Book Review: Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins
Review by Tracee Orman
WOW.
That was my first reaction as I began reading and continued throughout the book. I can honestly say that this might be my favorite book in the entire series. I know it's hard to beat The Hunger Games, but this one may have done it. I am still processing everything, but if you have not read this book yet and are a fan of the series (obviously you are if you're here, right!?), go READ IT NOW! And stop reading this review because the rest will contain SPOILERS!!
Again, if you do not want the book spoiled, stop reading now!
⚠ SPOILERS AHEAD ⚠
OK, you have been warned! Here we go...
QUESTIONS ANSWERED
One of the best things I loved about this book is that it answered so many things that were left up in the air in the other books. And we didn't even have to wait for them--chapter one brought us Katniss' parents' names! I don't know why this always bothered me in the books, but leaving the characters unnamed made them seem less personal, less important. But now I see that the naming of them in Haymitch's story makes them much more personal to him. Burdock, Asterid...and the fact that Lenore Dove is related to Katniss! We get all of this within the first few pages. My mind was reeling from the very start.
But not just those! We get Tam Amber and Clerk Carmine from The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, who raised Lenore Dove after her mother (presumably Maude Ivory!) passed away in childbirth. And Burdock (Katniss's dad) is Lenore Dove's cousin...so, YES, Katniss is related to her AND she was related to Lucy Gray Baird since Lucy Gray was a cousin to Maude Ivory.
But the Easter eggs don't stop there. From Peeta's dad's name (Otho), to Plutarch, Wiress, Mags, Beetee, and Effie, the origin of the mockingjay pin, and so many more. Every bit of this book deepened the connections to the other books. I honestly cannot wait to reread this entire series with the new knowledge I have with Haymitch's backstory. And isn't that what a prequel is all about? Suzanne Collins created a masterpiece, weaving these relationships and giving us so much context, making Haymitch's character more and more complex.
One question I had was whether Lenore Dove's namesake was from Edgar Allan Poe's works. The answer, of course, is YES! "The Raven" is featured quite often in the book and will certainly make for excellent literary comparisons and symbolism. It's an English teacher's dream.
EMOTIONAL COMPLEXITY
Another thing I love about Sunrise on the Reaping is the emotional complexity it brings to the series. Everyone Haymitch has ever loved is gone, which we learned in Mockingjay. But now we get to meet these people. And grow to love them. Then watch them die.
Going into the book, we knew Haymitch was a drunk with no friends, living by himself in Victor's Village. But what we didn't know is why he is this way. Katniss sees him as a disgraceful, disgusting person, but what she didn't know is that he was best friends with her dad. That he had to push Burdock away to save his life. At least until President Snow decided a mine explosion was necessary. Was this further punishment for Haymitch? Was the Blair he was also best friends with in that mine explosion? It seems highly likely. Blair could have been Gale's father for all we know.
Beetee, Ampert, Mags, and Wiress also add another level of emotional complexity to the story. Beetee's punishment of watching his son die in the arena is absolutely horrific. Mags and Wiress being punished for Haymitch's rebellion during the Games, awful. Knowing that Wiress was so young when he wrecked her...gut wrenching. It brings a deep level of empathy for these beloved characters that we met in Catching Fire and loved because they were quirky. But now...my God. There's no question that President Snow is truly evil.
One of the more emotional aspects I wasn't expecting was the geese. We learn at the end of Mockingjay that Haymitch chooses to raise geese. In that moment, it's worth a chuckle because it's the last thing anyone would expect him to do. But now knowing that Lenore Dove raised geese...oh my heart.
REBELLION CONNECTIONS
In the original trilogy, we never suspect that Haymitch was ever part of any rebellion or rebellious acts (besides figuring out the forcefield in the arena--which was not exactly the truth, either). We were led to believe that he was just a drunk who has lived a miserable life mentoring District 12 kids for 24 years by himself. But when Katniss volunteers in the 74th Games, we now know that Haymitch knew who Katniss is. So when he tells the Capitol cameras in The Hunger Games that she has more spunk than them, it truly hits harder knowing he is a rebel himself. We just never knew how deep his connections to Plutarch, Beetee, Mags, and Wiress were until this book. (Even Effie, albeit reluctantly.)
What is remarkable about this is that we can reread the original trilogy with a completely new lens: Haymitch as a rebel who has been trying to end the Games for years as a promise to his true love. It's now clear that he was most likely in contact with Plutarch during The Hunger Games, even though it's never mentioned. I know when I reread the series, I will find so many more connections and clues.
