Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

Title: Mockingjay (The Hunger Games #3)

Author: Suzanne Collins

Publisher: Scholastic 2010

Genre: Fantasy

Pages: 390

Rating:  5 / 5 stars

Reading Challenges: Young Adult; What's in a Name -- Sky; Mount TBR

Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen has survived the Hunger Games twice. But now that she's made it out of the bloody arena alive, she's still not safe. The Capitol is angry. The Capitol wants revenge. Who do they think should pay for the unrest? Katniss. And what's worse, President Snow has made it clear that no one else is safe either. Not Katniss's family, not her friends, not the people of District 12.

I am still in tears.  I held it together until the last 10 pages or so and then I just lost it.  This is how I know a book affects me deeply...  I lose all sense of time and place and I have a visceral reaction.  To this I was anger with Katniss, happy with Katniss, and then sad with Katniss.  I am in turmoil over the book.  That's not to say I didn't love, because I absolutely did.  It's just that I am sad about the consequences of actions in the book and that it then ended.  So sad.  This series will not be leaving my library.  I am definitely going to keep this and reread it (sooner rather than later).  And btw, I'm still and forever will be Team Peeta.

The Hunger Games:

1. The Hunger Games
2. Catching Fire
3. Mockingjay

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

Disclaimer: Contains spoilers for Book 1.

Title: Catching Fire (The Hunger Games #2)

Author: Suzanne Collins

Publisher: Scholastic 2009

Genre:  Fantasy

Pages: 391

Rating:  5 / 5 stars

Reading Challenges: Young Adult; A to Z - C; Mount TBR

Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen has won the annual Hunger Games with fellow district tribute Peeta Mellark. But it was a victory won by defiance of the Capitol and their harsh rules. Katniss and Peeta should be happy. After all, they have just won for themselves and their families a life of safety and plenty. But there are rumors of rebellion among the subjects, and Katniss and Peeta, to their horror, are the faces of that rebellion. The Capitol is angry. The Capitol wants revenge.

I am so in love with this series.  I just speed right through this book.  I couldn't wait to see what happened.  It's like an addiction.  Collins' writing continues to suck me in.  I love her descriptions.  I love the characters.  I love the dialogue.  It's not often that I find a book I don't find major things wrong with.  If I had to say something, it would be about Katniss' character.  Sometimes I really want to shake her and tell her to stop being so mean and distant to Peeta.  But that might be because I really like him...  Otherwise I just love this book and the series.  I read some reviews that had problems with the cliffhanger and repeat plots, but I don't see those as deterrents.  Obviously this is the second book in the series.  You had to expect one hell of a cliffhanger and some slower parts.  I think this is a great middle book.  I didn't get bogged down in the slower parts.  They were beautiful bits of characterization.  I can't wait to find out how the story ends...

The Hunger Games:

1. The Hunger Games
2. Catching Fire
3. Mockingjay

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Title: The Hunger Games (The Hunger Games #1)

Author: Suzanne Collins

Publisher: Scholastic 2008

Genre: YA Dystopian

Pages: 375

Rating:   5 / 5 stars

Reading Challenges: Young Adult; Read Your Name - C; Mount TBR; Books2Movie - 2012 Release

In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. Long ago the districts waged war on the Capitol and were defeated. As part of the surrender terms, each district agreed to send one boy and one girl to appear in an annual televised event called, "The Hunger Games," a fight to the death on live TV. Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives alone with her mother and younger sister, regards it as a death sentence when she is forced to represent her district in the Games. The terrain, rules, and level of audience participation may change but one thing is constant: kill or be killed.

I am hooked.  I kept hearing all these great things about the books, but I didn't jump on the bandwagon.  And then, I finally decided that I wanted to read these.  I just finished this book and I am speechless.  I was right there with Katniss through the entire story.  I was so hopeful that she would survive.  I couldn't break away.  Suspense, action, quiet moments, romance... this just has everything.  I love Collins' style of writing.  We really get into the head of Katniss.  We feel everything she feels.  I love that the story is from her point of view.  We experience the Games right along with her.  And that ending...  Oh my!  Such a cliffhanger!  I can't wait to start the next one.  BTW I am Team Peeta all the way!

The Hunger Games:

1. The Hunger Games
2. Catching Fire
3. Mockingjay