The ballad of songbirds and snakes by Suzanne Collins
Scholastic Press 2020. ISBN: 9781743836811.
(Young Adult/Adult). Recommended. Fans of The Hunger Games,
rejoice! Suzanne Collins is back. A decade after the last book in
the original trilogy was published, Collins has finally released a
prequel novel. Set decades before the events of The Hunger Games,
The ballad of songbirds and snakes takes us back to a Panem
that is feverishly preparing for the tenth annual Hunger Games.
Centering on eighteen year old Coriolanus Snow - yes, THAT Snow - we
see this eventual master villain in a new light. Snow is a member of
a once mighty but now fallen family. His only chance to redeem his
house and make a name for himself is to mentor the winning tribute
in this year's Hunger Games. He is therefore appalled when he is
assigned the tribute from District 12, a district that never
produces winners. But the tribute is Lucy Gray Baird, a girl with a
beautiful voice who has captured the attention of the Capitol. Snow
begins to see a way forward working with Lucy but what he does not
expect is for stronger feelings to develop.
While this novel is never going to produce the same levels of
adoration that are still associated with The Hunger Games
trilogy, it is nevertheless an interesting take on a much-maligned
and much-hated character. The book acts as a villain 'origin story'
of sorts and gives readers much greater insight into the background
of Snow. There is perhaps a little too much internal dialogue and
focus on Snow's feelings about what is occurring around him. Fans of
the original series may also find the pacing and tone different from
Collins' previous works. However The ballad of songbirds and
snakes is a worthwhile and engaging read with a very explosive
ending. Themes: Dystopias, Violence, Inequality, Romance, Identity.
Rose Tabeni