Mockingjay (by Suzanne Collins)

Title:  Mockingjay

Author:  Suzanne Collins

Blurber Blabber Review:  Buy it used or on sale!

Blurb:  The third and last book in the Hunger Games trilogy takes an unexpected turn in the stories.  See my reviews for the first and second book here (book one) and here (book two).  We follow Katniss, now in District 13, as she accepts the role of the mockingjay of the rebellion and war rages on with a lot at stake (Peeta!).  But all is not what it seems and morals are all subjective.  I was still disappointed in the lack of development in Katniss' character, but have come to terms with what this series is really about.  It's not about Katniss' personal growth and development; it's about war.  Mockingjay is as well paced and suspenseful as the first two books in the series and you'll certainly be staying up late to finish this one to see an end to the Hunger Games trilogy.  
Series: Third and last book in the trilogy.  

Language/Writing Style:  Third person narrative.  Mix of dialogue and internal thoughts/memories of the main character, Katniss.

Adult Content:  There is quite a good amount of violence and death in this book, as to be expected with this series.  There is also some references to torture and depictions of the brutalities of war on civilians and soldiers.  

Rereadability:  As with the previous two books, this is a fast and engrossing read.  I think that it's more rereadable than the second one but not as much as the first one since the first one is still the best and could almost be a stand alone.  Also, this last book is a bit heavier emotionally. 

Published: 2010

Length:  400 pages

(Read on for the more detailed and SPOILER-filled "blabber" review)  

Catching Fire (by Suzanne Collins)

Title:  Catching Fire 

Author:  Suzanne Collins 

Blurber Blabber Review:  Buy it used or on sale! 

Blurb:  This is the second book of a trilogy, so see my review of the first book The Hunger Games here or if you're ready for it, check out the third book here.  Catching Fire picks up 6 months after the first book ended and we learn more about what happens after you've won The Hunger Games and pissed off the Capitol.  We rejoin Katniss and crew just before the Victory Tour through the districts and await the start of the Quarter Quell Games, an extra special version of the Games held every 25 years.  After the cliffhanger at the end of book one, be prepared to enter back into the story slowly in book two.  It can seem almost a bit too slow if you're jumping into book two immediately after finishing book one, but it’s still an interesting read as we continue to learn more about Katniss, the people in her life, and the crazy dynamics of Panem and the districts.  While Katniss was the star in book one, I found her to be least interesting element of book two because there's not much new to Katniss here as she flits between indecision and survival mode.  Instead, the real focus in book two is the growing force moving Katniss to the forefront of the rebellion.  The stage is being set for the third and final book where real changes can shake things up and Katniss will be tested as to whether she's simply a good survivor, or capable of more.  And I hope so because she was pretty pffft in this one.   

Series: Second book in a completed trilogy.   

Language/Writing Style:  Third person narrative.  Mix of dialogue and internal thoughts/memories of the main character, Katniss. 

Adult Content:  There is some violence and disturbing imagery (blood rain - ew) similar to, but not as bad as, the first book.  Deaths galore of course. 

Rereadability:  This is a fast read, maybe faster than the first one, but I wouldn't say this is as rereadable.  I think if you haven't read this recently before starting the third one, you'll want to reread it of course, but I won't go back to this book just for the hell of it on its own. 

Published: 2009 

Length:  391 pages 

(Read on for the more detailed and SPOILER-filled "blabber" review) 

The Hunger Games (by Suzanne Collins)

Title:  The Hunger Games

Author:  Suzanne Collins

Blurber Blabber Review:  Buy it now!

Blurb:  YA post-apocalyptic world where kids are forced to fight each other to the death in amped up Gladiator-like games with better technology.  Need I say more?  Oh wait, there's also great writing, well-paced suspense, and endearing characters who show room for growth and development.  Collins takes us to some point in the dark future or alternate reality where North America is instead known as Panem with a Capitol and 13 districts.  The districts eventually rebelled until the Capitol squashed them and completely destroyed District 13.  After the rebellion the Capitol established the Hunger Games, a sick and twisted annual “game” where each of the remaining 12 districts hold “reapings” to randomly select 1 boy and 1 girl (the “tributes”) to fight to the death, televised in a huge outdoor arena, until 1 tribute remains.  The Capitol cruelly forces everyone to celebrate the Games as a festivity to add further humiliation and to remind all of the districts how they are totally at the mercy of the Capitol.  When you pick up Hunger Games, be sure to do it when you have free time over the next few days because as soon as you finish it you will be on to the next one, and then the one after that, and then you'll be sad that the series is over but glad to not have to wait on a cliffhanger for a year as you wait for the next book (Bah - I'm looking at you Alchemyst series!).  If you want to see my reviews for the rest of the trilogy, check out here (book two) and here (book three).

Series: First book in a completed trilogy.  

Language/Writing Style:  Third person narrative.  Mix of dialogue and internal thoughts/memories of the main character, Katniss.

Adult Content:  The only adult content in this book is the violence and disturbing imagery from the setting of kids forced to kill each other.  Some of the deaths are described in gruesome detail.

Rereadability:  This is a fast read and engrossing.  And since it's part of a trilogy I went back to it a lot as I was reading the second and third books.  I reread this recently wondering if it would be as good as the first time around, and I ended up staying up very late that night trying to finish it. 

Published: 2008 

Length:  384 pages

(Read on for the more detailed and SPOILER-filled "blabber" review)