MOCKINGJAY BY SUZANNE COLLINS
Genre: YA, Dystopian
Format: Audiobook
“Closing my eyes doesn’t help. Fire burns brighter in the darkness.”
– Suzanne Collins, Mockingjay
Series: The Hunger Games trilogy
Synopsis: 
Katniss Everdeen, girl on fire, has survived, even though her home has been destroyed. Gale has escaped. Katniss’s family is safe. Peeta has been captured by the Capitol. District 13 really does exist. There are rebels. There are new leaders. A revolution is unfolding.
It is by design that Katniss was rescued from the arena in the cruel and haunting Quarter Quell, and it is by design that she has long been part of the revolution without knowing it. District 13 has come out of the shadows and is plotting to overthrow the Capitol. Everyone, it seems, has had a hand in the carefully laid plans–except Katniss.
The success of the rebellion hinges on Katniss’s willingness to be a pawn, to accept responsibility for countless lives, and to change the course of the future of Panem. To do this, she must put aside her feelings of anger and distrust. She must become the rebels’ Mockingjay–no matter what the personal cost. [Goodreads]

*Warning this is the third and final book in a trilogy and may contain spoilers*

With the movie about to come out I thought it would be a good idea to give this a re-read. I first read this when it came out and didn’t really remember much of what happened. Although I did not remember much of what happened besides the big things in the book I was not a huge fan the first time I read it. The first time through it I was kind of a let down for me. I did not think it lived up the other two in the series. I felt like Katniss lost herself and began to doubt her actions and life as a whole. I did not feel like the book was long enough or gave me enough of an ending that I wanted with the final installment of the Hunger Games.

With all that being said, I had a totally different experience the second time around. Although I don’t think the book was as good as it should be compared to the other two books and that it was still a let down and a disappointing final book, it was the nostalgia of the series that got me. Getting back into this world however depressing the world and situations are took me back to the first time I read it. Katniss was not the same in this book, the character growth seemed to be going backwards and she started to retreat back to her old self and habits, with her growing affection for Peeta and her realization that she does love him broke my heart. Their relationship sure has its ups and downs and the way he is willing to give up his life for her is one of the most romantic things ever (in a twisted way). There were hints of the old Katniss that shined through with the strength and rebellious ways and you are really rooting for her and Peeta the whole time. I also forgot how sad this book got. There were a lot of problems for me and I felt like the story fell short of what it could have been, but I loved it regardless because of the emotion and connection that I had for the story and the characters.

Sorry this is a bad review. It is more like thoughts. It is just really had to attempt a review when I have so many feelings and thoughts about this book because of the emotional connection and place it has in my heart although it has its flaws.