YAB Review: ‘Mockingjay’ By Suzanne Collins
Posted by dylan on 08-31-2010
As promised, today we have Youth Advisory Board member Julia’s review of Mockingjay, the third book in the Hunger Games series. She explains below why she was disappointed with the conclusion and tone of the book.
As always, you can communicate directly with any member of the Ypulse Youth Advisory Board by emailing them at youthadvisoryboard at ypulse.com…or just leave a comment below.
Please note that the following review contains plot spoilers, and references key plot points from the previous books.
YAB Review: ‘Mockingjay’ By Suzanne Collins
First Impressions
I have been a longtime fan of the Hunger Games franchise, and was expecting quite a lot from the last installment in the trilogy. The second novel ended on a cliff-hanger; the Capitol government takes its most drastic action yet and destroys the home of reluctant revolutionary Katniss. After being rescued from the Games by the mysterious rebels from District 13, Katniss finds herself once again being used for propaganda, but this time by the cause supposedly more righteous than the oppressive capital government. Although predictable at first, the novel quickly becomes darker than the previous two.
When were you hooked?
The pace is fantastic, and I couldn’t put Mockingjay down until I finished it, just like its predecessors. The key difference between Mockingjay and the first two books is that Collins’s attitude becomes far more cynical than it was previously. In the first two books, Katniss doesn’t bear as much resentment towards the Capitol as she might, and of course remains hopeful and committed to justice, and is a somewhat stereotypical revolutionary heroine. Because the novels are as well pulled off as they are, I don’t particularly mind the stereotype, even if it makes Katniss fairly easy to predict. This changes in Mockingjay. Katniss evolves from a propaganda tool of the Capitol’s, into a propaganda tool of the rebellion. She complains about accepting this responsibility, and being used, but after some bargaining, she accepts her duties and becomes relatively apathetic to the rebellion. This irked me, not because the heroine becomes somewhat removed, but because it is very out of character for Katniss, compared to the first two novels, where she relentlessly pursued justice. Collins may have made this change in order to emphasize a point that wars don’t always produce good guys and that we all are subject to our own prejudice. One of Mockingjay’s strengths is that it is filled with numerous shades of grey, something I don’t feel like it happens enough in most teen novels, which typically involve clear good guys and bad guys. District 13 is just as morally flawed as the Capitol and has its own secrets.
Sum It Up [Editor note: this section contains spoilers, skip to the jump Julia's conclusion.]
The beginning I enjoyed immensely, when Katniss is unable to rescue Peeta and instead is made to bear the physiological anguish of having a loved one brutally tortured. Once rescued, Peeta is completely changed by torture and hallucinogenic drugs to the point where he hates Katniss. Katniss’s romance with new rebel leader Gale is as complicated as ever. Although this, along with the cause of District 13, could have brought out a second life for Katniss, she fails to pick up the pieces, and exhibits symptoms of PTSD. Realistically this could perhaps happen. Loved ones killed, one’s home being destroyed, and all the other hardships Katniss has suffered, might well bring on such a personality change, but it doesn’t work in the context of the series.
Although the first two books were dark for teen novels, I didn’t find them truly depressing, because the characters retain morality and hope. Mockingjay is written like a teen novel, but it doesn’t read like one. District 13 ruthlessly bombs civilians, children, wounded patients, and the doctors who rush to their aid. Katniss does not react by taking up arms, and establishing a new, just government, or at least dying a martyr for the cause, like a revolutionary character in a teen novel normally would, but by shooting the leader of the rebellion, and then living in exile with Peeta. She makes no attempt to change this final situation, and this doesn’t work. It’s too out of character, and out of context. I’m all for making a political statement in a teen sci-fi novel (Little Brother does a great job with this, and is also fairly gritty), but not for doing this in contrast to other books in a series.
The moment that truly gave me chills happens at the very end when Katniss votes to hold another Hunger Games with the children of the leaders of the Capitol, subjecting them to the same horrors she had to face, and the whole rebellion was fighting against. Katniss is now bitter. An eye for an eye doesn’t make a good conclusion to the series, although it may well be a realistic one.
Ultimately, Katniss never completes her emotional journey. One of the main themes of the previous two books was Katniss’s fight for her freedom, despite being controlled in every way possible, from her ability to love and to live. The natural end to such an arc would be for Katniss to finally gain her freedom. But now, even living with Peeta, her fate is brought on by someone else. She is no longer the brave, protective character with a strong sense of justice, but a pawn.
Read more…
Final Verdict
Although there were positive aspects to Katniss’s final attitude, and perhaps it was justly brought on by various traumas, but I found she generally lacked autonomy, or just doesn’t care about the suffering of others anymore, which seems out of character. Katniss in the first two books was a very independent, always seeking out her own destiny, like when she first volunteers to take her younger sister’s place as a tribute. In Mockingjay there is a drastic change in her personality. Perhaps if this were better explained it could work in the novel, but it just isn’t that compelling to read about. This is especially true for a character like Katniss who was unable to live by others’ rules, or take orders. She fought against the odds for freedom over repression, and while the end might be the realistic, she never really emotionally matures as a result. I don’t think many teen readers, especially the Twilight crowd, will be satisfied with the conclusion.
About Julia
Julia is a sophomore in high school in Claremont California. A self proclaimed Otaku (anime obsessive person) she strives to complete her immersion into the world of Japanese pop culture. In between school and homework she watches the latest Japanese anime on the internet, reads manga, plays video games, and practices Japanese. Though she is not a fabulous writer by nature, Julia does enjoy writing fan fiction related to said interests and occasionally immersing herself in online role-play sessions. In addition, she loves mashing up anime and game clips into anime music videos which she posts on YouTube, participating in her school’s debate team in novice LD, and of course reading. Julia is incredibly excited to be on the Youth Advisory Board, and able to express her opinions, which she has plenty of.
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Categorized under: Books & Print, YAB Review, Youth Advisory Board
August 31st, 2010 at 5:19 pm
I read Mockingjay in one night (partly because I love the series, partly because as an 8th grade English teacher, I “had” to. :)) I just wanted to note that I think Katniss pretends to agree to holding the Hunger Games again to get President Coin to think she is on her side. At first I too was surprised that Katniss would vote that way, but I realized it was all a ruse after she killed Coin. Katniss never intended for the games to continue. I don’t think she and Peeta would have had a future if they had wanted such different solutions (he against the games, she for them). So I don’t think she was looking for revenge, but was actively playing the game to get the end result she wanted — the end of Coin, the end of tyrants, and the end of the games.
I did like the book although the pacing a the very end felt a little off to me. This series has stylistically been a bit off for me the whole time with the first person/present tense point of view. I think that often makes for uneven pacing, but the story itself was great and I was happy with the ending and how the characters developed.