Written by Suzanne Collins, “Sunrise on the Reaping” is a prequel that brings light to the story of Haymitch Abernathy, who is first seen as Katniss’ mentor in “The Hunger Games” trilogy.
On the morning of the fiftieth Hunger Games, fear grips the districts of Panem as double the number of tributes are selected for the second Quarter Quell, as Haymitch tries hard not to think about his odds and yearns to spend the day with the girl he loves, Lenore Dove. When there’s a situation involving a riot during the Reaping, Haymitch suddenly finds himself being loaded onto a train headed towards the Capitol as the second male chosen for the Fiftieth Annual Hunger Games.
Separated from his friends, family, love and thrown into Capitol life, Haymitch quickly learns how to survive alongside his district partners with the help of his mentors. Soon, he is known as the mischievous rascal from District 12 who defies the Capitol and President Snow. With new allies, brutal enemies and a secret plan to destroy the arena, Haymitch has accepted his low chance of survival, as long as he makes this Hunger Games one to be remembered.
Because of his defiant actions, Haymitch understands that he has been set up to die. However, he will not turn down a fight, even if that fight expands outside of the deadly arena. Once in the games, Haymitch is motivated by his sponsors, family, Lenore Dove and his new friends to keep going and destroy the Hunger Games once and for all. He is determined to prove that the districts are mentally strong and not afraid to rebel against the Capitol.
Throughout the story, Haymitch suffers through loss, pain, heartache, fury and many more emotions that explain his personality in the Hunger Games trilogy. Collins enjoys providing backstories for her beloved characters. Readers can see this in how she hints at connections between this novel and “The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes,” which describes interactions between people and events involving Coriolanus Snow.
Haymitch’s backstory has been expected by Hunger Games fans for countless years, and this novel did not disappoint. Prepare to laugh, cry and follow along with Haymitch Abernathy to uncover more about his story in “Sunrise on the Reaping.”
