What I am reading

 Maidi Mitchell recommends

“The Ballard of Songbirds and Snakes” by Suzanne Collins

Set decades before “The Hunger Games”, this story is seen from the perspective of the future dictator President Snow. 18 year old Coriolanus Snow is chosen to be the mentor for District 12’s female tribute in the 10th Hunger Games. This prequel hasn’t had great reviews but I liked it. It does not have the characters from “The Hunger Games” “Mockingjay” or “Catching fire” (there is no Katniss Everdeen as it is set 64 years before her reaping), but it is helpful to have read them in order to follow some of this new one. I ended up going back to reread the trilogy after finishing this. 

Themes of how society influences individuals and the power of the media stuck out for me, along with how deception, friendship and betrayal shape the characters. If you are a fan of The Hunger Games trilogy, I think you’ll enjoy this book. 

(Available to borrow from the school library).