Sunrise on the Reaping
by Suzanne Collins
I went into this book already knowing I would love it. Haymitch Abernathy has always been one of my favorite characters in the Hunger Games universe, and Sunrise on the Reaping only deepened that attachment.
Collins captures the brutality of the 50th Hunger Games with the precision and emotional heft she’s known for. The Quarter Quell setting adds fresh complexity, but what struck me most was Haymitch’s voice—clever, resilient, and heartbreakingly self-aware. He’s a survivor in every sense, navigating cruelty and manipulation with a sharp mind and a broken heart.
Beyond the arena, the book shines as a critique of spectacle and memory. Collins reminds us that even victors are casualties, their lives shaped by a system built to entertain through suffering. There’s less focus on romance and more on human endurance, which felt right for Haymitch’s story.
It’s grim, yes, but it’s also brilliant—Collins at her best, writing with control and compassion. I finished it feeling gutted and grateful.
Tropes / Themes:
Survival against all odds
Found courage
Corruption of power
Loss of innocence
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An extraordinary addition to the Hunger Games universe—tense, emotional, and devastatingly human. Haymitch finally gets the story he deserves.