Reading Log #4

Reading Log #4
Title: Mocking Jay
Text Type: Novel
Author/ Director: Suzanne Collins

Mocking Jay is the last novel from the Hunger Games Trilogy written by Suzanne Collins and published in 2010. Following the quarter quell Katniss wakes up with a deep breath in the complex beneath District 13. District 12 has been blown up only left with the rubble of her district. Her "star crossed lover" Peeta Mellark has been brainwashed by President Snow. She then becomes aware of the rebellion spreading across Panem against president snow. Katniss then agrees to become the face of the rebellion using the symbol of the Mocking Jay.

An important idea of this book is the price of War. This is seen throughout the trilogy. Panem is still suffering from the war. Because of this all 12 districts live in poverty while the capital thrives and holds an annual hunger games to prevent another uprising. In mocking Jay the setting is in the midst of war in District 13. Katniss agrees to be the "Mocking Jay" which is the face of the rebellion against President Snow. There is no official Hunger games in Mocking Jay but Katniss plays a role as if she is fighting for survival like she did in the games just with different rules, and President Snow is a tribute.

Now that Katniss has stood up to the capital, they start to gain their merciless tactics against there oppressors. This is seen when Gale, Katniss's best fiend designed bombs for the Hospital which killed Prim. I particularly felt Katniss's pain when Prim dies.  This is because Prim is a main character in the book, also throughout the trilogy Prim has been Katniss's hope since she took her place in the arena, and when prim died Katniss's hope for the future died with her. " You will never forget the face of the person who was your last hope". The quote "She was too young, too gentle, and i couldn't save her. I'm sorry" was said to Rue's family in district 11. I think that when Prim died Katniss felt like she had failed two little girls because "She couldn't save them". This plays with our heartstrings because they again were "To young, and too gentle.".

Even though Gale is loyal to Katniss he will do whatever it takes to destroy the capital and get revenge for bombing district twelve. This shows us how powerful war can be and how it can change someone from a person who wants to save everyone to someone who destroys everything. Katniss is then given the choice to hold another hunger games, except with the capitals children, she agrees. Peeta then reminds her that the games is what rebellion is fought against. War changes who a person is. "It costs your life" says Caesar. "Oh no it costs a lot more than your life. To murder innocent people?" says Peeta. "It costs everything you are".  In my opinion Peeta's quote highlights the reality of war, that even the winning side pays a price. But then no one really wins at all as the things you do is just as bad as the enemy.