Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins *SPOILERS*

Mockingjay

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.

This has been a journey. The Hunger Games has become one of my favorite book series that I have ever read. It has been a wild journey that I've experienced along Katniss Everdeen and it's so sad to see it come to an end.

Katniss is by far one of my favorite characters. One of the things that I admire most about her is that she's brave but not without fear. She can be deceitful, manipulative and a lot of other bad things but she's still her. Whenever she has to do something, she thinkgs about the best for others, especially her family.

I have to say that I loved and was surprised by the description of District 13. I didn't expect that at all! In fact, most of the book I was flabbergasted because I didn't expect half of it.

I know a lot of people are mad with the ending. I guess I was, too. But after sleeping on it and hearing other people's thoughts I've come to the conclusion that the book is about war with a strong romantic subplot. The realities of war is that there are a lot of casualties and people who don't deserve to die.

Katniss was so wounded and beat up that at times, it was a very hard book to read. The truth is that it was a nation at war and no life was safe. I have to congragulate Suzanne Collins because the book made you think and get your emotions in a way that it becomes unforgettable.

I was disappointed that there was no closure for Gale, though. As a Team Gale, I found myself rooting for him but after reareading the last few pages I understood finally why Katniss needed Peeta. Gale was too much like her, too strong, too destructive, too wounded. Peeta is calm, collected, and patient while Gale is blunt and rash. There's no denying how much Gale loves Katniss but in the end, Katniss chose that person who could provide her with stability and not strength per say.

It was heartbreaking seeing the people that die, die. I was mad at times, too. I found myself rooting for characters I didn't really care about before.

Some think that the epilogue is depressing but I find it to have a bit of hope. Katniss and Peeta both have been through so much and it's not surprising that they haven't completely healed those wounds but I feel that Katniss in the end, really believes she will be okay.

In the end:
The book was amazing. I didn't enjoy reading it per say because it was very hard and dark to read. It was a heavy book, that's for sure. But I think the story was amazing and just beautiful. Many people didn't like that Katniss wasn't awake for some scenes, where she wakes up after an important even. I would have preffered to have it described but I also think that that portrayal of emptiness is what Katniss was feeling.

Also, some hated the constant cliffhangers at the end of the chapters and I agree it became annoying for a bit but in the end, it kept me on my toes.

In one sentence:
"A great finale for an amazing series."

Plot: 5
Characters: 5
Writing: 5
Cover: 5
Overall Feeling: 5
Average: 5

P.S. A discussion post (s) will follow soon so stay tuned!