Suzanne Collins returns to the world of Panem in Sunrise on the Reaping, a gripping and emotionally tolling prequel that reminds readers why The Hunger Games remains one of the best dystopian novels ever written. Set 24 years before Katniss Everdeen is reaped for the first time in the 74th Hunger games in this novel Collins explores the 50th Hunger Games, or, The Second Quarter Quell. Collins tells the experience of Haymitch Abernathy in his home, in the Hunger Games, and after once he becomes the victor becoming known as District 12’s one and only living mentor.
If you have never read The Hunger Games, it is set in a future dystopian world called Panem, where the government, in what is called “the capitol,” created and controls 12 poor districts. Every year the capitol forces each district to send one boy and one girl, called “tributes,” to fight to the death in a televised event called The Hunger Games. The original novel follows Katniss Everdeen, a girl from District 12, who volunteers to take her sister’s place as tribute in the Hunger Games. Katniss becomes a symbol of rebellion as she fights not just to survive but also to challenge the brutal system that controls their country.
Unlike Katniss, whose reaping was legal and voluntary, Haymitch’s journey to the games began with tragedy. On the morning of the reaping –– his birthday –– Haymitch’s life is turned upside down when disaster strikes. The person originally chosen is shot while trying to flee, and Haymitch is the first person seen by the peacekeepers in the chaos, and as a result is illegally reaped. Forced to leave behind his family and his love, Lenore Dove, Haymitch is sent to the capitol with no expectation of surviving. But what follows is a story not just of endurance, but of resistance. During training, Haymitch decides that if he can’t return home, he will not go down without a fight –– against the other tributes, but more importantly against the Capitol.
What makes Sunrise on the Reaping so impactful is not just the intensity of the games or Haymitch’s courage; it’s how clearly it paints a picture of a society built upon systematic cruelty and manipulation. The Quarter Quell is a special Hunger Games held every 25 years, each with a cruel twist, such as in Catching Fire, Collins’ second original Hunger Games where they only reap from the past victors forcing people to re-experience the Hunger Games. These are meant to reinforce the Capitol’s dominance over the districts, and for many readers, many of the themes of this book, such as the abuse of power, parallel our society today.
Collins frames this story with a powerful quote from author George Orwell: “All propaganda is lies, even when one is telling the truth. I don’t think this matters as long as one knows what one is doing, and why.” This quote sets the tone for the whole book and reinforces the theme that truth, control, and messaging are never simple, especially when power is at stake. Like Orwell, Collins warns readers about the dangers of blindly following authority and accepting the systems we live in without question.
Sunrise on the Reaping is not just a thrilling read but also a deeply political novel that asks questions about the world around us. Haymitch, often seen throughout the original trilogy as a broken and bitter person, is given more depth as a character. We are able to see more insight into who he was before and after the Hunger Games; the pain before the sarcasm and the reasons why he drinks and distances himself from others. Understanding his past helps reshape how readers view the entire Hunger Games trilogy and world, and highlights the long lasting trauma that the Capitol’s violence causes its victims.
In today’s society, books like Sunrise on the Reaping are more important than ever. Dystopian novels help us recognize things like injustice and help us to consider the value of resistance. They remind that even in dark times, individuals can rise up and speak out against those holding them down. Whether it’s inequality, propaganda, or erasure of truth, the themes Collins explores are frighteningly familiar in today’s world.
Reading this book is not just about diving back into a beloved fictional universe. It’s about reflecting on how close fiction can come to reality and we, as citizens, are willing to accept or challenge our own systems. Sunrise on the Reaping is a powerful addition to the Hunger Games series and a must read for anyone who values justice, empathy, and the power of story to inspire change.
