Review: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins is President Snow’s background story. It begins with the 10th annual Hunger Games when he is basically a senior in high school. Having watched the Hunger Games movies many times, I couldn’t help but picture in my mind a younger version Donald Sutherland.

If you enjoyed The Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins (either the novels, movies or both), you will probably enjoy this novel. There are many similarities. However, The Hunger Games trilogy was more of a love story. The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes has more questions about the nature of war and the relationship between the Capital and the Districts. I am not a big fan of the gory parts.

“chaos, control and the contract. The three C’s”

Collins humanizes Snow. He is not 100% evil. He is a war survivor himself, dealing with the aftermath and its effects on him and his future. Throughout the novel human basic instinct and nature is questioned. The novel shows how our past circumstances and environment might inform our future.

Collins is an extremely good writer. I especially enjoyed how this story ended.

Snow mentors a tribute from District 12, Lucy Gray Baird in the 10th annual Hunger Games. Lucy Gray is a singer.

I enjoyed the audible edition of this novel. However, one draw back with the audible version is that the songs were not actually sung. They were flatly read.

This novel will be presented in a movie this Fall (November 17th, 2023). Hopefully the singing will be better. Below is the movie trailer.

Please feel free to leave a comment below. Have you read/watched The Hunger Games trilogy? Have you read The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes? Share your thoughts below.

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by Suzanne Collins

Scholastic Press, an imprint of Scholastic Inc.,

First edition, May 2020