Mockingjay is Coming

February 11th was a happy day for me. Very, very happy. Why? Because Scholastic announced the release date (here’s where I died as reader) and cover (and here’s where I died as a designer) for the upcoming third (and final) installment of the Hunger Games, Mockingjay, by Suzanne Collins.

If you’ve never read the Hunger Games and Catching Fire (and I hope you have, because we can’t be friends if you haven’t) it’s an incredible young adult trilogy set in a dystopian futuristic world, Panem. Twelve outlying districts are ruled by the Capital. Sometime in the past, the districts (there were thirteen at the time) revolted against the Capital and lost. Because of this, the Capital asserts its dominance over the districts by holding the Hunger Games every year as a constant punishment and reminder of their place. Every year, each district must hold a lottery to pick one female and one male from ages 12 – 18 to participate in the games. All of the tributes are taken to the capital, put through training, given a story and a distinct look, and then dumped in a fabricated arena to fight against the other tributes to their death. The last one standing wins the Capital’s favor in yearly rations to their district.

The first book follows Katniss as she volunteers herself in place of her younger sister, Prim. From the start, she fights against the Capital, defying them multiple times in the preparations for the games and in the games themselves. Considering it’s a trilogy, I don’t think it’s too much of a spoiler to acknowledge that she wins the games in the end, much to the Capital’s disdain. I’m leaving quite a bit of plot out here, so don’t yell at me for giving the ending away (because I really didn’t ).

The thing I find incredible about this book is that I can see this happening. It’s the whole idea of fascination of the abomination. Some might argue that at this moment in time, human civilization is too advanced and, well, civilized to be interested in watching fellow humans fight to death in such a brutal fashion. But I don’t agree. Look at the Romans.. they were the most civilized and advanced society at the time, and they reveled in their gladiator games. People like to think they’re too good for that, but when an accident happens on the road, no one doesn’t look. It’s in our nature to be fascinated with death, despair, and struggle. I’m not saying I want to sit around and watch people fight to the death all day, but you can’t deny the reality of human nature.

Beyond that. Character development, action, suspense.. it’s all there. And done beautifully. I guarantee you, if you pick up the Hunger Games you’ll be finished with Catching Fire less than a week later and aching for Mockingjay. It’s that good.