A Lazy Reader's Review of "Sunrise on the Reaping" by Suzanne Collins

Synopsis

    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 most stuck-up girl in town. As the Games begin, Hahymitch 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.

Review

    Okay, wow. Sunrise on the Reaping absolutely wrecked me—in the best possible way. I went in with high hopes (because it’s Suzanne Collins, and how could I not?), but this book somehow exceeded all of them. If you’ve been wondering whether this return to Panem is worth your time: YES. 100% yes. I devoured this and was left thinking about it for days.

    This story takes place during the 50th Hunger Games—aka the Second Quarter Quell—and follows a young Haymitch Abernathy. We’ve known him as the bitter, sarcastic mentor in the original trilogy, but here we get to see him before the trauma, before the alcohol, before he became who we met in The Hunger Games. And let me tell you—his story is just as intense, clever, and emotional as I hoped it would be.

    Haymitch in this book is whip-smart, stubborn, and deeply human. You root for him from the start—not just because you know what’s coming, but because he’s actually so much more than just a future victor. He’s compassionate. He's strategic. He questions the Capitol in a way that feels dangerous even before he steps into the arena. Watching him survive (not just physically, but emotionally) through a Games that’s designed to be even more brutal than usual was honestly heartbreaking. And when the twist hits in the end? I had to just sit there in silence for a minute. Total emotional gut punch.

    One of the things that really stood out to me in Sunrise on the Reaping was how sharply it focuses on propaganda and censorship—and how terrifyingly relevant those themes feel right now. The Capitol doesn’t just control Panem through force; it manipulates truth, edits history, and controls what people see, think, and remember. The way the Games are presented as entertainment while covering up the actual horror is chilling. There are scenes where characters literally have to watch their words to avoid punishment, and others where information is twisted beyond recognition to serve the Capitol’s narrative. Watching Haymitch try to navigate that—realizing how dangerous even the truth can be—really hit hard. Collins shows how powerful it is when people do speak up, and how dangerous it is when the truth is buried. It adds this whole extra layer to the story that’s scary, but incredibly well done.

    But what I loved most is how this book expands on the world of Panem. You get to see more of the districts and how people lived under the Capitol’s control. It’s not all explosions and bloodshed—there are quiet moments of rebellion, flickers of hope, and a much deeper understanding of how truly messed up the system is. It adds so much depth to the story we already know from Katniss’s time. You can feel the roots of rebellion growing here, and it makes the entire Hunger Games universe feel even richer.

    Suzanne Collins is just so good at what she does. She never talks down to the reader, and she doesn’t shy away from the hard stuff. The writing is sharp, thoughtful, and so well-paced. She knows exactly when to twist the knife and when to give you space to breathe—and even in the quiet moments, there's this constant tension that keeps you completely hooked. The themes she weaves in—power, survival, morality, grief—are just as relevant now as they were when the original trilogy came out, maybe even more so.

    By the time I turned the last page, I felt drained in the best way. It’s one of those books that makes you feel everything—sad, angry, inspired, and full of questions. Haymitch’s story broke my heart and gave me even more respect for who he became. And now when I rewatch or reread the original trilogy, I know I’ll see him differently.

    Bottom line: if you're a fan of The Hunger Games, or even if it’s been a while since you read them, this book is absolutely worth diving back in for. It’s not just a bonus story—it’s a vital, emotional, powerful addition to the world Collins created. I honestly want to reread it already just to take it all in again.

    So yeah. Solid 5 stars. No question. This one’s going to stick with me for a long, long time.

    Dear Suzanne Collins, next time, just shoot me in the face. It'd probably hurt a lot less.

April 7, 2025 – April 16, 2025

★★★★★

Favorite Quote: "They will not use our tears for their entertainment." ~ pg. 28