Title: Mockingjay
Hardcover, 390 pages
Author: Suzanne Collins
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Publication Date: August 24, 2010
We have decided to NOT publish this book’s summary, as it has spoilers for the previous two books.
Mockingjay is final book of The Hunger Games series!
Joint review (Steve and Shanyn):
Wow, Shanyn is letting me go first, wooo! If you haven’t caught on yet, this will be Chickloveslit’s first joint review. I (Steve) will be in blue text!
And I (Shanyn) will be in green!
Ew, green. haha.
Shhhh.
Ok, well, no summaries, no spoilers, nothing but our humble opinions on the book/series in this joint review. The reasoning behind that you might ask? We both love this series and feel it would do more harm than good in posting anything that could detract from the surprises and twists that this series constantly brings, with the last book being no exception.
Yes! We have both looked over the other’s thoughts to make sure nothing is spoiled, promise. If you haven’t read even the first book in this series, you should go pick it up (it’s available in paperback)!
Agree. So, let’s get started with some important issues first: Team Peeta or Gale? For me: no brainer, Peeta all the way. Not even close. I mean he is a baker!! Cmon, cake. Characters are what make all the difference in the books for me and this last book hits close to home across the whole spectrum of characters. I loved the whole series, the characters, the surprises, the aggressive nature of the last book, and I am even a touch sad it’s over now after growing so close to the characters.
I am also Team Peeta (I actually didn’t know Steve was until I asked him yesterday). For me, it is a lot about how much Peeta has sacrificed in his life for Katniss – all of his actions add up to some intense emotion for Katniss (love or not, you can decide for yourself). The characters overall in this book were great – we meet some new, are reintroduced to some old. I really grew to like one of the characters we meet in Mockingjay that we knew previously, which I wasn’t expecting at all!
As far as the plot goes (and with pretty much trying to give nothing away), I have to say that I liked this one, but not as much as the first two books in the series in regards to the plotline. The whole “Hunger Games” that the series is built around was a huge draw for me, and while connections are still made to it, it isn’t as “arena-ish” to me.
Immediately after I finished Mockingjay, I would have agreed with Steve – there is some sort of appeal to the arena aspects of the other books. However, I am very satisified with the turns this plot took – the general story is quite different from the first two, but it certainly is not lacking in action, surprises, etc. After I have spent some time reflecting, all I’ve been able to decide for sure is that I am not disappointed in this plot in the least bit.
Was this a fitting conclusion to the series? Absolutely in my mind the answer is YES. I still have a couple unanswered questions, but I think a good series will leave you with a couple of those to ponder. And I wouldn’t be surprised if Ms. Collins eventually does some prequel/parallel stories to fill in some gaps. I certainly would welcome and read them eagerly.
I am very very satisfied with this series as a whole. If it had been a ten or twelve book series, it would not have packed the same punch – after finishing Mockingjay I couldn’t believe that all of the events I had read all came from the same book! The anticipation for the final installment was certainly worth it, as Suzanne Collins has done an excellent job. I’m not sure about the prequel/parallel story thing – now that I consider it, I wouldn’t mind reading about the lives of some other tributes – however, they are definitely not needed. This series is superb all by itself.
This whole review without revealing much about the book thing is not easy.
Well, maybe we could do a points scale and just tell everyone they should go read this book now? Even though I’m sure most of you that have read The Hunger Games and Catching Fire already plan to do so 
RITE NAO! (Translation: Yes, excellent idea sweetheart. They should most definitely go read this book (and series) as soon as possible). Points scale, out of 100?!!?!? Gonna be crazy.
Book Cover: 5/5 – Love it, especially alongside the other two books. And I love the Mockingjay!
Book Cover: 4/5 – The mockingjay on the cover is kinda ugly? Pretty blue color though!
Book Title: 5/5 – Not sure any other title would have been better.
Book Title: 5/5 – Fitting, very.
Plot: 9/10 – A change from the other two books, but packed with action and surprises. I had no idea what would be happening from chapter to chapter all the way until the end.
Plot: 8/10 – Surprising, aggressive, and bold. Not many times you’ll see that large of change in the nature of the final installment of a series. I did miss the actual Hunger Games though (is that sick?).
Characters: 10/10 – Great. So many characters and each with a very distinct personality.
Characters: 9/10 – Loved em. So much of the focus is on Katniss, and she is great, I just miss seeing a little more into the minds of the others involved.
Writing: 10/10
Writing: 8/10 – Good stuff Suzy, real good stuff.
Ending: 10/10 – The last 1/4 of the book is impossible to stop reading!
Ending: 9/10 – Dramatic climax, twists that you definitely did not expect, and keeps you hanging on till the end (even if it is 1:30 AM and you REALLY want to sleep).
Total: 92/100 - Whew, that’s definitely the highest score any book has scored on this blog amiright? We score a little differently But I do think this is will be our highest joint review score for a very long time. 
. Fantastic series, great final chapter to it. Agreed. If you’re looking for a book series to get someone into young adult literature or even a non-reader to start reading, I would recommend The Hunger Games.
Hmm. An interesting joint review experience for everyone involved I’m sure. We had fun with it and hope you guys did too. Maybe we’ll have to do it again sometime in the (distant) future? haha. Enjoy Mockingjay and the rest of summer as it draws to a close everyone!
Haha, I loved the joint review! I haven't read the series yet (sad, I know), but this was the first review I read of Mockingjay. Argh, I REALLY need to go out and get The Hunger Games! I'm glad it was a good ending to the series.
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Hahaha you guys are funny together! I liked it.
I am not reading this series but I still enjoyed reading your reviews!
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