Mockingjay (The Hunger Games, #3) in YA and Beyond

Aug 11, 2011 kb rated it liked it

Shelves: ya-reads, adapted, 2013-reads

I am happy to report that this book has exceeded whatever expectations I had for the whole trilogy. This one centered hugely on war, but there was also more: There’s love and hatred, there’s fear and courage, there’s ultimately peace. I also liked how it stimulated so much of my imagination that I was already picturing everything—(view spoiler)—on screen, all the characters in motion. Speaking of, watch out for (view spoile ...more

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Dec 09, 2011 Becky rated it it was ok

Shelves: ya, sci-fi, library

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Feb 25, 2011 Cinnamon rated it it was amazing

Conclusions - good or bad? Typically, I hate conclusions. For me, the conclusion to a series either comes in two forms. The first is an odd combination of story elements designed to answer most of the reader's remaining questions about the series. The second type of conclusion that I usually come across is good in and of itself but leaves me feeling depressed because the series is actually over.

MOCKINGJAY was an unfortunate combination of both.

I suppose that in many ways that's a good thing. Th Conclusions - good or bad? Typically, I hate conclusions. For me, the conclusion to a series either comes in two forms. The first is an odd combination of story elements designed to answer most of the reader's remaining questions about the series. The second type of conclusion that I usually come across is good in and of itself but leaves me feeling depressed because the series is actually over.

MOCKINGJAY was an unfortunate combination of both.

I suppose that in many ways that's a good thing. The series was great and I really didn't want to leave it. I want to continue to follow the characters and see what happens in the world. At the same time, the weirdness level of MOCKINGJAY went a bit beyond the first two books and although it was a fabulous storyline, it did leave me feeling a bit out of whack (kind of like Stephenie Meyer's Breaking Dawn).

The overall message here is probably that MOCKINGJAY was a great conclusion, answered many (but not all) of our questions and left the brain with something to ponder over. It added substance to the series, which isn't always the easiest thing to do three books in, much less at the conclusion of a story.

One of my favorite aspects of MOCKINGJAY, and the series as a whole, was the realistic progression of emotions portrayed by the characters. I'm sure we've all come across a book or series where we say, "Hmmm, okay. Not totally believable but I'll buy it because I like the story." Collins could have easily made this trilogy only ho-hum by not truly investing in her character's emotions. Instead, the time and effort she put into that aspect of the stories really shows. With the trials and tribulations the characters have to face, one automatically assumes that certain emotions and changes in personality will take place. Collins does not disappoint and gives us a fairly realistic picture of what the characters are undergoing mentally. To me, that's what takes this series above and beyond most that I have read.

If you're looking for a book, or series, with fabulous action, emotional sequences, great dialogue and characters to fall in love with, The Hunger Games is definitely worth a try. Blood pounding and gut wrenching, these books leave you breathless and yet desperately searching for more (as my trek across state lines looking for the next book in the series proves). ...more

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Sep 20, 2010 Steve Vernon rated it it was ok

Shelves: young-adult

I'm about five or six chapters in right now and still don't feel connected to this third book. I LOVED the first book, enjoyed the second, but this third feels almost like I misssed volume two and a half.

I'm going to keep on reading and finish it - just to see how it turns out - but I really feel as if I'm missing the point here.

...appendum - actually, I never finished reading this book - I just got finished with reading it. It felt a little too distant from the first book and read more like an ...more

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Aug 29, 2010 Ali Cross rated it really liked it

Shelves: books-read-in-2010

I was satisfied by this last installment of the Hunger Games trilogy. I thought Ms. Collins did a remarkable job of writing flawed yet sympathetic characters. I also think the Hunger Games is a perfect case study in how to keep your main character on the run.

The last line of the book was perfect, too. Nicely done all round, I think.

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