The newest Hunger Games novel, Sunrise on the Reaping, was released on March 18th, and is Suzanne Collins’ newest edition to her literary universe, and revolves around Haymitch Abernathy, a character from the original trilogy.
While we all know Haymitch as the town drunk and the mentor for District 12’s tributes in the trilogy, this book takes a deep dive into his past and explains a lot of questions readers have had throughout the trilogy. even his condescending comment of “sweetheart” to Katniss throughout the books, which made my skin crawl at first, was explained! I felt the urge to cry when I heard it.
At the start of the book, Haymitch awakes on his 17th birthday to the reaping. This is an annual tradition of drawing two names of children under 18. Those drawn are forced to compete in the Hunger Games, a competition created by the Capitol to punish the districts for an uprising many years prior. The Games pit children against each other, leading them to gory deaths both by their competitor’s hands and the arena, which is built to kill them in the most entertaining way for viewers.
Unluckily for Haymitch, he ends up being selected as a tribute, and has to fight to return to the only home he’s ever known. He’s faced with a choice to either take a stand against the oppression of the Capitol and suffer for it, or simply play their Games and try to make it out alive.
Collins takes readers right back into the heart of District 12, and the earlier Games. She describes the beautiful imagery of the mountains that Haymitch grew up in, the town where he spends his days helping his mother with chores, and the woods where he gets to take a break from the stress of the world and just exist.
Before the Games themselves have even begun, readers are emotionally attached not only to Haymitch but to everyone around him. Haymitch is a completely different person than in the original trilogy, yet his witty humor and secret kindness are still apparent. His closest friends are his younger brother Sid, his best friend, Burdock, And, of course, the love of his life, Lenore Dove, his beautiful songbird.
I loved how we got this new perspective on Haymitch. He was one of my favorites from the original trilogy, despite being a jerk at times. Even knowing he would participate in the Games, I found myself hoping that there was a different ending to the story. By the time the reaping came, I was tearing up knowing the horror he would soon go through.
Haymitch’s fellow tributes consist of Louella McCoy, a young girl he sees as a sister, Maysilee Donner, one of the richer folks in District 12, and Wyatt Callow, a young gambler. Together, they fight to make it as far as they can, knowing there is only one victor.
Collins builds each character skillfully, fleshing them out with personalities and backstories. I couldn’t help but root for them all, despite knowing their fates going into the book (if you’re reading them in release order). I have never cried so much before the Games have even begun. Don’t get me wrong, I adore the whole series. But the raw emotion in Haymitch’s sorrow, leaving home and just praying to not let anyone down, hit really close to home. By page 100, this was by far my favorite book in this literary universe. Maysilee’s humor, Louella’s innocence, and Wyatt’s charm had me grieving in advance for what was coming.
The biggest shock to me in this book was how much sympathy I would gain for the Careers. The Careers are tributes from Districts 1, 2, and 4. These districts are wealthier than the rest, resulting in stronger, more skilled, and more well-fed tributes. With higher odds of survival, they tend to win the games.
The Careers have always been the antagonists in the games, the Goliath that the Davids need to defeat in order to survive. They were brainwashed into thinking this is their right to win because of the district they are from. They believe the Hunger Games are just an annual chance to show that they are superior. But in this novel, we get to see the vulnerability and fear they exhibit once they are in the Arena.
One throughline of all the participants is clear though. They are all just kids. Kids who didn’t ask for this.
Collins also emphasized that the damage that these Games inflict not only hurt not those forced to play, but the loved ones that they leave behind. Even if you survive, if you somehow step out of line, you won’t be the one to pay the price. Those you care about are made to be your reminder of who’s in charge, and it’s not you.
I’ve loved the Hunger Games since I picked them up at the start of quarantine, and this most recent book was released at the perfect time. As a freshman away from home, somehow returning to something familiar felt good. I picked up the first book near the end of Donald Trump’s first term as President, and I read The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes later into 2020.
I think about our own government, and the protests happening on campus. I think about the political climate of the entire world when I read these books. The use of propaganda and fear as tools to oppress others is Collins’ social commentary on our world today. After all, she has said in the past that she only writes when she has something to say. It feels like we are drawing closer and closer to this dystopian society with every decision those with power are making. The Capitol and our government make decisions that impact thousands, but all they care about is preserving their own well-being. We are pawns in their games.
President Snow’s edited footage of the Hunger Games throughout the series is a form of censorship, a way to strip hope from the districts that there is any chance of stopping the Games. He uses fear to ensure that no one else speaks up, for fear of their entire community being punished. He bans books that tell the truth, he manipulates the education system to tell the story he wants the citizens of Panem to know.
Sound familiar?
Maybe it’s not a coincidence that this book is released right after the re-election of someone so similar to President Snow. Collins knew how to hit us right in the heart with the timing of the release. With President Trump’s recent pushes to get rid of the Department of Education, censoring social media content on platforms such as X through partnerships with Elon Musk, and trying to strip many individuals of their rights, it’s difficult for readers to not see the direct parallels between the two figures.
Not to mention students here at Loyola are fighting against these very same things. Through initiatives like the Little Free Library, pop up voter registration stands, peaceful protests, and the use of social media, they are educating others on what is happening in the world and how to stop it.
A dystopian novel with eerily familiar themes to our own world, the book is sure to hit close to home. On our own campus, we see Loyola students protesting upcoming ballots, executive decisions, and more. All of which impact our daily lives and bodily autonomy. Like the young rebels in the books, they stand up for what they know to be right. Haymitch and his helpers (I won’t say who, but you’ll recognize the names when they appear) plot behind the ever-listening and ever-watching Capitol, determined to make sure no more teens have to go through more violence. They want to put a stop to the cycle of violence, grief, and anger which repeats again every single year.
As a Loyola student, I hope the message of this book encourages others to see the reality of what we are descending into. Like Haymitch said, “They will not use my tears for their entertainment”. We must stand together and know that we are more than just pieces in a chess game shoved around by some giant hand. We are flesh and blood, human and living, and we need to remember that.
Sunrise on the Reaping had me screaming, crying, and throwing up. Hunger Games fans are sure to love the book, no matter how tear stained the pages may be afterwards. It leaves them with a burning passion to fight back, and stop the sun from rising on another reaping.
