The following version of the book was used to create this study guide: Collins, Suzanne. The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (A Hunger Games Novel). Scholastic Press, New York, NY, 10012. 2020. Kindle AZW file.

Coriolanus Snow is a senior at the elite Academy in the Capitol city of Panem. His family was once rich and powerful, but it has fallen on hard times. The city is still recovering from a long war between the Capitol and the 13 outlying districts. District 13 was apparently completely destroyed. As part of the treaty that ended the war, the 12 remaining districts choose two children as tributes. These 24 children are delivered to the Capitol where they are forced to fight to the death. This year, Capitol officials are trying to increase public interest in the games. The first step is that Coriolanus and 23 of his peers have been chosen to be mentors for the tributes. Coriolanus is dismayed when he is assigned the girl tribute from District 12. He feels slightly better when the girl shows spunk and determination during the reaping ceremony.

Sejanus Plinth is another of the mentors. Sejanus's family has been in the Capitol only a few years after making a fortune in the munitions industry in District 2. Sejanus is horrified that his father's money has ensured that Sejanus is assigned to mentor the District 2 tribute, a boy named Marcus who attended school with Sejanus before Sejanus's move. Marcus dies trying to escape before the Games begin. Sejanus puts himself in a position to die in the arena to make a statement about the brutality and horror of the Hunger Games. Coriolanus is forced to save him, cementing a relationship with the Plinth family. Over the next few days, After Coriolanus discovers an attraction for Lucy Gray, he cheats to help her win. At the end of the Hunger Games, Lucy Gray is declared the winner, but Coriolanus's cheating is discovered.

Coriolanus is forced to join the Peacekeepers. He hates the idea of a lifetime of this drudgery, but Sejanus's arrival revives Coriolanus's interest in making the best of it. Coriolanus receives regular packages of baked goods from Sejanus's mother along with requests to keep an eye on Sejanus. Coriolanus learns that Sejanus is working with the rebels. One evening, Coriolanus walks in on Sejanus giving guns to a rebel. Coriolanus shoots the mayor's daughter Mayfair. When Coriolanus learns that Sejanus plans to run away with the rebels, he uses a bird called a jabberjay to send that message to the Capitol. This results in Sejanus's execution. Knowing that the gun he used to kill Mayfair is probably going to surface to prove Coriolanus's guilt, he plans to run away with Lucy Gray. They find the gun at an abandoned cabin. With the gun situation resolved, Coriolanus tries to kill Lucy Gray. He returns to his military base. He is summoned back to the Capitol where he is allowed to resume his studies. Sejanus's parents offer Coriolanus financial and emotional support, clearing the way for Sejanus to resume the social position he considers his right.