The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes

I had low expectations for a prequel after so many years, but I think the author did a great job of recapturing so many of the elements that made the original trilogy such a fan favorite: an interesting and unpredictable main character with serious inner turmoil, a different perspective on an innovative dystopian nation, and a nuanced balance-of-power dynamic (especially for a YA book). Honestly, probably deserves a 3-star, but I'm nostalgic.

Age range: 13+
Maybe too violent for younger readers, plus some really challenging character decisions.