BOOK REVIEW: Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins
A Heartbreaking look into the life and games of our beloved Haymitch Abernathy.
Haymitch as always been my favorite character in this series. I tend to find the main characters at the heart of the trilogy annoying at times, but not Haymitch. In the original trilogy, he had a past that was clearly tragic, but never mentioned or addressed. I think the majority of Hunger Games readers wanted this story, but, at least for me, I didn’t know how much I needed the story until I read it.
Synopsis: The 50th Hunger Games highlight the cruelty of Snow, shows the desperation of the districts, establishes the the characters we come to love in the main trilogy, and sets up the basis for the eventual revolution. Haymitch’s games are heartbreaking, with double the number of tributes, an attempt to bring the games down from the inside, and an understanding of how and why Haymitch is the mentor we meet at the 74th Hunger Games.
It has been stated that Suzanne Collins only writes when she has something to say, and man did she have something to say. This is the second prequel to the main trilogy, so she either had the entire world and all games outlined before she wrote the first book (which in itself is a masterful feat) or she was able to take what has already created, worked backwards and create the perfect blend between what we learned about Snow and Lucy Grey in Songbirds and Snakes and the Haymitch and Snow of The Hunger Games.
Haymitch’s story is one tragedy after another, we know prior to the book coming out that Snow supposedly killed Haymitch’s family, and we learn the how and why behind it all. We see Haymitch as he changes from a hopeful teenager in love with Lenore Dove, and just looking to continue doing what he does everyday after yet another birthday reaping to a kid who has seen too much death and experienced too much trauma with no way to process or cope.
The action starts immediately, and the trauma piles up from that first moment. There were so many moments that had my mouth hanging open:
The reaping and the outcome… like what the heck! I guess saying “that’s not fair” won’t make a difference, but it shows that the capital can do whatever they want. Literally, no one is safe.
The Louella situation in the capital. Horrible. Atrocious. Disturbing. But really Haymitch, you didn’t help yourself! However, the capital continues to hold everyone in the districts by the throat as they once again show their power.
All the younger versions of the characters we come to know and love in the 74th and 75th Hunger Games - Effie, Wiress, Beetee, Mags, and Plutarch just to name a few of the familiar faces. Learning their stories just makes it all that more heart wrenching. Now when I go back and watch Catching Fire, I’m going a whole new lens to watch it through. And Haymitch telling Katniss in Catching Fire that Mags is a a wonderful lady - ugh!
The design of and moments within the arena itself. The “mutts” are designed for maximum torture and used to see Snow’s mission through. The deaths are heartbreaking and watching Haymitch slowly fall into despair is torturous. But it also shows how long it took to get from here to where we find Katniss in Mockingjay.
When all is said and down, I don’t have anything Earth-shattering to say that hasn’t already been said in a hundred other reviews. I loved this book just as much as I hated it. To literally watch Haymitch’s character change has he experiences all he does in such a short time is a testament to Collin’s writing. I’m glad she gave us this story and set the stage for the 74th Hunger Games while establishing so much more depth to the capital and the true evilness of Snow. (Honestly, I can’t even think of a word strong enough to describe the vile persona of Snow.)
Where does this land on my bookshelf?
Clearly on the top shelf. From the pacing to the structure to the story development to the character development and just to the overall magic that is this story, it is one of my favorite in the Hunger Games series. We have seen the casting announcements coming out for the movie adaptation, and I am so excited to see Haymitch’s story come to life on the big screen in November 2026.
Just for fun, here is how I rank all five books in the series starting with my favorite!
Catching Fire
Sunrise on the Reaping
The Hunger Games
Songbirds and Snakes
Mockingjay.
Until next time, my favorite book friends!
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