I only first read Suzanne Collins‘ The Hunger Games novels leading up to the release of Sunrise on the Reaping–although I had seen the films. While preparing for that latest release I really didn’t expect much, but Collins transports us back to Panem in such a beautiful and emotional way it blew my mind.
As the day dawns on the fiftieth annual Hunger Games, fear grips the districts of Panem. This year, in honor of the Quarter Quell, twice as many tributes will be taken from their homes. 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.
What Suzanne Collins crafted with the first three The Hunger Games novels was not only a fantastic series, but a worldwide phenomenon. Entering Sunrise on the Reaping I found myself wondering if this Haymitch Abernathy tale was more of trip back to the well or if Collins could capture what she brought to the table in the original series once again. It was by far the latter.
Heading back into the Panem aren–where kids fight to the death for entertainment–is not something I did lightly. These tales can be super draining and unsettling, but I had to give it a chance. Collins’ has the unparalleled ability to craft gripping tales about said kids in ways that I cannot explain. These tales tend to resonate with me long after the final page is turned. Especially stories that feature fan-favorites such as Haymitch Abernathy.
The biggest hurdle for me when starting into Sunrise on the Reaping was the knowledge of Haymitch’s survival of the fiftieth annual Hunger Games and his inclusion in the original novels was taking away from some of the mystery involved in such a story. However, what Collins does with this previously known information is truly spectacular. She creates a story that allows you not to forget that Haymitch ends up the victor, but put this knowledge aside to focus on the truly unsettling stuff that takes place in and out of the arena. If you were not a fan of President Snow or the capital prior to Sunrise on the Reaping, this will not change after reading this book.
What Haymitch and those around him experience throughout Sunrise on the Reaping adds so much to the background and personality of the character we meet in The Hunger Games. You may re-read the first book over again with a whole new light and feelings towards the character. Collins brought a full gauntlet of emotions and action to her latest addition to the series and while we may be in tears following a truly draining ending, we are all the better for it.
Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins is a fantastic addition to The Hunger Games series. The novel is not just another money grab prequel, but a truly powerful story that adds so much to the original series. Sunrise on the Reaping is an unforgettable reading experience that is full of action and emotion that actually rivals the first novel in many ways.
Sunrise on the Reaping is available at bookstores everywhere from Scholastic Press. The audiobook, narrated by Jefferson White, is available at Libro.fm!
