Check Mate

Author's Note: Katniss has been into the Hunger Games once. After she won, she was put into t

he Quater Quell Games. During that time Katniss has been bashed, scarred, and close to death until she finds herself in District 13 as "their" secret weapon.


How would you feel if you were being so manipulated by “power” that humans died because of you? What if you had to become someone that you did not want to be just to save the lives of people? The author of Mockingjay from the Hunger Games trilogy, Suzanne Collins, does a unique job of describing how Katniss, the main character, has to go through tough obstacles involving manipulation, power, love, and courage. These are just a few of the many themes occurring throughout her book. Katniss’ struggle to cope with all of these situations is incredible!

When Katniss is manipulated by the Capitol, she can’t do anything about it, but she still has power because she is the face of the rebel movement. President Coin, leader of District 13, has more power than her and he uses it to manipulate her. As Katniss says “What they want is for me to truly take on the role they designed for me. The symbol of the revolution. The Mockingjay. […] I won't have to do it alone. They have a whole team of people to make me over, dress me, write my speeches, orchestrate my appearances – as if that doesn't sound horribly familiar – and all I have to do is play my part.” (28) She is used like a pawn in a chess game.

Consequently, Katniss has the courage to persevere even though she’s killing people she's how ever she is saving lives of loved ones throughout this whirlwind. Through out this book she shows her love for Peeta, but Katniss realizes she made a huge mistake. Snow can use her love for Peeta against her. Katniss’ courage and willingness to leave District 13 and flee to District 2 demonstrates this. “I knew I'd misjudged you. That you do love him. I'm not saying in what way. Maybe you don't know yourself. But anyone paying attention could see how much you care about him," he says gently.” “Anyone? On Snow's visit before the Victory Tour, he challenged me to erase any doubts of my love for Peeta. "Convince me," Snow said. It seems, under that hot pink sky with Peeta's life in limbo, I finally did. And in doing so, I gave him the weapon he needed to break me.”(19-20)

In the Mockingjay, the author depicts many different examples of these re-occurring themes throughout the book: manipulation, power, courage, and love. She has a way of making the reader really empathise with the character’s feelings. One minute you may feel sad, the next minute you may feel anger, and regret. Collins really puts you on an emotional roller coaster, while you read her book. You feel like you just can’t put it down!

Death Isn't Peaceful

Author's Note: Have you ever wondered if an intriguing disease could be man made and the deadliest? The author of The Death Cure makes the "Flare" seem so creepy and real because of the descriptive pictures he paints in your head.


What would you do if you had a deadly disease that took you to extremes to find the cure? The author of The Death Cure, James Dashner, does a unique job of describing a deadly disease called the Flare, a disease much like the swine flu. The symptoms of the Flare are similar to swine flu: fever, fatigue, and body aches, except with the the Flare, you start murdering people because this virus takes over your brain. Even though this is a fictional book, it seems life-like because the author describes this horrific life threatening disease in a way that sends chills down your spine.

“It was the smell that began to drive Thomas slightly mad. Not being alone for over three weeks. Not the white walls, ceiling and the floor. Not the lack of windows or the fact that they never turned off the lights. None of that. They’d taken watch; and fed him the exact same meal three times a day--- slab of ham, mashed potatoes, raw carrots, slice of bread, water---never spoke to him, never allowed anyone else in the room.” (1) Realism, that is the word that popped in my head when I read this quote in The Death Cure, it felt as if I were in the room with Thomas. Readers especially enjoyed when Dashner described the way Thomas was isolated and received the same food three times a day. When Dashner explains situations the characters are in, he has a unique way of portraying how they are feeling whether it be pain, rage, or happiness, and the obstacles they try and conquer. Regardless of where Thomas and his gang are, the author always makes it seem like you are actually in the book, especially when the “cranks” (the crazy people) go insane.

Well it’s a good thing “cranks” don’t exist in today’s world or we’d all be “past the gone” (full out insane, where you start to become a cannibal and a serial killer) and we’d all be doomed! When Thomas is isolated in WICKED, World In Catastrophe Killzone Experiment Department, he feels helpless. While reading this book, I try to relate to the character's feelings. I think about my own experiences or how I would feel if I were in that character’s shoes. I think to myself...what if I woke up one day in a box, like Thomas experienced in the first book, and had no recollection of my memories, except my first name. That is really something to think about!

In The Death Cure Dashner doesn’t just make you feel what emotions the characters are feeling, he also makes you feel as if you are really in the book experiencing what Thomas, Brenda, Minho, Newt, and some of the cranks go through . It seems as if Dashner actually researched deadly diseases and came up with a realistic disease, the “Flare”, which would be the deadliest disease of all. The author makes the “Flare” seem so life like it’s scary! In addition, when Dashner portrays the scene of the crank palace, he does such a fantastic job describing this “place” that he painted a vivid picture in my mind as if it were real. It was almost as if he had researched psychiatric hospitals and investigated what truly goes on there.

In The Death Cure, the author depicts many different examples throughout the book about how it relates to the real world with emotions. Dashner also makes the story interesting by including realism in many different areas of the book. These “tricks” the author uses, capture the reader’s attention and make you feel engrossed in the book. You feel like you just can’t put it down!