The Hunger Games Trilogy: Last Book: The Mockingjay

After being rescued by the rebels of District 13, Katniss is convinced to become "the Mockingjay": a symbol of the rebellion against the tyrannical Capitol. As part of the agreement, she demands that the leader of District 13, President Coin, grant immunity to all of the Quarter Quell participants, including Peeta, and that Katniss reserves the right to kill President Snow, the dictator of Panem. Much to her displeasure, she is kept away from the battles, and is instead tasked with starring in rebel propaganda films. Katniss is unable to cope with the guilt as she watches a mentally ill Peeta on television, as he is forced to speak out against her and the rebels on behalf of the Capitol. Finally, District 13 leaders decide to rescue Peeta, realizing that Katniss's guilt is impeding her role as "the Mockingjay." After the rescue, it is discovered that Peeta has been brainwashed into believing Katniss is the enemy, and he attempts to strangle her during their reunion. Peeta's brainwashing deeply disturbs Katniss, but he gradually improves after much treatment and therapy. His childhood friend Delly Cartwright helps with his recovery by recounting happy events from their past. Soon, Peeta recovers fully enough to train. Katniss and her propaganda unit are sent off on a mission to the Capitol, and President Coin later sends Peeta with them in replacement of another soldier, although his many scarred memories fuel his rage.

The rebels, including Katniss, gain control of the districts and begin an assault on the Capitol. A propaganda shoot in a purportedly safe Capitol neighborhood goes wrong, and Katniss and her team flee further into the city with the intent of finding and killing President Snow. Many members of Katniss's team are killed during intense urban warfare, including Hunger Games victor Finnick Odair. Eventually, Katniss presses on alone towards Snow's mansion, which has supposedly been opened to shelter Capitol children, but is actually intended to trap them and use them as human shields for President Snow. As she reaches the mansion, a hover plane with Capitol markings drops supply parachutes to the children which then explode, killing many of them. A rebel medical team, including Katniss's sister, Prim, attempts to provide care to the wounded children as the rest of the parachutes explode, killing Prim and many others. The death of her sister traumatizes the already mentally exhausted Katniss, and she falls into a deep depression.

After the rebels' victory, President Coin and her inner circle decide to punish the Capitol just as the Capitol once punished the Districts, by holding a final edition of the Hunger Games with children from the Capitol as tributes. While recovering from the same explosion that killed her sister, Katniss happens across President Snow, who is under house arrest and awaiting execution. Snow tells her that he did not order the assault that killed Prim, and that he would have escaped if he had had access to a hover plane. Instead, he accuses Coin of being behind the bombing. When Katniss expresses her doubts about his innocence, Snow reminds her that they had agreed not to lie to each other following the 74th Hunger Games. He also explains that the bombing of the children would have served no purpose for him, as it turned the remaining Capitol citizens against him.

Shortly thereafter, Katniss recalls that the bombing resembled a trap originally developed by Gale Hawthorne. Gale denies being involved, but Katniss cannot repress her suspicions. At Snow's execution, Katniss thinks back to her conversation with him, and realizes that someone high up would have had to have given permission for Prim to be on the front lines despite her young age. Making it look like the Capitol killed Prim would push Katniss's loyalty to Coin and would also drive a wedge between the Capitol and President Snow. When she is given the opportunity to execute Snow, Katniss makes her decision, raises her bow and shoots Coin instead, killing her. A riot ensues and Snow is found dead. Katniss attempts to consume the suicide pill on her uniform, but Peeta stops her. Katniss is acquitted of Coin's murder due to her apparent insanity and sent home to the ruins of District 12, along with others who are attempting to rebuild. Peeta returns months later, having largely recovered from his brainwashing. Katniss again falls in love with Peeta, recognizing she needs his hope and strength, in contrast to Gale who has the same fire she already finds in herself. Together with Haymitch, they write a book filled with the stories of previous tributes of the Hunger Games and those who died in the war to preserve their memory.

Twenty years later, Katniss and Peeta are married and have two children. The Hunger Games are over, but Katniss dreads the day her children learn about their parents' involvement in both the Games and the war. When she feels distressed, Katniss plays a comforting but repetitive "game," reminding herself of every good thing she has ever seen someone do. The novel ends with Katniss stating that "there are much worse games to play."