Book Review: Mockingjay (The Hunger Games #3) by Suzanne Collins

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins is the gripping finale of The Hunger Games trilogy, where 17-year-old Katniss Everdeen emerges as the symbol of a rebellion against the tyrannical Capitol. In this blog post, I’ll share my thoughts on the novel, dive into its intense plot, explore Katniss’s role as both hope and threat, and discuss the themes of power and propaganda. Join me for a detailed review of this dystopian masterpiece!

My Thoughts on Mockingjay (The Hunger Games #3) by Suzanne Collins

Mockingjay is a powerful and thought-provoking conclusion to The Hunger Games trilogy, delivering a raw, emotional, and unflinching look at the cost of rebellion and the complexities of power. Suzanne Collins masterfully crafts a story that balances intense action with deep moral questions, making Katniss’s journey both heartbreaking and inspiring. The novel’s exploration of propaganda, sacrifice, and the cyclical nature of oppression left me reflecting long after I turned the final page. While it’s darker and more political than the first two books (The Hunger Games and Catching Fire), it’s a fitting end that challenges readers to question authority and the price of freedom.

What struck me most was Collins’ refusal to shy away from the harsh realities of war and leadership. Katniss, as the Mockingjay, is no longer just a survivor of the Hunger Games but a reluctant figurehead caught between two manipulative forces—the Capitol and District 13. The way the story portrays her as both a beacon of hope and a potential threat to both sides is compelling, highlighting her strength and vulnerability. This nuanced depiction, combined with the novel’s grim commentary on power dynamics, makes Mockingjay a standout in dystopian fiction.

See also: 29 Best Dystopian Books & Novels: Question Everything

Plot Summary of Mockingjay

Mockingjay, the third book in Suzanne Collins’ The Hunger Games trilogy, follows Katniss Everdeen, now 17, as she becomes the face of a rebellion against the oppressive Capitol. Known as the “Mockingjay,” Katniss’s defiance in the Hunger Games has made her a symbol of hope for the districts rising against the Capitol’s brutal regime.

Despite surviving two deadly Hunger Games arenas, Katniss bears deep emotional and physical scars. Yet, the rebels of District 13, led by President Coin, expect her to inspire and unite the districts. Contrary to Capitol propaganda, District 13 was never destroyed 75 years ago during the Dark Days rebellion. Instead, it survived underground as a militarized stronghold, as described in this passage:

“From the air, 13 looks about as cheerful as 12. The rubble isn't smoking, the way the Capitol shows it on television, but there's next to no life aboveground. In the seventy-five years since the Dark Days--when 13 was said to have been obliterated in the war between the Capitol and the districts--almost all new construction has been beneath the earth's surface. There was already a substantial underground facility here, developed over centuries to be either a clandestine refuge for government leaders in time of war or a last resort for humanity if life above became unlivable. Most important for the people of 13, it was the center of the Capitol's nuclear weapons development program. During the Dark Days, the rebels in 13 wrested control from the government forces, trained their nuclear missiles on the Capitol, and then struck a bargain: They would play dead in exchange for being left alone. The Capitol had another nuclear arsenal out west, but it couldn't attack 13 without certain retaliation. It was forced to accept 13's deal. The Capitol demolished the visible remains of the district and cut off all access from the outside. Perhaps the Capitol's leaders thought that, without help, 13 would die off on its own. It almost did a few times, but it always managed to pull through due to strict sharing of resources, strenuous discipline, and constant vigilance against any further attacks from the Capitol.”

