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Graphic: Alcoholism, Child death, Confinement, Death, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Vomit, Classism
Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Police brutality, Medical content, War
It’s hard for me to judge this book neutrally because of my love of the original series, but I also think it would be a mistake to judge this book out of context. This is a book designed to add to and comment on the original series (and even elements of Songbirds & Snakes, so read that or watch the movie beforehand). Collins does bring in some familiar characters, but all in ways that actually serve the story and the world and don’t feel like cheap cameos or fan-service.
I would also argue that this book is very timely. This is not a spoiler, but spoiler warning anyway: Haymitch does not completely topple the totalitarian regime (otherwise, we wouldn’t need Katniss or her trilogy). But this book specifically explores small rebellions and their impacts, even when it feels futile. In a time when people feel powerless in the face of fascism, sometimes small rebellions are all we have. For a generation raised on stories of Chosen Ones and Exceptionally Gifted Teenager Heroes, it’s helpful to see that progress is frustratingly incremental, and the fruits of our labor often take time to blossom.
Not a perfect book, and definitely not a particularly happy one, but one that feels refreshingly relevant and gives young readers the respect and depth they deserve.
Graphic: Bullying, Child death, Death, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Gore, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Police brutality, Fire/Fire injury, Classism
Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cursing, Homophobia, Miscarriage, Torture, Vomit, Alcohol
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Homophobia, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Vomit, Police brutality, Medical content, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Graphic: Child death, Torture, Violence, Police brutality, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, War, Injury/Injury detail
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Moderate: Animal death, Physical abuse, Torture, Medical content
Minor: Alcoholism, Alcohol
Graphic: Child death, Death, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child death, Death, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Murder
Moderate: Police brutality, Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Torture
Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Gore, Physical abuse, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, War, Injury/Injury detail
Graphic: Alcoholism, Child death, Death, Gore, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal death, Confinement, Blood, Vomit, Police brutality, Medical content, Classism
Minor: Self harm, Torture, Pregnancy, War
Moderate: Child death, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Police brutality, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Classism