Welcome to YA Fest 2020! This is my second favorite time of year for the blog, with the annual Goodreads Choice Awards being first. For every Friday during the month of June, I will be talking about a new young adult fiction book, as it is my favorite genre. And it felt appropriate to start with The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, the latest book by Suzanne Collins and a part of The Hunger Games series. Going back over six decades from the beginning of the first book, readers now have the opportunity to learn more about Panem's calculating and cruel president.The Situation: Coriolanus Snow is 18 and looking towards his future after graduation, which is not looking all that promising. Since the war with the rebels, the once prosperous and well-off Snow family has fallen on significantly difficult times, but must keep up appearances in order to avoid gossip and pity. What Coriolanus wants more than anything is to attend the University, but without some sort of scholarship or prize, there is no way he can afford it. Thankfully, he has been given the opportunity to be a mentor for the 10th Hunger Games: the yearly competition that has children from the districts fight to the death. If he is able to coach his tribute to victory, the prize is as good as his. But to his horror, he has been assigned to mentor the girl tribute from District 12. It is well-known that even a male tribute from District 12 would be a long shot, so Coriolanus certainly has his work cut out for him.
The Problem: As soon as her name is called at the District 12 reaping, Lucy Gray Baird captures everyone's attention. If it isn't her bright dress, which stands in bright contrast to the dull colors worn by those around her, then it is her actions, her audacity, and certainly her voice. District 12 girls may not be expected to make much of a showing at the games, but Lucy Gray manages to gain many supporters, which allows Coriolanus some hope. If he were allowed to focus solely on his strategy, he is certain Snow would once again land on top. But his family's monetary troubles only seem to increase with each passing day, and it appears that the school and games officials are bent on seeing him fail. To add to his frustration, he finds himself entangled in the schemes of a tribute sympathizer, a boy who was originally from the districts and now enjoys the wealth and comfort that Coriolanus used to have, that he believes someone from the districts could never be worthy of. It will take everything Coriolanus knows about war, the games, people, and power to come out of all of this the victor.
Genre, Themes, History: This is a young adult fiction novel set over six decades before the first book in The Hunger Games series. The war between the Capitol and the Rebels ended ten years ago, and now, at 18 years-old, Coriolanus has been chosen as a mentor for the 10th Hunger Games. This will be before the games become the spectacle that they are when Katniss becomes a tribute, but they are still just as cruel and unforgiving. Even at only 18 years old, the ambitious, cruel, cold, and calculating Coriolanus Snow readers come to know from the original series is already on his way to becoming a terrible person. Given the smallest amount of power and opportunity, Coriolanus does whatever it takes to secure is own future, no matter what it means for those around him. Something is only of concern if it affects him. And nothing annoys him more than things not being as they should be. The Capitol should be on top, and the Districts should know their place. He also has no time for sympathizers and those who care for the greater good, those who believe the tributes should be treated as people. With the introduction of Lucy Gray into his life, we see that there is a capacity for him to care about another person. But how far does that care go if it means sacrificing for their well-being? Of course, his character does not have a monopoly on the desire to oppress. It seems there are few in the capitol willing to fight for equality and the end of suffering for the districts.
My Verdict: When it was first announced that this book would focus on Coriolanus Snow, I remember a tweet on Twitter where someone asked, "Who asked for this?" I agreed with that sentiment, and now having finished the book, I still do. If I had to use one word to describe the book as a whole, it would be disappointing. If I had to use one word to describe only the ending, it would be sloppy. If Collins simply wanted to show that Coriolanus truly has no redeeming qualities, then she succeeded. The actual story had moments of interest, such as the history behind the early Hunger Games, as well as the Capitol; the madness and cruelty behind the idea of the muttations; and also the lore behind the mockingjays, but other parts of it simply did not work. I did not quite believe the romance between Coriolanus and Lucy Gray. In fact, it was difficult to really believe Lucy Gray as a character. What did come through were more complicated elements such as Coriolanus' annoyance with his schoolmate Sejanus, who is bent on helping people and doing what is right. To me, Sejanus is much like those today who insist on fighting for what is right and speaking out, while people like Coriolanus would rather he be quiet so he can maintain his comfort and not have things change from how they have always been. Overall, the book is a bit of bummer.
Favorite Moment: When Lucy Gray first commands everyone's attention at the District 12 reaping.
Favorite Character: Nearly everyone in this book is pretty hard to take, even the innocent ones. Sejanus' mother is possibly the sweetest woman in all of literature, and her homemade sweets are a comfort to her son and his friends.
Recommended Reading: I love The Hunger Games trilogy and will always recommend it.
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