mockingjay pin

I finally read Suzanne Collins' The Hunger Games last year and was blown away by how spectacular it is. It's the story of a post-apocalyptic world in which teens are chosen to outwit each other in a vicious survival game, and where winning the televised competition literally means the difference between life and death.

Each contestant is allowed to bring one memento from home, and 16-year-old Katniss Everdeen chooses to wear a mockingjay pin. The bird is evolved from a crossbreed between a mockingbird and a jabberjay, a bird created by the pitiless Capitol to spy upon its citizens. As such, it is something that should not exist--and it eventually becomes a powerful symbol for the revolution.

I loved the first book in the trilogy, which is incredibly bleak and violent and sad. As soon as I finished it I had to look for a mockingjay pin, and sure enough, there are licensed pins, necklaces, bracelets, and earrings. (There should be more merchandise to come, since the book is also in the development stage for a film.) I ended up buying a pin from an Etsy seller, though, because I liked how the metal looked and the idea of supporting an independent artisan. I usually link the sellers I buy from, but in this particular case I won't, since the pin actually arrived separated from its pinback and it was a bit of a hassle to get a partial refund. After consulting a lot of different people on the best adhesive for this sort of thing, I was able to mend it (I think) with E-6000 glue.

I love it though, so in spite of the annoying buying experience I'm glad I got one. If you're interested in seeking a similar pin for yourself, there are a number of other mockingjay interpretations on Etsy as well. And if you haven't read The Hunger Games, do. It's unforgettable.