Review: Mockingjay

Mockingjay
by Suzanne Collins
Published by Scholastic
Publication Date August 24, 2010
Source: Library
Genres: Science Fiction
Goodreads

My name is Katniss Everdeen.
Why am I not dead?
I should be dead.

Katniss Everdeen, girl on fire, has survived, even though her home has been destroyed. Gale has escaped. Katniss's family is safe. Peeta has been captured by the Capitol. District 13 really does exist. There are rebels. There are new leaders. A revolution is unfolding.

It is by design that Katniss was rescued from the arena in the cruel and haunting Quarter Quell, and it is by design that she has long been part of the revolution without knowing it. District 13 has come out of the shadows and is plotting to overthrow the Capitol. Everyone, it seems, has had a hand in the carefully laid plans--except Katniss.

The success of the rebellion hinges on Katniss's willingness to be a pawn, to accept responsibility for countless lives, and to change the course of the future of Panem. To do this, she must put aside her feelings of anger and distrust. She must become the rebels' Mockingjay--no matter what the personal cost.

I was so hyped up to read Mockingjay and unfortunately it did not live up to my incredibly high expectations.  It was good, just not great.  After District 12 is blow up like Princess Leia’s home planet, Alderaan any survivors move to District 13 who has only reemerged after years of hiding.  I did not feel that District 13 lived up to its potential.  In fact, it felt more like a concentration camp.  Members of the community dress in all gray and have a mark branded on their arm with their schedule for the day, it is all very restrictive.  Although in District 13, Mockingjay AKA Katniss is given great authority which I felt she took advantage of, greatly shown when she leads her team into a foreseeable failure resulting in misery and demise.

Then there’s the whole tug of war thing between Katniss and her two leading men Gale and Peeta.  This threesome reminded me of Twilight with the Edward/Bella/Jacob triangle (I’m a Jacob fan if anyone is interested)  the difference is that despite any faults she may have, Katniss is a likable, good person; whereas Bella just stands around sighing a lot and ogling Edward’s abs.

Anyway, back to Mockingjay,  even though I enjoyed the book and there was tons of action, I found the ending lackluster almost as if the author didn’t know how to end it and left me saying what?  I felt this way about the epilogue too, it seemed to end abruptly, and sadly didn’t find it satisfying.  To be honest, I just thought the ending was too muted for such a high action trilogy.  Anyway, I would definitely read these books again, I just wished the ending had more pizzazz.