OUR FAVORITE SYMBOLS
Some of our favorite symbols get a backstory, as well. We learn about Katniss's mockingjay pin, which we already knew belonged to Maysilee. But we find out it was designed and created by Tam Amber, a member of the Covey. It also had a sister pin–a hummingbird–that belonged to her twin, Merrilee. The fact that Maysilee flippantly disregarded the pin initially, then promises Haymitch that she'll give the pin a second chance if she survives enhances the meaning of it. It's not only a symbol of the rebellion, but a nod to both Maysilee and Tam Amber.
The three-fingered silent salute makes an appearance at the funeral for the fallen tributes, as well as Haymitch's mom and brother. It's a poignant moment in the book, but also makes you think back to when Katniss was the recipient of it during her reaping and Haymitch saved her from crying. It hits harder knowing that gesture alone holds so many emotions for him, and yet he still tries to save Katniss from showing her tears. He is already helping her, coaching her, and she has no idea.
The lines from "The Hanging Tree" song make a reappearance in this novel, but with Lenore Dove telling Haymitch the song is about mockingjays. He begins to realize while on the train ride home from the Games that it was actually about rebels. Later, he pieces everything together that she was the one painting the rebellious graffiti in the alley "NO CAPITOL, NO HANGING TREE!" It may have taken 25 years, but Haymitch finally fulfills that promise of no more sunrises on the reaping.
A PERFECT CONCLUSION
I feel like this book perfectly concludes the series. If we never get another one, I will be satisfied. Don't get me wrong, I will love and welcome any other works Suzanne Collins writes, but I don't feel as though they are necessary. I think she has wrapped up so many loose ends at this point. Sure, I'd love a Finnick backstory and more about Tigris and President Snow. But will they measure up to this masterpiece? Probably not. The gift she has given us with this book is enough, as it will keep on giving with every reread.
If it isn't evident by now, I give this book five stars. If I could give it a million, I would. It may just inch out The Hunger Games as my favorite in the series.
I have no idea if Ms. Collins has ever read this blog or even knows of its existence. But if there is a slight chance that she is reading this, I just want her to know how much this series has meant to me. Being able to share her work with hundreds of students over the years has been a true delight. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
I have to end this post now, but I know there's so much more to talk about. You can find me on Instagram and Facebook. Feel free to reach out, message me, or join in the conversations on my posts.
Suzanne Collins, along with Scholastic Press and Lionsgate, announced that her new book, Sunrise on the Reaping, will be published March 18, 2025 and the corresponding film will be released November 20, 2026. This post serves to recap what we already know about the setting and characters to prepare for this fifth installment in The Hunger Games series. I don't know about you, but I am so excited! March cannot get here quickly enough.
SPOILER ALERT: If you have not read the excerpt released by People or any of the other books in the series, the information below WILL be spoilers for Sunrise on the Reaping.
What we already know
• With the release of an excerpt of the novel, we know it will be told in first person point-of-view (POV) by Haymitch Abernathy. This POV follows the first three novels, which were told in first person from Katniss Everdeen's perspective. This differs from The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, which was told in third person from the perspective of Coriolanus Snow.
• We also know that it begins on Reaping day for the 50th Hunger Games (and a Quarter Quell), which is also Haymitch's 16th birthday. We learned in Catching Fire (and are reminded in the new excerpt) that this Quarter Quell (which happens every 25 years) will reap double the number of tributes: instead of two from each of the 12 districts, there will be four children from each, totaling 48 participants.
• Haymitch has a younger brother: Sid, who is 10. He is not eligible for the reaping.
• His mom is a widow; Haymitch's dad was killed in a coal mine fire when he was younger.
• Haymitch has a love interest: Lenore Dove. We first learn of her in Mockingjay when Haymitch says that President Snow had everyone he loved killed within two weeks of his victory: "My mother and younger brother. My girl. They were all dead two weeks after I was crowned victor." (page 172)
• We know from Catching Fire (pages 196-202) that Maysilee Donner, Madge Undersee's aunt and the original owner of the mockingjay pin, is one of Haymitch's fellow tributes. Maysilee was also Katniss's mom's best friend. We also know that we'll see Katniss's mom at the reaping because they hug before Maysilee takes the stage.
• From these same pages we learn that Haymitch is young, strong, and quite good-looking. His hair is dark and curly and he has gray Seam eyes. In his interview with Caesar Flickerman he exudes arrogance, snarkiness, and indifference.
