Sunrise on the Reaping is a superb novel that fills all the missing pieces from the original Hunger Games trilogy 

Sunrise on the Reaping, by Suzanne Collins, is an action-packed prequel of the best-selling trilogy the Hunger Games. This novel immerses readers in the journey of one of the most complex characters in the series. Despite this newest book being released almost 20 years after the original trilogy came out, Collins’s books remain engaging and eloquent.  

The story begins 24 years before The Hunger Games. As in the original trilogy, the setting is Panem (post-apocalyptic America) which is divided into 12 Districts and controlled by a wealthy, technologically advanced Capitol. Several years before, the Districts revolt against the Capitol, starting a war known as the “Dark Days”. The Districts lost, and as an annual punishment to keep the Districts subdued, the Hunger Games began. One girl and one boy between the ages of 12 and 18 are randomly selected to fight to the death for the entertainment of the Capitol. 

Sunrise on the Reaping follows 16-year-old Haymitch Abernathy and his journey to victory at the 50^th Hunger Games. For the Quarter Quell, the Capitol raises the stakes by selecting twice as many children to participate in the Hunger Games. Every year, an event called a reaping takes place, where tributes of the upcoming games are chosen. After the first selected boy tribute runs off, getting killed in the process, disorder breaks out during the reaping. Haymitch later ends up being one of the unlucky tributes. Throughout the novel, readers follow him through loss of loved ones, defiance of authority, and a clever journey to victory that shows how he went from a hopeless romantic to the depressed alcoholic that readers meet in the original trilogy.  

For those who have read the original trilogy, the story is quite predictable: Haymitch wins the 50^th Hunger Games but is driven to depressed state after many traumatic incidents. From the start, Haymitch realizes that the Capitol just wants obedience. He is seen refusing and rebelling, insisting that the Capitol “will not use our tears for their entertainment.” His disobedience causes him to lose everything. As punishment from President Snow for succeeding in revolting against the Capitol, Haymitch loses all his loved ones that he worked so hard to protect, proving how winning the games doesn’t mean it’s over.  

Like all Suzanne Collins’ books, Sunrise on the Reaping is fast paced and action packed. It was quick and easy to read, with something new and interesting happening each page. The actions scenes are intense and clear, never letting the readers get bored.  

Sunrise on the Reaping also includes subtle connections to characters from the original trilogy. These make The Hunger Games feel a lot more connected and personal. For fans of the original trilogy, these small details add a lot of emotion and give a deeper meaning to the relationships seen throughout the novel. It also gives more reason as to why Haymitch sacrificed so much to protect one of his future tributes and his best friend’s daughter, Katniss Everdeen.  

This prequel is arguably Collins’s best book in the series, filling many gaps in Haymitch’s story that readers didn’t even know they were wondering about. For instance, in Catching Fire, Haymitch’s tape of the 50^th Hunger Games is shown. However, it’s a tape heavily edited by the Capitol. This was when readers first saw Haymitch as more than just the drunk mentor, but as a clever victor that we learn and love in Sunrise on the Reaping. 

As the Quarter Quell involves twice the number of tributes, many characters were introduced without a lot of development, causing many of the deaths to feel rushed and easily forgettable. With so many more children involved, the deaths should feel more gut wrenching, but they often passed too quickly. Spending more time building up the characters could have made it easier for readers to build connection and feel the weight of their deaths 

Collins’ experience as a military kid—her father was in the air force—heavily influenced her stories. Themes such as war and abuse of power often appears as main ideas in several of her novels, especially in Sunrise on the Reaping, where Collins explores how trauma permanently shapes a person. 

The disturbing part of Sunrise on the Reaping isn’t the violence in the arena, but the trauma and damage that last long after it’s over.  

Cover Image: Barnes and Noble