"MOCKINGJAY," by Suzanne Collins, Scholastic, $17.99 (young adult)
Writing is a risky business, especially when writing a series. There's always the chance that no one will like your book, or in the case of a series, readers will deem follow-ups as mediocre at best.
But fans of "The Hunger Games" trilogy can breathe a sigh of relief with "Mockingjay," the final installment in this dystopian adventure series.
Expectations were high leading up to "Mockingjay's" release this past Tuesday, with the book hitting the No. 1 sales rank on Amazon.com and amassing Harry Potter-like holds at local libraries.
And "Mockingjay" most assuredly meets those high expectations, keeping in tone with its predecessors with excellent storytelling that will keep readers on the edge of their seats.
"Mockingjay" picks up where "Catching Fire," the second book, left off, and it is necessary to read them in order. If you haven't read the first two books but are planning to, there are some spoilers below, so read at your own risk.
The trilogy is centered on the Hunger Games, yearly-televised games featuring two young representatives from each of 12 districts in the country of Panem.
Panem is what's left of North America following war, famine and drought. The districts of Panem are subjugated to the Capitol and the whims of its president.
The televised games are broadcast throughout Panem, and all citizens are required to watch as the 24 participants are forced to kill their competitors. The games end when only one participant is alive.
Or at least that's been the outcome of every previous games.
This time, however, there are two survivors, Katniss and Peeta, the tributes from District Twelve. The games end and the two return home, hoping things will return to normal.
The president has other plans. Katniss thwarted the Gamemakers, forcing them to let both teens survive. Almost the entire country has fallen in love with the pair, making them a liability.
And what better way of getting rid of a liability than sending them back into the arena? When they enter this time, Katniss and Peeta are up against other past victors in a special "anniversary" installment.
In keeping with the trilogy's feel, nothing is as it seems, and "Catching Fire" ends in chaos with Katniss and Peeta injured and parted, one taken by rebels seeking to overthrow the Capitol and the other by the very forces that put him in the arena in the first place.
"Mockingjay" opens with Katniss alone and confused, trying to work out the details of her second Hunger Games. What she does know is that she's still not safe. The president wants her dead and will use anyone or anything to exact his revenge.
With Peeta still missing and District Twelve burned to ashes, Katniss must decide whom to trust. The rebels want her to be their mascot — The Mockingjay that urges them on. But can Katniss find the strength, or will her haunting nightmares cripple the cause?
As with all the books in this series, "Mockingjay" is hard to put down. It's fast-paced and dynamic while still compelling. The characters are well developed and one can't help but cheer, jump and maybe even cry along with them.
If you haven't read this trilogy, do it now. If you have, tell a friend. You won't be sorry.
e-mail: jharrison@desnews.com