Mockingjay

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This article is about the novel. For the fictional species, see Mockingjays.
Mockingjay
Mockingjay.JPG
Author(s) Suzanne Collins
Cover artist Tim O'Brien
Country United States
Language English
Series The Hunger Games trilogy
Genre(s) Adventure
Dystopian
Science fiction[1]
Thriller
Publisher Scholastic
Publication date August 24, 2010
Media type Print (Hardcover)
Pages 390
ISBN 978-0-439-02351-1
OCLC Number 522512199
Preceded by Catching Fire

Mockingjay is a 2010 science fiction novel by American author Suzanne Collins. It is the final installment of The Hunger Games trilogy, following 2008's The Hunger Games and 2009's Catching Fire. The book continues the story of Katniss Everdeen, who agrees to lead the districts of Panem in a rebellion against the tyrannical Capitol. The hardcover and audiobook editions of Mockingjay were published by Scholastic on August 24, 2010, six days after the ebook edition went on sale. The book sold 450,000 copies in the first week of release, exceeding the publisher's expectations. It received a generally positive reaction from critics, while the reception by the general public and fans has been less enthusiastic than that to the trilogy's first two books, with some expressing displeasure at the series' ending.

Contents

Inspiration and development[edit]

Collins has said that the main inspiration for The Hunger Games trilogy came from the classical account of Theseus and the Minotaur.[2] In Greek mythology, as a punishment for the killing of King Minos's son Androgeos, Athens was forced to sacrifice seven youths and seven maidens to Crete, who were then put in the Labyrinth and killed by the Minotaur.[2] After a while, Theseus, the son of the Athenian king, decided to put an end to the Minotaur and Minos's terror, so he volunteered to join the third group of victims, ultimately killing the Minotaur and leading his companions out of the monster's Labyrinth.[3]

Collins has said that there are also many parallels between the Roman Empire and the fictional nation of Panem. She describes the Hunger Games as "an updated version of the Roman gladiator games, which entails a ruthless government forcing people to fight to the death as popular entertainment." Collins also explains that the name "Panem" came from the Latin phrase "Panem et Circenses", which means "Bread and Circuses"[4] and refers to the strategy used by Roman emperors to appease the masses by providing them with food and entertainment.[5]

As with the previous books in the trilogy, Mockingjay contains 27 chapters, with nine chapters in each of the three parts. This structure, which Collins had previously used in her series The Underland Chronicles, came from Collins's playwriting background.[6] This "three-act" structure is also apparent in the trilogy as a whole; Collins stated that she "knew from the beginning" that she was going to write a trilogy.[7]

The cover and title information was revealed by Scholastic on February 11, 2010. The cover continues the previous books' theme on the symbol of peace. The novel's title comes from the hybrid birds of the same name that feature in the novels' storyline.[8] As Publishers Weekly has stated, "the hybrid birds that are an important symbol—of hope and rebellion—throughout the books".[9] Collins likens Katniss to a Mockingjay because both "should never have existed".[10]

Plot[edit]

Further information: The Hunger Games and Catching Fire

After being rescued by the rebels of District 13, Katniss is convinced to become "the Mockingjay": a symbol of the rebellion against the tyrannical Capitol. As part of the agreement, she demands that the leader of District 13, President Coin, grant immunity to all of the Quarter Quell participants, including Peeta, and that Katniss reserves the right to kill President Snow, the dictator of Panem. Much to her displeasure, she is kept away from the battles, and is instead tasked with starring in rebel propaganda films. Katniss is unable to cope with the guilt as she watches a mentally ill Peeta on television, as he is forced to speak out against her and the rebels on behalf of the Capitol. Finally, District 13 leaders decide to rescue Peeta, realizing that Katniss's guilt is impeding her role as "the Mockingjay." After the rescue, it is discovered that Peeta has been brainwashed into believing Katniss is the enemy, and he attempts to strangle her during their reunion. Peeta's brainwashing deeply disturbs Katniss, but he gradually improves after much treatment and therapy. His childhood friend Delly Cartwright helps with his recovery by recounting happy events from their past. Soon, Peeta recovers fully enough to train. Katniss and her propaganda unit are sent off on a mission to the Capitol, and President Coin later sends Peeta with them in replacement of another soldier, although his many scarred memories fuel his rage.

