the residents of District 13 come across as unfeeling compared to the citizens of 12.  That being said this book does still deliver some lovable characters with Finnick and Anne, and even Johanna.
This book seems to be a lot more graphic than the other two, although nothing more intense than the things Collins has already described in the arena.  The love triangle between Katniss, Gale, and Peeta is milked for all it’s worth and, while it makes for an interesting side story, really takes up too much of the plot.  All this aside, the ending will deliver a few twists that make this book’s shortcomings worth forging through and delivers a satisfying ending to the trilogy. Collins does add an epilogue for those dying to know what happens to Katniss once the war is over, but as I’m not a fan of epilogues I don’t think it adds much to the story and could have been done without.  Then again, there are plenty of readers who will enjoy it.

As an ending to the trilogy this book is a success, but on its own it doesn’t stand up to the original “The Hunger Games.”  It does seem to drag in the middle and a lot of the action is just more of the same.  Once you’ve gotten into the Hunger Games it would be impossible to quit so there’s no reason to pass up on the final book of the series, just don’t be surprised if you find yourself a little disappointed with what you’re given.  In spite of the fact I was disappointed with this book I’m still sad to see the series end so quickly.  The one thing about YA books is that it’s easy to feel like part of a community when you read them, that’s why so many people do it, and now that I’ve finally joined the ranks of those who’ve finished the hunger games I have to admit it’s a little sad.  But you know what they say about all good things… and I’d rather it end here than have Collins drag things out over another four books just for the cash.