Mockingjay

Collins, Suzanne. Mockingjay. Scholastic Press:2010. ISBN: 9780439023511.

Plot Summary:
Katniss Everdeen is finally out of the arena for good. After surviving two Hunger Games she is back in District 13 trying to decide if she will be the 'Mockingjay'. Not willing to be a pawn, but having her own agenda, Katniss agrees to be the face of the rebellion if all the victors of the Hunger Games are pardoned after the war. Her mother, sister Prim and Gale are living in District 13 as well because the Capitol savagely bombed Panem and many people did not survive. Peeta is a captive of the Capitol and makes occasional television appearances. It is obvious from these appearances that Peeta is being used and mistreated. A group from District 13 is able to rescue Peeta. He is sadly altered and wants to kill Katniss. The rebellion begins in earnest and Katniss motivated by compassion for her fellow rebels and hatred for President Snow and the Capital goes into battle against her orders.

Critical Evaluation:
Masterful and disturbing, Suzanne Collins has written a great ending to the Hunger Games trilogy. Katniss true to her character shows strength and resolve while dealing with internal conflicts, the first Hunger Games is never far from her mind. One of the character's deaths was extremely hard to handle and seemed pointless, but with this plot development Suzanne Collins shines a bright light on how devastating war is to the innocent. She makes us look at war and its effects straight in the face. One reason teens like this series is the author doesn't sugar coat anything, she trusts the readers to make their own conclusions. Friends have complained that the ending, especially the epilogue was not what they expected or they didn't like it. Ending a trilogy with so much suffering and devastation is not easy, a 'happy' ending would seem unreal and out of place. The ending was hopeful and that is realistic and true to the character's experiences.

Reader's Annotation: There is no real victory in war, there is only survival.

Information About the Author:
Suzanne Collins began her writing career writing for children's television programs like Clarissa Explains It All and Little Bear. Her first published fiction was Gregor the Overlander. The five book series titled, The Underland Chronicles, was based on the idea of Alice in Wonderland.
Suzanne is forty-seven years old and lives in Connecticut with her husband. She was on the list of Time Magazines most influential people of 2010. A little know fact is that Suzanne has written a picture book, When Charlie McButton Lost Power.

Genre:
Science Fiction/Dystopia

Curriculum Ties:
War
Loyalty
Morality

Booktalking Ideas:
Could you take part in a rebellion against the government? If so under what circumstances.
Could you withhold important information from someone you love?


Reading Level/Interest Age:
7th +

Challenge Issues:
Rebellion
Violence

To be prepared for a book challenge you must read the book! And encourage all involved in the process to read the book, not just the questionable passages.
Make sure the institution's procedure is followed, this is a protection for all.
ALA provides written guidelines it would be handy to have a hard copy available.

Why Include This Book?
I loved the first two in the series and really like Suzanne Collins' Underland Chronicles. It is important to have popular titles in the collection.