Review of ‘Sunrise on the Reaping’ (The Hunger Games #0,5) by Suzanne Collins. Discover the haunting prequel that captures the heart of rebellion, loss, and survival in a world where the odds are never in your favor. Suzanne Collins returns to Panem in Sunrise on the Reaping, an emotional journey through the eyes of a young Haymitch Abernathy, whose path to becoming the cynical mentor we know and love is paved with unimaginable pain, loyalty, and the desperate need to hold on to something real. If you thought you knew Haymitch, think again. This is his origin story, raw and unforgettable. This is a spoiler-free review, so feel free to dive in even if you haven’t read the book yet.
‘Sunrise on the Reaping’ by Suzanne Collins is a powerful, emotional return to the world of Panem that adds depth, heartbreak, and humanity to one of the series’ most beloved characters
Synopsis
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.
Review
Set during the fiftieth annual Hunger Games, this prequel centers on a young Haymitch Abernathy—long before he became Katniss and Peeta’s cynical mentor. With the Quarter Quell looming, twice as many tributes are reaped from each district, and Haymitch finds himself ripped from District 12, from his family, and from the girl he loves. Thrown into an arena designed to break him, Haymitch quickly realizes that he’s been set up to fail. Alongside fellow tributes Maysilee, Wyatt, Louella, and the oddsmaker Ampert from District 3, he must rely on his instincts, intelligence, and sheer will to survive. But survival in the Games doesn’t just cost blood—it costs everything.
When I say this book was absolute perfection, I mean it. Sunrise on the Reaping is everything I hoped it would be and more. As someone who already adores Haymitch in The Hunger Games, seeing him as a teen just solidified that love. I couldn’t get enough of the quiet strength, the subtle humor, the grief he already carried like a second skin. Suzanne Collins gave us a story that not only revisits familiar territory but recontextualizes it in a way that’s both nostalgic and deeply emotional.
Some readers have said they don’t fully recognize the Haymitch we meet here as the same man from the trilogy, and I get where they’re coming from. But for me, that’s exactly the point. Grief changes you. The Haymitch we know is a man who’s buried so much behind a bottle and a wall of sarcasm. In this book, we see the boy before the walls went up. A boy who still had love in his life. A boy who wanted to survive not just for himself but for others. And watching that begin to unravel? Heart-wrenching.
I swear I had to close the book a couple of times because I had tears in my eyes. The twists and revelations were so emotional at times that I shed a tear once or twice. Collins knows how to hit where it hurts and she doesn’t hold back.
I also have to shout out the other tributes because wow, I genuinely fell for every one of them. Maysilee, Wyatt, Louella, and even Ampert from District 3, they each brought something special to the story. Maysilee in particular was such a standout. And I loved the subtle hints to The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, Lucy Gray, and the travelers aka the Coveys. That little thread connecting past to future is just so satisfying. It adds a richness that fans of the series will totally appreciate.
One of my favorite parts was getting to know new characters while also visiting the past of those we thought we already understood. There’s something so powerful about seeing how they were shaped by the events around them and how those choices ripple through time.
Now, is this something entirely new? Not really. It’s still set in the Hunger Games world and we know what the Games look like. So if you’re expecting a totally different kind of story from Suzanne Collins, this isn’t it. But if you loved the Hunger Games trilogy, then you need to read this. Get some tissues ready. You’ll need them.
And the movie that’s coming out? Oh my god. I’m not ready but I am ready. You know? I can already tell it’s going to destroy me in the best way.
Final thoughts
I just love Haymitch. Always have, always will. And this book made me love him even more.
Rating
10/10
Details
- Trigger warnings: The novel contains intense violence, death, alcohol consumption, fire and themes of oppression.
- Themes: Media manipulation, propaganda, survival, and the impact of authoritarianism.
- Representation: The story prominently features a theme of resilience amidst systemic oppression.
- Genre: Dystopian fiction
- Pages: 400
- Publication date: 18 March 2025
- Publisher: Scholastic Press
- About the author:
Suzanne Collins is an acclaimed American author best known for her groundbreaking Hunger Games series, which has captivated millions of readers around the world and redefined the young adult dystopian genre. Before achieving international success with The Hunger Games, Collins wrote for children’s television, including shows on Nickelodeon such as Clarissa Explains It All and Little Bear. Her first book series, The Underland Chronicles, also showcased her talent for building rich, layered worlds with high-stakes adventure.
With The Hunger Games, Collins brought attention to powerful themes such as propaganda, war, survival, and the costs of rebellion. Her storytelling is known for its emotional depth, moral complexity, and sharp social commentary. Collins has a masterful way of creating characters who feel incredibly real—flawed, brave, and unforgettable.
Sunrise on the Reaping continues her legacy of writing compelling, thought-provoking fiction that speaks to both young adult and adult audiences. Her return to the world of Panem proves once again why she remains a powerhouse in contemporary literature.
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