The Capitol once used Katniss and other tributes as pawns in the Hunger Games for their entertainment and control. Her unexpected rise to fame made her a threat they tried to suppress, but their efforts backfired. Now, District 13 sees her as a propaganda tool to rally the districts. Both sides view her as a valuable asset, as shown here:

“Another force to contend with. Another power player who has decided to use me as a piece in her games, although things never seem to go according to plan. First there were the Gamemakers, making me their star and then scrambling to recover from that handful of poisonous berries. Then President Snow, trying to use me to put out the flames of rebellion, only to have my every move become inflammatory. Next, the rebels ensnaring me in the metal claw that lifted me from the arena, designating me to be their Mockingjay, and then having to recover from the shock that I might not want the wings. And now Coin, with her fistful of precious nukes and her well-oiled machine of a district, finding it's even harder to groom a Mockingjay than to catch one. But she has been the quickest to determine that I have an agenda of my own and am therefore not to be trusted. She has been the first to publicly brand me as a threat.”

As Katniss’s spark of rebellion ignites a nationwide uprising, war erupts between the oppressed districts and the Capitol. Some districts have seized control, while others remain battlegrounds. Alongside the physical conflict, a fierce propaganda war rages, with Katniss as the rebels’ primary weapon. Her image is used to provoke the Capitol and inspire the districts, as discussed here:

“So, what else do you have planned?" asks the president. Plutarch nods to Cressida, who consults a clipboard. "We have some terrific footage of Katniss at the hospital in Eight. There should be another propo in that with the theme 'Because you know who they are and what they do.' We'll focus on Katniss interacting with the patients, particularly the children, the bombing of the hospital, and the wreckage. Messalla's cutting that together. We're also thinking about a Mockingjay piece. Highlight some of Katniss's best moments intercut with scenes of rebel uprisings and war footage. We call that one 'Fire is catching.”

Katniss Everdeen: Symbol of Hope and Threat

As the Mockingjay, Katniss becomes both a beacon of hope and a perceived threat to both the Capitol and District 13’s leadership. Her defiance and unpredictability, which sparked the rebellion, make her a liability as the war progresses. Both sides fear that once the fighting ends, Katniss’s influence could turn against them. She begins to realize this herself, as seen in this exchange:

“So she'll kill me to shut me up." The minute I say the words, I know they're true. 

"She doesn't need you as a rallying point now. As she said, your primary objective, to unite the districts, has succeeded," Boggs reminds me. "These current propos could be done without you. There's only one last thing you could do to add fire to the rebellion." 

"Die," I say quietly. 

"Yes. Give us a martyr to fight for," says Boggs.”

A New Order or a New War?

Collins crafts a chilling dystopia where the Capitol’s tyranny and District 13’s rebellion reveal unsettling similarities. Both seek power and are willing to manipulate the people to achieve it. Katniss, to them, is a tool—valuable as long as she serves their goals, disposable when she doesn’t. The novel suggests that a rebellion may overthrow one oppressive system only to replace it with another, as the players change but the game remains.

This becomes starkly clear when District 13’s President Coin proposes a new Hunger Games after the Capitol’s fall, this time with Capitol children as tributes. For some, this is justice or revenge; for leaders like Coin, it’s a way to maintain power. Yet no one acknowledges that 75 years of Hunger Games led to war, destruction, and countless deaths. Katniss questions whether history will repeat itself:

"Are you preparing for another war, Plutarch?" I ask. 

"Oh, not now. Now we're in that sweet period where everyone agrees that our recent horrors should never be repeated," he says. "But collective thinking is usually short-lived. We're fickle, stupid beings with poor memories and a great gift for self-destruction. Although who knows? Maybe this will be it, Katniss."

Conclusion: Reflections on Mockingjay

Mockingjay is a haunting and powerful finale that doesn’t shy away from the brutal realities of war, power, and sacrifice. Suzanne Collins delivers a story that challenges readers to question authority, propaganda, and the cyclical nature of oppression. While darker than its predecessors, it’s a fitting end to Katniss’s journey, leaving a lasting impact with its moral complexity and emotional depth. For fans of dystopian fiction, Mockingjay is an unforgettable exploration of rebellion and humanity.

About the Book

• Author: Suzanne Collins
• Title: Mockingjay (The Hunger Games #3)
• Publisher: Scholastic Press
• First Published: 2010
• Pages: Approximately 400