Mockingjay

Mockingjay 

Author: Suzanne Collins
Grade Level: 7-8
Genre: Science Fiction
Awards: Goodreads Choice Awards Favorite Book (2010), Goodreads Choice Awards Best Young Adult Fantasy & Science Fiction (2010), Goodreads Choice Awards Favorite Hero (2010), Goodreads Choice Awards Favorite Heroine (2010)

Summary: In the last book of The Hunger Games series, Suzanne Collins powerfully concludes the story of Katniss Everdeen.  In this book, Katniss discovers Peeta was captures by the Capitol, District 13 wants her as the leader of their rebellion, and the revolution is about to happen.  As all of these events unfold, District 13 rescues Peeta and begins to train for the revolution.  Katniss ends up leading one of the groups in charge of assassinating President Snow.  Katniss begins to piece things together and learns the leader of District 13, Alma Coin, wants to continue the Hunger Games to punish those from the Capitol.  At the end, when given the chance to assassinate President Snow, Katniss raises her bow and kills President Coin instead.  The last chapter shows Katniss with her son, daughter, and husband, Peeta, living in the remains of District 12.  Katniss is finally free.

Evaluation: This was an amazing series that I plan to use in my future classroom.  Middle school students love this book.  The story draws them in and makes it near impossible to put down. 

I set the readability a little higher since the book deals with the murdering of young children and teens during the Hunger Games.  I do not feel as though this book is appropriate for anyone below seventh grade.

I can use this book as a good example of fantasy.  Like many of the other fantasy works I've included in this blog, this science fiction book does a great job at providing detail.  Collins makes the reader feel like they themselves are fighting for their life alongside Katniss.