The End of an Era
Suzanne Collins Scholastic Press 2010 398 pages
Character Description
Katniss Everdeen: Katniss is an important public figure in a rebellion trying to ove throw the government.
Peeta Mellark: Katniss's love interest, being held captive at the beginning of the book, when the capitol releases him he tries to kill Katniss because the capitol altered his memories.
President Snow: The Capitol's leader and Katniss' number 1 enemy. Katniss wishes to kill him herself.
President Coin: The leader of District 13 and the one who calls the shots for the entire rebellion.
Plot Summary
The book starts off with Katniss being transported from the arena of her second Hunger
Games to District 13 (The Hunger Games are an annual competition between the residents of the 12 districts of Panem. It is a fight to the death, the last person alive wins (Katniss and Peeta competed in two straight Hunger Games)). Peeta was captured by the capitol. At first Katniss completely ignores what she has to do. Then she agrees to become the Mockingjay, the public face of the rebellion. As time passes she records various "propos" to promote the rebel cause to the people of Panem. Later on after Peeta calls for a cease-fire in the war, the rebels devise a plan to take him from the capitol. They rescue him but he is brainwashed and tries to kill Katniss. When the rebels launch an attack on the capitol itself, Peeta and Katniss are sent in to battle together. When Katniss arrives at President Snow's house she sees her sister Prim get killed by a bomb. Katniss is recovered and kept on pain medication for several days. The rebels have won the war and President Coin has saved President Snow for Katniss. At the execution she kills Coin rather than Snow because she know it is the right thing to do. She is sent back to her original home in District 12 where she grows up to marry Peeta.
Games to District 13 (The Hunger Games are an annual competition between the residents of the 12 districts of Panem. It is a fight to the death, the last person alive wins (Katniss and Peeta competed in two straight Hunger Games)). Peeta was captured by the capitol. At first Katniss completely ignores what she has to do. Then she agrees to become the Mockingjay, the public face of the rebellion. As time passes she records various "propos" to promote the rebel cause to the people of Panem. Later on after Peeta calls for a cease-fire in the war, the rebels devise a plan to take him from the capitol. They rescue him but he is brainwashed and tries to kill Katniss. When the rebels launch an attack on the capitol itself, Peeta and Katniss are sent in to battle together. When Katniss arrives at President Snow's house she sees her sister Prim get killed by a bomb. Katniss is recovered and kept on pain medication for several days. The rebels have won the war and President Coin has saved President Snow for Katniss. At the execution she kills Coin rather than Snow because she know it is the right thing to do. She is sent back to her original home in District 12 where she grows up to marry Peeta.
Conflict
The conflict in the book is between the rebels and the capitol and its allies. They both want control of the country of Panem. The rebels view President Snow as a bad leader. They don't want the Hunger Games to continue so they try to take the control away from Snow. A war ensues as both sides fight for power and Katniss's and the rebels' problem is solved.
Quotation Explanation
"Another force to contend with. Another power player who has decided to use me as a piece in her games. . ." This statement of Katniss's is referring to President Coin. I think it really summarizes Katniss's situation in the whole series. She is always being used by someone in one way or another. Whether it is in the Hunger Games or by President Snow or like in this statement, President Coin. I think this statement is what the series is about, how Katniss keeps getting used.
Book Review
I thought the book was very well written and was a very good wrap up to The Hunger Games trilogy. Suzanne Collins did a terrific job at writing a suspenseful book that often I did not want to put down. At times thought it seemed to me that she just wrote to fill up pages. But for the most part it was a good book and for that reason give it a 3 out of 4 stars.