The rebels, including Katniss, gain control of the districts and begin an assault on the Capitol. A propaganda shoot in a purportedly safe Capitol neighborhood goes wrong, and Katniss and her team flee further into the city with the intent of finding and killing President Snow. Many members of Katniss's team are killed during intense urban warfare, including Hunger Games victor Finnick Odair. Eventually, Katniss presses on alone towards Snow's mansion, which has supposedly been opened to shelter Capitol children, but is actually intended to trap them and use them as human shields for President Snow. As she reaches the mansion, a hover plane with Capitol markings drops supply parachutes to the children which then explode, killing many of them. When medical teams move in to help the children, the hover plane with Capitol markings returns to drop more exploding supply parachutes to kill the medical team, including Katniss' sister, Prim. The death of her sister traumatizes the already mentally exhausted Katniss, and she falls into a deep depression.

After the rebels' victory, President Coin and her inner circle decide to punish the Capitol just as the Capitol once punished the Districts, by holding a final edition of the Hunger Games with children from the Capitol as tributes. While recovering from the same explosion that killed her sister, Katniss happens across President Snow, who is under house arrest and awaiting execution. Snow tells her that he did not order the assault that killed Prim, and that he would have escaped if he had had access to a hover plane. Instead, he accuses Coin of being behind the bombing. When Katniss expresses her doubts about his innocence, Snow reminds her that they had agreed not to lie to each other following the 74th Hunger Games. He also explains that the bombing of the children would have served no purpose for him, as it turned the remaining Capitol citizens against him.

Shortly thereafter, Katniss recalls that the bombing resembled a trap originally developed by Gale Hawthorne. Gale denies being involved, but Katniss cannot repress her suspicions. At Snow's execution, Katniss thinks back to her conversation with him, and realizes that someone high up would have had to have given permission for Prim to be on the front lines despite her young age. Making it look like the Capitol killed Prim would push Katniss's loyalty to Coin and would also drive a wedge between the Capitol and President Snow. When she is given the opportunity to execute Snow, Katniss makes her decision, raises her bow and shoots Coin instead, killing her. A riot ensues and Snow is found dead. Katniss attempts to consume the suicide pill on her uniform, but Peeta stops her. Katniss is acquitted of Coin's murder due to her apparent insanity and sent home to the ruins of District 12, along with others who are attempting to rebuild. Peeta returns months later, having largely recovered from his brainwashing. Katniss again falls in love with Peeta, recognizing she needs his hope and strength, in contrast to Gale who has the same fire she already finds in herself. Together with Haymitch, they write a book filled with the stories of previous tributes of the Hunger Games and those who died in the war to preserve their memory.

Twenty years later, Katniss and Peeta are married and have two children. The Hunger Games are over, but Katniss dreads the day her children learn about their parents' involvement in both the Games and the war. When she feels distressed, Katniss plays a comforting but repetitive "game," reminding herself of every good thing she has ever seen someone do. The series ends with Katniss' somber reflection that "there are much worse games to play."

Themes[edit]

Reviews have noted many themes in the previous books that are also explored in "Mockingjay". A review from The Baltimore Sun noted that "the themes of the series, including physical hardships, loyalty in extreme circumstances and traversing morally ambiguous terrain, are continued at an even larger scale." In the book, Katniss must deal with betrayal and violence against people. At the same time, while she was symbolically touching thousands of lives, she must also lead those people into war. Finally, Katniss realizes she cannot even trust President Coin, leader of District 13.[11]

In an interview with Collins, it was noted that the series "tackles issues like severe poverty, starvation, oppression, and the effects of war." Collins replied that this inspiration was from her father, who, when going to war in Vietnam, made sure that his children understood the consequences and effects of war.[4] Yvonne Zipp of The Christian Science Monitor noted that it was "the most brutal of the trilogy" and that "Collins doesn't take war lightly – her characters debate the morality involved in tactics used to try to overthrow the rotting, immoral government, and they pay a high cost for those tactics."[12] Katie Roiphe of The New York Times wrote that "it is the perfect teenage story with its exquisitely refined rage against the cruel and arbitrary power of the adult world."[13] In a review for USA Today, Bob Minzesheimer pointed out that the novel contained optimism: "Hope emerges from despair. Even in a dystopian future, there's a better future."[14]

Minzesheimer also noted a central question of "Real or not real?" which was asked throughout the novel by Peeta.[14] Susan Carpenter of the Los Angeles Times also pointed this out, writing, "Mockingjay takes readers into new territories and an even more brutal and confusing world: one where it's unclear what sides the characters are on, one where presumed loyalties are repeatedly stood on their head".[15]

Publication history[edit]

