Imagine you’re randomly selected and forced to fight against other children in an arena with no resources. In a dystopian society, kids aged 12-18 are randomly selected to a probable death. This is the world of Suzanne Collins’ book, “The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping.”
Sunrise on the Reaping is a dystopian science fiction book. It combines themes of politics with entertainment. Collins was originally inspired to write about the Hunger Games by reality television and the Iraq War. The political themes in this book allow readers to question morality and humanity as they read about the oppressive, totalitarian government controlling the people in this novel.
Sunrise on the Reaping was released on March 18, 2025. It is the fifth book in The Hunger Games book series and is the second prequel. It takes place 24 years before the first book in the series; this gives readers new perspectives from major characters of previous books. Additionally, it’s implied that it is set in a futuristic, post-apocalyptic version of North America—called Panem.
The protagonist in this book is 16-year-old Haymitch Abernathy. His character is 40 years old in the first Hunger Games book, and Sunrise on the Reaping gives readers new insight into his character as they read about his experiences as a teenager. Haymitch is unexpectedly forced to participate in the 50th annual Hunger Games. As readers know from the first Hunger Games book, Haymitch is a mentor during each year’s Games. The mentor position is obtained from winning your own year’s Hunger Games.
Reading about Haymitch’s backstory makes the previous books in this series much more emotional and thrilling. Seeing his life as a teenager explains many of Haymitch’s character traits and actions seen in previous books, which really elevates the storytelling for readers. Collins efficiently keeps readers engaged throughout the entire story, adding many plot twists and references to previous books.
Ultimately, whether you’re a lifelong Hunger Games fan, or you’re new to this series, I recommend reading this book. Familiar readers will gain deeper insight into Haymitch’s character, while new readers can experience the suspense of this book for the first time. Sunrise on the Reaping is for an audience of all ages and will likely intrigue you.
