Mockingjay is the third book in Suzanne Collins’ Hunger Games series. These elaborate stories take place in the Capitol, where representatives from twelve different Districts are chosen to fight against one another to the death.

President Snow, as many know from the first two books, rules over the districts. Every year, the Government holds the “Reaping,” where a boy and a girl from each district are chosen to fight. In the very first book of 2008, The Hunger Games, Katniss, the main character, volunteered as tribute when her younger sister was chosen. This book was followed by Catching Fire, which was released in 2009.

Mockingjay, which was released in 2010, features a plan to murder President Snow and earn freedom, but the Government and Snow are a few steps ahead, giving them an advantage with cameras watching every move.

Katniss is faced with many emotional situations: expressing her feelings for Peeta, being held as a death weapon, and more She represents Hope and Freedom for the people of District 12, but is being manipulated by her own district and the Capitol… She is traumatized and unable to recover from the war, as she continues to be considered both a weapon and a source of entertainment.

The story is a darkly elaborate, and almost overwhelming. As I read, I was sitting on the edge of my seat, knowing something bad was about to happen, but I also had a feeling of hope.

The story uses hints of symbolism throughout. For example, the White Rose that President Snow gives Katniss represents a very dark secret that almost explains his reasonings for the deaths, and for the district. He had done something that could not be undone, and he knew she would then be very vulnerable. You’ll just have to read to find out.

To find out more, after completing Mockingjay, it might be worthwhile to pick up the prequel to the trilogy, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, which was released earlier this year.