Yeah gods, what a mule kick in the heart this book is. Katniss has seen the destruction of her town and most of the people she knew. She’s faced the Arena twice for the amusement of her world and had to kill and face her own death. Now she lives in the tunnels of District 13, being forced to become the star of the revolution.
Once again she’s trading her own well being for that of others, but District 13’s president is determined to keep Katniss on a much tighter leash. War brings out a side of Gayle Katniss doesn’t like and Peeta, left behind in the Arena break out, is being tortured into playing Katniss’ opposite, moral booster for the Capital and President Snow.
Even once rescued Peeta has been so twisted by trackerjack venom and psychological reconditioning that he tries to kill Katniss more than once. Katniss, trying to deal with how very broken she is, has no real support, and at times it seems no one even cares about her, just The Mockingjay.
War isn’t prettied up at all for readers, which is a mixed blessing since there’s no real diluting of either battle, nor Katniss’ emotional trauma. Collins doesn’t even pretend that Katniss, or Peeta, or Gayle are valiant defenders of anything. They are people picking sides and fighting for what they feel is right, but in the process the tragedy they cause is just as real as the harm they endure spurring them to fight.
While it isn’t pretty, Mockingjay is an amazingly soulful story, sure to resonate with readers, teens and adults a like. Definitely a recommended read, but with a caveat for caution for anyone with trigger issues.