Question: how are rue and katniss similar to the mockingjay?
Answer: Rue, like Katniss' father, sings to the birds, and birds sing back. Rue explains that the mockingjays at home would carry messages for her, that they were her "special friends," and, in many ways, Katniss' mockingjay pin carries a special message with it. For instance, the pin signals to Rue that she can trust Katniss.