By Anna Trevathan, Editor
I have been a Hunger Games fan since I was about ten years old; it all started when I wandered into the young adult section of our local library. At that young age, I missed much of the political and social meaning, but the story stuck with me.
My great-grandfather was a coal miner, and I feel like our region is represented in an amazing way through these books, as Suzanne Collins writes about District 12 in a way that makes me feel like I’m seeing my hometown on the page. As I’ve gotten older, the political message of a divided America has gained more personal meaning.
I was beyond excited for this newest release in the series and quickly sought out details about the story. Before reading, I knew Sunrise on the Reaping would revolve around Haymitch Abernathy, a previously introduced victor, and his first Hunger Games. We already knew that he lost his family and his girlfriend afterward, so I braced myself for an emotional read. The question was just how hard I would be crying.
A Quick Hunger Games Recap
Before diving into the new book, here’s a brief summary of the original series:
The Hunger Games takes place in a dystopian future where Panem, a divided America, is controlled by the oppressive Capitol. As punishment for a past rebellion, the Capitol forces each of the twelve districts to send two children to fight to the death in an annual event called the Hunger Games. Katniss Everdeen volunteers to save her sister, Prim, in the 74th Games, quickly forming an alliance, and romance, with Peeta Mellark, the other chosen citizen of District 12. The couple then defies the Capitol by surviving together.
Their defiance sparks a rebellion, leading to another deadly Hunger Games and, eventually, an all-out war. In the fight for freedom, Katniss loses her sister but helps build a new Panem.
(This summary is VERY brief! If this story interests you, please read these phenomenal books!)
SPOILERS AHEAD – PROCEED WITH CAUTION!
I finished Sunrise on the Reaping feeling like I was mourning a child I had never met. The image of Haymitch as a love-struck Appalachian preteen will haunt my mind forever. The kind of boy who wanted cornbread instead of a birthday cake. His mother and younger brother, Sid, rely so heavily on him for their daily lives that it was agonizing to read, knowing what was coming.
Then there’s Lenore Dove, Haymitch’s sweet, rebellious girlfriend. As her name suggests, she’s a descendant of the Covey. She raises geese (who only like her), and her love for Haymitch leaps off the page. I was immediately obsessed with her.
The first shock? Haymitch wasn’t even properly reaped. Instead, an execution takes place, and he is sent into the Games for defending Lenore Dove.
Important Tributes: Maysilee, Ampert, and Louella
Louella dies in a carriage accident during the Capitol’s tribute parade and is replaced with a body double- a real person, tortured and forced to impersonate her. This devastates Haymitch, as Louella had been a childhood friend. She once had a crush on him, and he called her “sweetheart” an easter egg for fans of the original trilogy.
Maysilee Donner, the original owner of the Mockingjay pin, was my favorite character in the novel. She took no shit from anyone, especially Capitol affiliates. One standout moment? When she gets slapped by Drusilla, but holds her ground, unwavering.
Ampert, my beloved. I could talk about him endlessly and still have more to say. Ampert is Beetee’s son. Yes, that Beetee, from Catching Fire. The Capitol reaped Ampert to punish Beetee, forcing him to watch his son die. And what a death, eaten alive by squirrels. It was the most gruesome in the book. As if that wasn’t horrific enough, we also learn that Beetee had a pregnant wife, the baby and the wife are ever mentioned again. No questions here about their fate.
The Arena
The Hunger Games arenas are always fascinating, and I was eager to see this one. It was deceptively beautiful lush trees, clear spring water, delicate white rabbits, and rows of poisonous flowers. Even the apples hanging from the trees were deadly. Collins makes it abundantly clear: looks can be deceiving.
The Aftermath
Haymitch, injured, has a delayed homecoming. When he finally returns, he finds his house burning down with his mother and brother trapped inside. If that wasn’t painful enough, Collins had more in store.
Throughout the book, Haymitch and Lenore Dove share gumdrops. Before he left for the Games, he gave a bag of them to Sid, instructing him to pass them to Lenore. Upon his return, overjoyed to be reunited, they tear into the bag. Only for Lenore to die almost immediately. Snow poisoned them.
The Epilogue
By this point, I was already sobbing, but the epilogue destroyed me.
We see Haymitch living in post-Mockingjay Panem, spending time with Katniss and Peeta, his found family, raising his own geese. A full-circle moment.
My Overall Thoughts: 5/5 Stars
Sunrise on the Reaping was an intensely emotional and difficult read. The Capitol’s propaganda and how President Snow manipulates the truth to maintain control, was chilling.
Right now, in the real world, there’s a growing argument that reading is getting too political. But this book reminds us why stories should be political. The future Collins describes may seem distant, but the threat of authoritarianism is no longer just fiction. Every day, fundamental rights, free speech, bodily autonomy, and democracy itself are under attack. It’s our responsibility to ensure the U.S. doesn’t become a real-life Panem.
Suzanne Collins has always said she won’t release a book unless she has something to say. With this one, her message is clear: the threat is here, and it’s time for a revolution.
As a reminder:
“The snow may fall, but the sun also rises.”