Mockingjay was first released in the US and Canada on August 24, 2010. The UK, New Zealand and Australia received the book one day later, on August 25, 2010. The audiobook was released simultaneously on August 24, 2010 by Scholastic Audio.[9]

Sales[edit]

The book had a 1.2 million-copy first printing that was bumped up from 750,000.[16] In its first week of release, the book sold over 450,000 copies. Following this, Scholastic printed an additional 400,000 copies, bringing the initial print run up to 1.6 million. Scholastic Trade president Ellie Berger said that sales "have exceeded all expectations".[17] The book has also been released in e-book format and topped sales in the week ending with August 29, 2010, beating out The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, which had held the top spot since April.[18] The other Hunger Games books have also made it in the top ten, with the first book at fifth and the second book taking eighth.[18]

Release[edit]

Promotion[edit]

To promote the release of Mockingjay, many bookstores held midnight release parties. The official event in New York City was attended by Collins, and included many activities such as a tarot card reader, a magician, jugglers and face-painters. Prizes such as signed copies of Catching Fire and Hunger Games-themed cups were raffled. Once Collins arrived, she read the first chapter of the novel, explaining that she would read with an accent since Katniss, the narrator, is from Appalachia. By midnight, copies were being sold with a signature stamp since Collins had a hand injury and was unable to sign.[19]

Before the release, Scholastic also released a trailer for the book, launched a Facebook page that gained over 22,000 fans in 10 days, and held a contest for booksellers to win a visit from Collins and an online countdown clock to the release date. There were also advertisements for the book on websites such as Entertainment Weekly and Romantic Times. National Entertainment Collectibles Association also sold other goods such as t-shirts, posters, games and bracelets.[20] Collins also held a "13-District Blog Tour" where 13 winners received a free copy of Mockingjay on August 24, 2010.[21] A tour was also scheduled, starting at Books of Wonder in New York where the official party took place. The tour ended on November 6, 2010, in the Third Place Books store in Lake Forest Park, Washington.[22]

Critical reception[edit]

Mockingjay has received generally positive reviews from critics, while reception by the public and fans has been mixed. Some noted that there was a suspense drop between Catching Fire and the start of Mockingjay. Nicole Sperling of Entertainment Weekly gave the book a B+ and said, "Collins has kicked the brutal violence up a notch in an edge-of-your-seat plot".[23] Publishers Weekly gave the book a starred review, calling it "the best yet, a beautifully orchestrated and intelligent novel that succeeds on every level". The review went on to praise the "sharp social commentary and the nifty world building".[24] Kirkus Reviews gave Mockingjay a starred review, saying that the book is exactly what its fans are looking for and that "it will grab them and not let go".[25] Susan Carpenter of the Los Angeles Times compared the battlefield to Iraq and said that the book is every bit as original as the first in the series, ending the review with "Wow".[15]

The Baltimore Sun's Nancy Knight commented that the book "ends on an ostensibly happy note, but the heartbreaking effects of war and loss aren't sugar-coated" and that it will have readers thinking about the effects of war on society.[11] Katie Roiphe of The New York Times said it is "the perfect teenage story with its exquisitely refined rage against the cruel and arbitrary power of the adult world". However, she criticized that it was not as "impeccably plotted" as The Hunger Games.[13] Bob Minzesheimer of USA Today gave the book three out of four stars.[14] The Christian Science Monitor reviewer Yvonne Zipp described it as "an entirely gripping read".[12]

While a review from The Sacramento Bee praised the action scenes and the battle in the Capitol, the reviewer also criticized Collins for not giving enough time to finish all the loose ends, writing that "the disappointment with Mockingjay hits primarily as Collins starts her home stretch. It's almost as if she didn't allocate enough time or chapters to handle all her threads".[26]

Film adaptations[edit]

