The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes was the most amazing book I have ever read. I am a huge fan of the original trilogy, and I am so glad that this book not only did justice to it, but in my opinion was superior to it. I was at first skeptical at the idea of Coriolanus Snow, the villain, being the main protagonist, but after reading the entire book, I wouldn't have had it any other way. I will say, there are about five pretty slow chapters, but the chapters after that COMPLETELY make up for it. Getting a peek into the mind of Coriolanus Snow was so interesting, especially to see how he articulated his thoughts and put them into words. The ending left me wanting more, and I hope one day we find out what happened to Lucy Gray. I do think the ending was extremely creative on Suzanne Collin's part, how she left it up to the reader to decide what happened to Lucy. I also love the fact that it implies at the end that Snow ends up marrying Livia Cardew, because that just adds so many more layers to the original trilogy. In the original trilogy, Plutarch Heavensbee's assitant is someone named Fulvia Cardew, meaning if Snow married Livia Cardew, Fulvia is most likely related to him in some way. Another thing I loved about this book is the amount of characters that are related to the original trilogy characters, it really adds world building and interest to the story. It really shows how the wealthiest families stay the wealthiest, and how hardly anyone else climbs up to their level. It gives an example of aristocracy, and how Coriolanus was pressured ot keep the wealthy Snow dynasty going. I also love how different this generation of Capitol people and children see the Hunger Games, how different it is from the Capitol people and children in the original trilogy. In the Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, everyone sees the Hunger Games as a form of power over the districts. While in the original Trilogy, everyone sees it as a harmless form of entertainment. This story just had so many layers, and I cried especially when Sejanus was executed. Suzanne Collins did an amazing job with making you love this character, and then another amazing job with writing his death as painfully as possible. Lucy Gray's character was also so cleverly written, with how intelligent she was. Another fun detail in this novel is Coriolanus's hatred for mockingjays, obviously connecting back to Katniss Everdeen being the "mockingjay" for the revolution in the original trilogy. In conclusion, I would HIGHLY recommend this book!
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes Journal (Hunger Games)
By Scholastic
The world is catching fire again.
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes will revisit the world of Panem sixty-four years before the events of The Hunger Games, starting on the morning of the reaping of the Tenth Hunger Games.
This official Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes journal is adorned with the iconic mockingjays from all four Hunger Games books on an elegant soft-touch cover with metallic accents. It features 192 lined pages, an exclusive Hunger Games design, and a ribbon placeholder.
Book Reviews (7)
This felt like two different books to me, because at the beginning it was kind of your typical "poor guy wants to get money quick, messed-up government" thing, and then it went so dark at the end. It was so good, and I love Lucy Gray! Amazing.
The ballad of the songbirds and the snakes is a science fiction book by Suzanne Collins. This book is in the perspective of Coriolanus Snow (Also known as president Snow) and is super interesting. I have read all of the other books in the hunger games series, so when I was reading I found a bunch of connections. For instance, we see the making of mentors, sponsors, and some classic songs from the early books. Its basically about Snow, who got assigned the district 12 girl, Lucy Gray Baird, and his fight to keep her alive in the arena. It is definitely less disturbing than the privies books, but still the same from the books before it, and maybe even better! It totally recommend it, but is for ages 10+
It is the tenth annual Hunger Games and Cornelius Snow, future president, has been cursed with having to mentor the District 12 girl, Lucy Gray Baird. How could he, a Snow, be given such a horrible district? So when Cornelius shows up to meet the young women with a rose, he finds that she is something else that he expected. Sure, she is filthy, but she's also beautiful and there's just something about her that Cornelius knows she's worth fighting for. Even though Cornelius ends up in a monkey cage because he goes to meet Lucy Gray, he knows that she is worth it and that bonds the two together. The duo discuss strategies before the games, but the one thing that's on everyone's mind that no one can influence: staying alive. In The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, you see what the future president's life was back then and understand where he came from. Snakes, blood, and songbirds all help weave the backstory of The Hunger Games and their president. Happy reading!
I love this book and the perspective of Coriolanus and how so many of the hunger games traditions started during his time of being a mentor. Cory or Coriolanus was born into a wealthy family that became horridly poor and his only ways to get a good education and a high-ranking job is to one of the first mentors of the 10th annual hunger games. his tribute is named Lucy gray Baird, a young girl who appears to live nowhere. drama, revenge, love, and snakes fill the story that you will not want to put down, oh and remember... snow lands on top.
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is SUPER INTERESTING!! It's about Coriolanus (President) Snow's Late teens- Early Adult life.
I was psyched when I heard this book was coming out! I thought that The Hunger Games definitely deserved a prequel. Journey into the past with Coriolanus Snow, future president of Panem. He becomes a mentor for District 12’s female tribute for the 10th annual Hunger Games. The tribute: Lucy Gray Baird. She makes a stunning entrance: rainbow dress, sings a song, drops a snake down her enemies dress at the reaping. When Coriolanus greets her at the Capitol train station, he ends up in the monkey cage at the zoo with her. She is life changing. He must help her win. Many of the tributes perished before the Hunger Games even began, so Lucy Gray didn’t have much work to do. A little illegal rat poison and trickery was just the thing. Then the consequences rebound on to Coriolanus. He is sent to work as a Peacekeeper in District 12. He changes very much. Betrays and kills his friend and tricks Lucy Gray. I was upset with his decisions, but I’m not him. The ending is very different from the beginning because he is pure evil. Discover the past of President Snow!