When The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins got first published in 2008, I assume no one expected this book – and its sequels – to become what we call a “Classic” in young adult literature. At the time, I didn’t know YA books even existed, so when I first heard about it was with the movie release in 2012. I went, saw the movie, and didn’t like it. I finally tried to read the first book in 2018, which I didn’t like either. In 2020 however, I binged the entire series, including The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. I therefore was very, very curious for this new prequel, Sunrise on the Reaping. Did it meet all the expectations or was it too much?

About the book

Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins
Series: The Hunger Games #0.5
Published by Scholastic Press on March 18, 2025
Pages: 382
ISBN: 9781546171461
Genres: Dystopian, Young adult

The phenomenal fifth book in the Hunger Games series!
When you’ve been set up to lose everything you love, what is there left to fight for?
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.

My review

Expectations

I think this book is one of the most anticipated releases for the first quarter of the year. Reviews have been coming in and many people really loved this prequel about Haymitch. As I ended up loving the original trilogy and the other prequel as well, the bars were sky high for me. Besides, I was in desperate need of a book I would thoroughly enjoy. Collins can’t disappoint, can she?

Characters

Haymitch is a character we met in the first book already. We got to know him as the sarcastic, fulltime drunk mentor of Katniss and Peta, and it really looked like he didn’t care for them or their games at all. His own story sheds light on his character and what made him the way he was when we met him. A lot has happened in his life. Before all this, he deeply cared for his family, friends, and even his fellow tributes. All the things he endured in the arena and beyond made him a whole different person. The Capitol was already cruel during the 50^th Hunger Games and it shows. Collins really elaborates his character – as well as the other characters – in depth and there’s no mercy for anyone. Besides Haymitch and the other tributes who are new to us, we see many familiar faces we will be reunited with in the rest of the series.

Writing

As I expected, the writing was again accessible and easy to follow. That easy even that I paid no attention to what chapter I was reading in. I actually had no idea whenever I switched chapters. Maybe this was because of my ebook, but I was able to fly through this book in a breeze. I therefore think the chapters are of average length. That doesn’t matter, because I devoured it while I wanted to savour it.

Plot

Many people say that the plot is quite repetitive in comparison to the other books. And although this is logical and true, it’s more about what lies beneath. The purpose of this entire series is to address such important and current themes and that’s no different in this book. Despite the plot following the same outline, I was intrigued from start to finish. The cruelty of the Capitol was visible right from the start and the urge to end their regime once and for all was already strongly present here. Throughout this novel we learn more about Haymitch and how he suffers from the decisions Snow and his puppets make for him. As a reader, you will feel all emotions, you won’t be spared any of them. This makes this book both plot and character driven, although the focus is more on the characters and how the decisions made in the plot affects them.

Final thoughts

Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins is exactly what I expected it to be. I was intrigued from the start and just couldn’t stop reading. Haymitch’ actions from the trilogy have their origin and this is now explained. The writing was easy to follow, I flew through this book in a breeze. I think this is a good addition to the series, and I finally enjoyed a book again after having some trouble with some I read before.