The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (The Hunger Games, #0) by Suzanne Collins
Published by Scholastic on May 19, 2020
ISBN: 1338635174
Pages: 517
Genres: Fantasy
Format: Chapter Book Fiction
Goodreads

What an ambivalent delight it was to return to the cruel world of Panem. In this prequel to Collins’ best-selling trilogy, readers return to the reaping and the brutal preparations for the Hunger Games on the very first page. Set years before Katniss enters the arena, a teenage Coriolanus Snow is a mentor in the Hunger Games; ironically, he is assigned the female tribute from District 12. There are many other such blatant nods to the trilogy, which readers will either love or find trite. Overall, this book explains how Snow becomes a ruthless dictator. There is not as much action as in the original books, but there are many themes to ponder. Readers who are interested will find references to the philosophical themes of Locke, Hobbes, and Rousseau to consider (all of whom are quoted in the epigraph). This book is a must purchase for libraries serving tween and YA readers.