Book Review: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes 

By Suzanne Collins 

4 Stars 

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins is the first prequel to The Hunger Games series, taking place during the 10th Hunger Games, 64 years before the first Hunger Games novel. It follows the story of 18-year old Coriolanus Snow, future president of Panem, as he mentors District 12's unpromising female tribute, Lucy Gray. He is not confident in his ability to help Lucy Gray make it out of the arena alive and maintain his good reputation, but his changing feelings towards her cause him to reconsider his initial plan and do whatever it takes to win.  

One of the most intriguing parts of this novel is the continuation of world-building and getting to see the drastic difference in Panem and the Hunger Games from the original books. The audience learns about the influences that shaped the evolution of the Hunger Games from a simple district punishment to a full-fledged TV spectacle, and how it impacted citizens of the districts versus the Capitol. It also provides important background information on characters from the original trilogy and their lineage, adding depth to the other books.  

This book is written in third person, allowing readers to hear Coriolanus' reasoning and justifications of his actions while also having enough space to judge his true intentions from an outside perspective. While many characters view Coriolanus as a respectable man, the readers know that he often befriends people to use them for his own benefit, providing true insight into his persona.   

One critique is that the book is longer than the rest of the series. Since the protagonist is an unlikeable character, it is more challenging to get through. However, the book is great overall and an important addition to the original trilogy. 

Reviewed by Madison as part of the Teen Reviewer, opens a new window program.

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