"Sunrise at the Reaping" | Reviewed by Andie Kloppe

Return to the world of Panem with the newest addition to “The Hunger Games” series, “Sunrise on the Reaping,” by Suzanne Collins. Whether you are picking up this book after reading the rest of the series, or reading the series in chronological order, you will not want to put “Sunrise…” down as you live through the game that made Haymitch Abernathy the mentor we know from the “Hunger Games” trilogy.  

It’s Haymitch’s birthday and also reaping day for the second Quarter Quell. This marks the 50th anniversary of the Hunger Games. In honor of this anniversary, an additional boy and girl from every district will be picked as tribute. Following a series of unfortunate events, Haymitch finds himself chosen as one of the boy tributes to represent District 12. Accompanying Haymitch to the Capitol is Maysilee, the meanest girl in the district, Wyatt,a boy from a disreputable family, and Louella, a young girl who has had a playful crush on him. 

The reality that he will never make it home has sunk in, so all Haymitch can hope for is to protect Louella if he can, and when the time of his death comes, for it to be quick and not leave his family, or his love, Lenore Dove, ashamed. Reluctant alliances are established between the District 12 tributes following their arrival at the Capitol. 

District 12 tributes are seen as long shots in the games, and their welcoming team of stylists and publicists, who are unenthused and self-serving at best, do nothing to boost the tributes potential in the eyes of the capital citizens and the other 44 tributes. With the help of his misfit group of mentors, Haymitch, and the other District 12 tributes do their best to gain the favor of the Capitol citizens and get help wherever they can. 

Following a tragedy at the tribute parade, Haymitch makes it his mission to expose the Capitol and the Games as the murderers they are, and to put an end to the Games if he can. This leads to the formation of reluctant alliances and uneasy acceptance of guidance from unlikely individuals. After repeatedly insulting President Snow, Haymitch realizes that his death will not come quickly and will be meant as a lesson to all those who oppose the Capitol’s rule. He begins to fear not only for his own life, but for the lives of those he loves most. It is not above the Capitol to use this means of cruelty.

While in the Games, Haymitch not only fights for his life, but to keep those he cares for safe. He begins to realize that even if he makes it out of the Games alive, he will never escape the wrath of the Capitol. 

The tragedies that befall Haymitch in and out of the arena throughout “Sunrise on the Reaping” create the character we know from the original “Hunger Games” trilogy. Those reading this new book, after the rest of the series, will gain further insight on the development of characters like President Snow and members of the Covey, including Lucy Gray Baird.

I highly recommend “Sunrise on the Reaping” to anyone who has read any of the “Hunger Games” books in the past, and to anyone wanting to read the series for the first time. It is a book full of action, tragedy, love, devotion, a true underdog story. 

Buy the Book.