Mockingjay

I finished out the "Hunger Games" trilogy tonight with "Mockingjay" (390 pages) by Suzanne Collins. From the cover of the book:

"Katniss Everdeen, girl on fire, has survived, even though her home has been destroyed. Gale has escaped. Katniss's family is safe. Peeta has been captured by the Capitol. District 13 really does exist. There are rebels. There are new leaders. A revolution is unfolding.

It is by design that Katniss was rescued from the arena in the cruel and haunting Quarter Quell, and it is by design that she has long been part of the revolution without knowing it. District 13 has come out of the shadows and is plotting to overthrow the Capitol. Everyone, it seems, has had a hand in the carefully laid plans - except Katniss.

The success of the rebellion hinges on Katniss's willingness to be a pawn, to accept responsibility for countless lives, and to change the course of the future of Panem. To do this, she must put aside her feelings of anger and distrust. She must become the rebels' Mockingjay - no matter what the personal cost."

I was really excited to read "Mockingjay" especially after the strong start with "The Hunger Games" and "Catching Fire." The first 200 pages of the novel crawls at an absolute snails pace with virtually nothing going on. Once there seems to be a little action the book abruptly stops with a lame and, to me, forced conclusion. Was Collins required to keep all the books under 400 pages? Our heroine has zero growth throughout the story and is left at the conclusion pretty much how she was at the beginning, with no say in her life. Lame. Not recommended except to just finish the "The Hunger Games" trilogy. Warning: try not to throw the book at something breakable.