Written By: Dominic Larson 9’27)
“Sunrise on the Reaping” spoiler-free review
(NOTE: This review assumes you have read every Hunger Games book up to this point, as they contain some plot details for this book.) “Sunrise on the Reaping,” the fifth book in The Hunger Games series and the second prequel, follows Haymitch Abernathy as he is reaped for the 50th Hunger Games (also known as the second quarter-quell). In “Catching Fire,” author Suzanne Collins revealed what Haymitch’s Hunger Games were like, including details about how he won. This begs the question: Why make an entire novel about an event we already know the outcome of? Collins needed to provide a reason for telling this story in such depth in her new book. I am thrilled to report that this question left my mind as I experienced what may be the strongest addition to the Hunger Games series.
“Sunrise” has a story structure that we’ve become familiar with in The Hunger Games series: a reaping, a tearful goodbye, ten or so chapters of political intrigue leading up to the games, and finally, the games. Just like its predecessors, it takes romance, action, and mystery and combines them into a compelling tale about rebellion against an unjust political system.
When “Sunrise” begins, Haymitch is a joyful, enthusiastic boy. In the Katniss trilogy, he is an unhappy, grumpy drunkard. This novel explores how he reaches that point, and it is heartbreaking. This journey is the primary factor that sets this book apart from the rest of the series. Collins masterfully writes 16-year-old Haymitch as arguably the most likable protagonist in the series thus far. His motivations are entirely understandable and good, and his morals are sound. He is a good person who has an admirable care for people, even those he hardly knows, and he deserves none of the pain he experiences. Haymitch’s love for his girlfriend and family especially serves as a compelling motivation for every decision he makes. They have an undeniable presence throughout the entire story that elevates the stakes. I found myself caring about Haymitch more than I ever cared about Katniss. For this reason, when he experienced horrific sights, unjust situations, and essentially emotional torture, it deeply affected me as a reader. I wanted to see him succeed and thrive, and it pained me to see him experience such hardship.
From the start of the novel, Haymitch hates the Capitol. He wants to make them (primarily good old President Snow) feel bad about everything they’ve done and break the system in any way possible. He wants justice. The Capitol makes his objective extremely difficult. As we know all too well, President Snow is a powerful individual who gets whatever he wants whenever he wants it. Haymitch is just a boy from the poorest district in Panem. The best he can do is resist the Capitol’s agenda as much as possible and make small but (hopefully) effective political statements in doing so. This mindset evolves throughout the story and results in a number of satisfying moments.
The games themselves are as exciting as always. The arena is memorable and intriguing (I am very excited to see it on the big screen in the 2026 film). This time around, the games are more focused on Haymitch’s ulterior motives (which I will not specify for spoiler reasons) rather than his trying to win. For this reason, it felt like there was less action than the games would usually bring. This may throw some fans off a bit, but I thought that the stakes and emotion more than made up for the smaller amount of action. I found myself equally as engaged with the story during the games with or without direct action. Without spoilers, it is also worth noting that the games are more violent than ever—so much so that I can’t imagine the film adaptation being able to escape an R rating. This violence also results in heightened stakes.
CONSENSUS: 4.5/5 With “Sunrise on the Reaping,” the 17-year-old Hunger Games series is as strong as ever—maybe stronger than ever. Haymitch is an extremely compelling and likable protagonist, and Collins masterfully wrote an engaging story that takes the reader on a rollercoaster ride through heavy emotion, stakes, and excitement. This is a must-read for not only fans of the Hunger Games, but any fans of the dystopian genre.
