Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins (pgs. 1-151)



        This is the third and final book of the Hunger Games series. It starts out right where the last one, Catching Fire, started. Katniss was saved from her second games in a plot that's been playing out under her nose for years. Peeta unfortunately wasn't able to be saved. Katniss is taken to the thought-to-be-destroyed District 13. Her family and friend Gale have all made it there after the Capitol bombed and destroyed their home, District 12.
        Throughout the first 100 pages, Katniss is trying to be convinced to be the "Mockingjay" which is really just the face of the war against the war against the Capitol. She finally agrees after making a compromise with the District 13 leader, Coin. Katniss wants to hunt again on a daily basis with Gale and make sure that no harm comes to Peeta or the others that were captured by the Capitol. The only reason Coin has a problem with Peeta's immunity is that they have seen interviews with him in the Capitol calling for a cease-fire. Katniss knows that the Capitol is torturing him and is making him say that. However, the rebels look at him as a traitor. Therefore, Katniss asked that Coin would make a public announcement so she wouldn't go back on her word.
         Katniss and Gale are both given specially made bows and arrows made by another tribute that was saved from the games named Beetee. Now that she's decided to be the Mockingjay, Katniss is taken to District 8 after a bombing to make an appearance and help the injured. After she gets out of the makeshift hospital in 8, she's radioed in that there is going to be another bombing shortly. She heads for safety but then climbs on top of a building and takes out some of the hovercrafts. Her camera crew is there to capture propaganda footage and she makes an inspiring speech afterwards.
         When she gets back to District 13, they start making the propaganda commercials and watch another interview with Peeta. He has been tortured much more and has lost a frightening amount of weight. During his speech, Beetee is able to hack into the broadcasting and play some short bits of the propaganda shots. At the end of Peeta's speech he says sadly that Katniss and District 13 will be dead by morning. This is a clear warning of an attack coming to District 13. The next thing they see is the camera knocked over, and blood splattered across its lens as they hear Peeta's shriek of pain.
         District 13 goes into a full lockdown, and soon the bombing starts. Prim, Katniss's little sister, comforts her by saying that the Capitol won't kill Peeta because then they'd have nothing left to hurt her with.
         So far this book has been great, I reserved it three weeks ago at the library and just got it a week ago. The whole series has made it to my top three list and I can't wait to keep reading and see what happens. They're all very exciting and quick-moving books. The chapters always leave you with a cliff-hanger which makes you keep going. I very highly recommend them.