Suzanne’s Collin’s newest release, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, came out May 19, and is one of the highest anticipated books of the season. I read The Hunger Games while I was in elementary school, and I remember going to see all of the movies with my Dad as they came out. I was also excited to read this book because I enjoy stories that turn the antagonist into the protagonist, so I was curious about what the infamous President Snow was like in his younger days.
WARNING: this post will contain spoilers!
The plot follows a steady track, and it is split into sections based on the most important thing going on in Coriolanus Snow’s life. The book begins with Snow at his family’s apartment, which once glamorous, has fallen into disarray since the war due to a lack of money. I saw the first section really as setting up Snow’s motives and outlining how he sees the world. The knowledge of what Snow would turn into as he grew older definitely impacted how I read his character because I felt like I could track certain character traits Snow displayed.
Snow learns that he and several of his fellow students from the Academy have been selected to mentor the tributes from the districts for the Hunger Games. The mentorship program was meant to create more viewers around the Capitol and the Districts. Snow is paired with the District 12 girl, Lucy Gray Baird. At first dismayed by his tribute, Snow realizes that Lucy has star power because of the dramatic effect she made at the Reaping. Snow befriends Lucy Gray and ultimately falls for her.
Snow is also the one who came up with the idea that people can bet on and sponsor tributes, and the credits would be used to deliver food via drone into the arena. Snow helps Lucy Gray to win, but in doing so, the headmaster discovered that Snow cheated. Snow chooses to go quietly, and he joins the Peacekeepers. He goes to District 12 in an attempt to be with Lucy Gray, and while the two are happy for a short while, it doesn’t last.
Snow is still too tied up with his loyalties to the Capital. He makes a decision that condemns a close friend, leading to a falling out with Lucy Gray. Snow returns to the Capitol where he will enter the University come Fall and has plans to be the President.
There was a lot that made me be like whoa. There was a lot of allusions between the actions in The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes and The Hunger Games. Namely, those games completely shaped the games for Katniss’ era. Lucy Gray Baird introduced a level of showmanship, and you can see the beginnings of the sponsor and mentor programs. In addition, many of the traits associated with winning The Hunger Games, like the Victor’s Village, money, and food, did not exist until after this game. I liked seeing how The Hunger Games came to be.
In addition, there were lots of little things that symbolized a future struggle between Katniss and Snow. Snow hates the mockingjays when he first is exposed to them, and he also is unimpressed with the katniss plant. When I read it, I saw a direct line between the two stories.
Overall, the world building was wonderful. I liked reading the story, but I can’t say that I can see myself reading it again. I do think, however, that The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes was an interesting addition to the Panem world, but it was not a necessary one.
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