One sentence summary:
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (A Hunger Games Novel) by Suzanne Collins is a dystopian adventure set in the early days of the Hunger Games before the start of the rebellion.
Book genre:
Dystopian fiction, science fiction, young adult fiction
Main topic of the book:
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (A Hunger Games Novel) is a prequel to the bestselling Hunger Games series and follows young Coriolanus Snow during the lead-up to the 10th Hunger Games as he navigates both the political allegiances of the Capitol and the poverty-stricken Districts of Panem.
Key ideas:
- Power and Oppression: The central theme of The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes focuses on the power and oppression of the Capitol over the Districts and the disadvantages imposed on those living in the latter.
- Coriolanus Snow: The protagonist, Coriolanus Snow, is drawn in a complex and morally ambiguous light, as he struggles between his loyalty to the Capitol and his empathy with the people of the Districts.
- Rebellion and Resistance: As he observes the rebellion that is slowly brewing, Snow must reconcile his obligation to uphold the Capitol with his own growing conscience and the dawning realization that the Capitol’s oppressive systems can and must be challenged.
Main parts of the book and a short summary:
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is divided into two parts. The first part follows Coriolanus as he is selected by the Capitol to act as a mentor for the 10th Hunger Games and the attempts he makes to restore his family’s lost status in the Capitol. Through his interactions with the other mentors and tributes, he comes to sympathise with the plight of the Districts and understand the extent of the Capitol’s oppressive power. In the second part, the rebellion begins and Snow gradually turns his back on the Capitol to join the Districts in their fight for freedom.
Key takeaways:
- The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes brings together the themes of power, oppression, and resistance within its story.
- The protagonist, Coriolanus Snow, is shown to be a complex and morally ambiguous character, as he struggles between his loyalty to the Capitol and his own conscience.
- The novel follows Snow as he is chosen to be a mentor for the 10th Hunger Games and ultimately realizes that the Capitol’s oppressive systems must be challenged and overthrown.
Author’s background and qualifications:
Suzanne Collins is a bestselling American author of young adult and children’s literature. She is best known for her Hunger Games series, which consists of three books and two films. Her books and films are popular and have received multiple awards, including the California Young Reader Medal and the California Reading Association Award.
Target audience:
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (A Hunger Games Novel) is the prequel to the Hunger Games original trilogy, and is targeted at young adults aged 12 and above.
Publisher and first publication date:
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (A Hunger Games Novel) by Suzanne Collins was published by Scholastic Corporation on May 19th, 2020.