• We know that Haymitch goes straight to the Cornucopia for weapons and a backpack of supplies when the gong sounds. His weapon of choice becomes a knife. The arena is described on page 198 of Catching Fire as "...the most breathtaking place imaginable." It's a flower-filled meadow with woods and a snow-capped mountain in the distance. After grabbing his supplies, Haymitch heads for the woods.
• The beauty of the arena is an illusion, as most of the fruit and flowers are poisonous. The only things safe to consume are rainwater and items from the Cornucopia. Haymitch has to fight off carnivorous squirrels and contend with deadly butterflies.
• Maysilee grabs one small backpack with a blow-dart weapon that she easily utilizes with the poisons available in the arena.
• On the fourth day of the Games, a volcano erupts, taking out at least a dozen tributes and all but five of the Careers.
• Haymitch and Maysilee use the woods for concealment. On page 199 of Catching Fire, we learn that Haymitch encounters three of the Careers. He kills two of them with his knife but the third is able to disarm him. Maysilee comes to his rescue by killing the third Career with her blow dart. The two become allies.
• Haymitch is determined to find the end of the arena. When they find a cliff, Haymitch decides to stay there and allow the remaining tributes to come to them. (p. 200) Maysilee disagrees with this and the two part ways. There are only five tributes left, including them.
• Haymitch accidentally comes across the invisible force field when he kicks a pebble off the side of the cliff and it flies back up at him a minute later. He realizes the force field acts like a boomerang. (p. 201)
• Maysilee is killed by a flock of "candy pink birds" that "skewer her through the neck" (p. 201). Much like Katniss with Rue, Haymitch holds her hand as she dies.
• In the end, it's Haymitch and a District 1 female tribute left. They get into a bloody fight and she ends up disarming him. His injuries are life-threatening (he has to hold his intestines in) as he makes his way for the cliff. He reaches the edge and waits for the girl to throw her ax at him. When she does, he ducks and allows it to fly off the cliff. Both tributes are dying, but Haymitch knows in a minute that ax will fly back and kill her. (pages 201-202)
• As punishment for manipulating the Games and making the Capitol look bad, President Snow has everyone Haymitch loves killed (his mom, brother, and girlfriend) within two weeks of being declared the Victor, as mentioned above in Mockingjay.
What this could mean for Sunrise on the Reaping
Movies don't always follow everything in the books, as we know all too well from the Hunger Games movies. For example, Haymitch was always described as having dark, curly hair. He was from the Seam, after all. But Woody Harrelson, a blonde actor, has always portrayed him without dying his hair (unlike Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson, who both colored their hair to match their character's). Will they try to find an actor that genuinely portrays Haymitch from the books or someone who looks like a young Woody Harrelson? Personally, I want someone true to the book.
The similarities between Haymitch and Katniss are noticeable. Both are raised by single moms. Both lost their fathers in coal mine fires/explosions. Both have a younger sibling to care for. Both use the woods for hunting and feeding their family. Both ally with their fellow district tributes. Both have to watch a friend die in the arena. Both defy the Capitol in the Games, manipulating the outcome to become Victors. I think this book will be a great opportunity for teachers to have students compare and contrast the two protagonists.
According to the book jacket synopsis, Haymitch's fellow District 12 tributes include "...a young friend who’s nearly a sister to him, a compulsive oddsmaker, and the most stuck-up girl in town." Obviously, Maysilee is the "stuck-up" girl. But knowing that there will be a young girl who is like a sister to him will be excruciating to see her death. Will they ally right away? Will it be another Rue situation all over again?
I love that we will see a glimpse of Katniss's mother. Because the book is told from Haymitch's perspective, we won't see much as she is not from the Seam, but perhaps we will see Katniss's father? Maybe Haymitch was even friends with him? Will we finally learn their names?
Lenore Dove: Haymitch identifies her in the book with both names, indicating perhaps she has a double first name like Lucy Gray Baird. In addition, her second name Dove not only represents the peaceful songbird but a shade of gray. Members of the Covey all had second first names that were colors. Could Lenore Dove be a descendant of one of the members of the Covey?
Also, the name Lenore has many references in literature. If you've taught Edgar Allan Poe, you know he not only wrote a poem named "Lenore," but her death was the source of the narrator's grief in his famous poem "The Raven." There is also a poem called "Lenore" by German author Gottfried August Bürger written in 1773. Teachers can use these poems for analysis and comparison of themes.
There is no doubt that this will be just as emotionally charged as The Hunger Games (and all the books, honestly). Will it be worse because we know it's coming?
If you'd like to chat more about things, you can find me on Instagram and Facebook. Just comment on my post about this! I would love to hear your thoughts.
Thanks for reading!-Tracee