The Hunger Games trilogy is being adapted into a series of films, with the stars of the 2012 film The Hunger Games having signed on for a total of four movies.[27] On July 10, 2012, it was announced that Mockingjay will be split into two parts, with Part 1 set to be released on November 21, 2014, and Part 2 on November 20, 2015.[28] On November 1, 2012, it was confirmed that Francis Lawrence, director of The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, will return to direct the two final movies in the series.[29]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Mockingjay proves the Hunger Games is must-read literature". io9. 26 August 26. Retrieved 12 February 2013. 
  2. ^ a b Margolis, Rick (September 1, 2008). "A Killer Story: An Interview with Suzanne Collins, Author of 'The Hunger Games'". School Library Journal. Retrieved March 25, 2012. 
  3. ^ Plutarch, Life of Theseus, 15. 1 - 2
  4. ^ a b "Mockingjay (The Hunger Games #3)". Powell's Books. Retrieved September 1, 2010. 
  5. ^ Margolis, Rick (September 1, 2008). "A Killer Story: An Interview with Suzanne Collins, Author of 'The Hunger Games'". School Library Journal. Retrieved March 13, 2012. 
  6. ^ Collins, Suzanne (Video). Similarities To Underland. (Interview). Scholastic Canada. http://www.scholastic.com/thehungergames/videos/similarities-to-underland.htm. Retrieved March 8, 2012.
  7. ^ Hopkinson, Deborah (September 2009). "A riveting return to the world of 'The Hunger Games'". Book Page. Retrieved March 13, 2012. 
  8. ^ Staskiewicz, Keith (February 11, 2010). "Final 'Hunger Games' novel has been given a title and a cover". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved February 11, 2010. 
  9. ^ a b Roback, Diane (February 11, 2010). "'Mockingjay' to Conclude the Hunger Games Trilogy". Publishers Weekly. Retrieved 2 September 2010. 
  10. ^ Margolis, Rick (August 1, 2010). "The Last Battle: With 'Mockingjay' on its way, Suzanne Collins weighs in on Katniss and the Capitol". School Library Journal. Retrieved 2 September 2010. 
  11. ^ a b Knight, Nancy (August 30, 2010). "Read Street: 90-second review: 'Mockingjay' by Suzanne Collins". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved August 31, 2010. 
  12. ^ a b Zipp, Yvonne (August 26, 2010). "Mockingjay". The Christian Science Monitor. Retrieved April 1, 2012. 
  13. ^ a b Roiphe, Katie (September 8, 2010). "Survivor". The New York Times. Retrieved 14 September 2010. 
  14. ^ a b c Minzesheimer, Bob (March 1, 2011). "Suzanne Collins' 'Mockingjay' is the real deal as the trilogy finale". USA Today. Retrieved February 25, 2012. 
  15. ^ a b Carpenter, Susan (August 23, 2010). ""Mockingjay" by Suzanne Collins: Book review". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 29 August 2010. 
  16. ^ "Scholastic Increases First Printing of Mockingjay, the Final Book of The Hunger Games Trilogy, to 1.2 Million Copies" (Press release). Scholastic. July 1, 2010. Retrieved 2 September 2010.  Unknown parameter |unused_data= ignored (help)
  17. ^ "'Mockingjay' Sells More Than 450,000 Copies in First Week". Publishers Weekly. September 2, 2010. Retrieved September 3, 2010. 
  18. ^ a b "Kindle best-sellers: 'Mockingjay' flies to the top". The Independent (London). September 2, 2010. Retrieved 2 September 2010. 
  19. ^ Wilkinson, Amy (August 24, 2010). "'Mockingjay' Official Midnight Release Party: We Were There! » Hollywood Crush". MTV. MTV Networks. Retrieved 5 September 2010. 
  20. ^ Springen, Karen (August 5, 2010). "Marketing 'Mockingjay'". Publishers Weekly. Retrieved 5 September 2010. 
  21. ^ "Hungry for Mockingjay giveaways?". Scholastic. July 30, 2010. Retrieved 5 September 2010. 
  22. ^ "The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins". Scholastic. Retrieved 5 September 2010. 
  23. ^ Sperling, Nicole (August 24, 2010). "'Mockingjay' review: Spoiler alert!". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved August 29, 2010. 
  24. ^ "Mockingjay". Publishers Weekly. August 23, 2010. Retrieved August 29, 2010. 
  25. ^ Smith, Vicky (August 25, 2010). "MOCKINGJAY by Suzanne Collins". Kirkus Reviews. Retrieved September 2, 2010.  Unknown parameter |unused_data= ignored (help)
  26. ^ Morrison, Kathy (August 30, 2010). "Book review: 'Mockingjay' completes 'Hunger Games' trilogy.". The Sacramento Bee. 
  27. ^ Robert, David (November 18, 2011). "Woody Harrelson Talks 'Hunger Games'". MTV. Retrieved May 21, 2012. 
  28. ^ "'Mockingjay' to be split into two movies, release dates announced". EW.com. July 10, 2012. Retrieved October 27, 2012. 
  29. ^ "Exclusive: Francis Lawrence to Direct Remainder of The Hunger Games Franchise with Two-Part Adaptation of Mockingjay". Collider.com. November 1, 2012. 

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