Sunrise On The Reaping by Suzanne Collins

"May The Odds Be Ever In Your Favour."

⋅⊱ ༓ ⊰⋅ Sunrise On The Reaping ⋅⊱ ༓ ⊰⋅

Suzanne Collins

18.03.2025

Scholastic

Young Adult Fiction, Personal And Social Issues, Warfare

Content Warning: detailed depictions of death and trauma.

Disclaimer: these thoughts are entirely my own, based on my reading experience, and is no reflection of whether or not this title should be read. Thus, I try to keep my writing fair and constructive, and reveal my personal rating at the end. I always enjoy reading the varying thoughts of other readers because we all experience books differently - which is just so wonderful! So please feel free to leave a comment at the end.

Please be aware that this review may contain spoilers. I have not delved too deeply in this review as a means to try and keep it as free of spoilers as possible so that you, a potential reader, can enjoy this long awaited title for yourself.

✨ BOOK SYNOPSIS 📖

Back in District 12, Haymitch Abernathy is trying not to think too hard about his chances. All he cares about is making it through the day and being with the girl he loves. When Haymitch's name is called, he can feel all his dreams break.

He's torn from his family and his love, shuttled to the Capitol with the three other District 12 tributes: a young friend who's nearly a sister to him, a compulsive oddsmaker, and the most stuck-up girl in town. As the Games begin, Haymitch understands he's been set up to fail. But there's something in him that wants to fight... and have that fight reverberate far beyond the deadly arena.

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✨ MY REVIEW 🤔

I'd like to start this review by saying that this book absolutely blew me away, and exceeded all expectations that I held whilst anticapting the release of Sunrise On The Reaping. Like many, I have yearned for a Hunger Games novel focused on Haymitch Abarnathy's Quarter Quell since we were offered a glimpse in Catching Fire when Katniss and Peeta watched re-runs of past games.

However, I was not prepared for just how tragic Haymitch's enrollment into the 50th Hunger Games would be, and how the tragedy seemed to never cease for him.

Haymitch has just turned sixteen on the day of the reaping, and not just any reaping either. For in 'honour' of the second quarter quell two girls and two boys are selected from each District to participate in the Hunger Games. Double the usual taking.

Compared to the Haymitch that we are familiar with, we are introduced to a boy who is eager to live and cares most about two things: his family and his love for Lenore Dove.

My heart ached for this beloved character when unfortunate circumstances lead to Haymitch's name being drawn, and that ache never truly ceased even after the book was concluded. Feelings that extended to the wealth of characters introduced and revisted throughout the overarching story.

I could feel a sense of rebellion rising within myself with each chapter. A deep need to fight back against the callous nature of Capital Citizens and malice of President Snow - a painfully bitter, self-centered, and violent individual.

I loved how each individual had a purpose in driving foward not only the story or the themes, but also setting up the original trilogy from a new and more in-depth perspective. A prequel that certainly rose to the occassion of claiming its place alongside the original trilogy, both beautifully and heart-wrenchingly.

This is, without a doubt, my favourite installment of the Hunger Games series to date. And it was very much worth the wait. All I can hope for now is an installment focused on Finnick Odair: the youngest victor to have ever won the Hunger Games.

Sunrise On The Reaping is gut-wrenching, with little hope, and violent. There is no opportunity to rest for one's heart to recover, but it is worth pursisting for Haymitch Abernathy. Whose story deserves to be known and mourned.

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I’d like to wrap up this entry by thanking you for taking the time to read my review of Sunrise On The Reaping. If you have read this title I would love to share in your own experience in the comments below.

If you have read or watched the Hunger Games, or would like to, then I highly recommend this installment and will be revisiting it again myself in the future as a whole series readthrough.

The movie adaptation of Sunrise On The Reaping is currently estimated to release in 2026, hoorah!

✨ RATING 📣

4.75/5

✨ COMPLETION DATE 🗓️

     23.03.2025