Sunrise on the Reaping (A Hunger Games Novel) (The Hunger Games) Hardcover – March 18, 2025

Haymitch Is a HeroHaymitch is a hero. He courageously never succumbed to the lure of the Games—to become a killer, to scrounge for life at the cost of principle and morality. In doing so, he thwarted the Capitol’s agenda to show the districts that they are no different from them. That it’s just survival of the fittest—and the Capitol happens to be stronger for now.This is the kind of courage the Jewish people showed during the Holocaust. My Rebbe used to say that Hitler wanted to reduce people to animals—strip them of their dignity by forcing them to scrap for food and disregard their humanity. But, as the vast Holocaust anthology of biographical and historical record shows, they continued to keep the Torah and mitzvos, and treated each other with kindness and altruism, even in the darkest conditions.President Snow is disproportionately disquieted by Haymitch’s defiance because he understands this is the seed of a true rebellion: the idea that one can make a statement—to oneself and to others—that they are not evil. That there is good in the world, and it’s worth the sacrifice.Haymitch had a different agenda: to destroy the evil—not those who were duped by that evil into playing its game.One of the clearest ways he showed this was by refusing to be bullied or blackmailed, even when Snow threatened to kill his family. It is not his fault that his family died—Snow is responsible. Had Haymitch given in, he would have become a shell of himself—a puppet, a kind of whore dancing to the Capitol’s will.The fact that he blames himself for their deaths is belied by his actions: he continues on his mission.His depression doesn’t come from failure, but from his predicament. As Victor Frankel in Man’s Search for Meaning asserts, in the midst of destruction, one still needs to be a hero. Evil can control your circumstances, but not your reaction to them.Even Yirmiyahu, who followed God’s command to the point of extreme danger to himself, wished that he was never born (Yirmiyahu 15:10)—not because he failed, but because of the crushing weight of his situation.Lenore Dove’s character wasn’t fully developed, making it hard to relate to her or be deeply affected by her death. However, the author connects her to Lucy Gray—buried in the same place—hinting that President Snow’s relationship with Haymitch may run far deeper than revealed.Even though Maysilee had a platonic relationship with Haymitch, their bond was transformative. Her character served as a tautological anchor for him—a living reminder of his resistance and values. Through her deeds, actions, formality, and presentation, she taught him that one can resist manipulation and avoid devolving into savagery. She modeled dignity, kindness, courage, and strength—even in her final breath. She wraps her pinky around his to remind him of their mission: to bring down the Capitol, even if it seems impossible.Lucy Gray seals this aspiration in her dying moment, pointing at the sun and telling Haymitch not to let it rise on the Reaping. Hence, the title of the book.In my opinion, the author’s intention is to give the reader insight into why Haymitch becomes an alcoholic. He is trapped in depression.Snow’s evil machinations have plunged him into a world of immense suffering, with all his family and loved ones lost. He refuses to take his own life because, deep down, he knows that would give Snow the ultimate victory. But at the same time, he doesn’t want to live. So, he escapes—until he is ultimately released by Katniss Everdeen in The Hunger Games.I know this is a stylistic issue, but it would’ve been fascinating to see more from the Capitol’s and Snow’s perspectives. Clearly, this mini-rebellion caused major disruption, and it’s unclear how much damage control had to be done to smooth out the propaganda.

WARNING: Spoilers aheadKay, let's get this review started.First with the negative:Really there are none, the only thing that made me sad was the price of the ebook ($18 for an ebook??? - though it did force me to buy the hardcover which I'm very happy about lol) and the fact that the story wasn't as mindblowing as everyone says it is. This might be because I put my expectations too high after hearing everyone talk about it for a month.POSITIVE:It was - actually - a really good book. Definitely very excited to watch the movie.The easter eggs were really fun to read. I loved learning more about Brodick (I didn't even know that was his name) and Asterid. Though I still don't know how to feel about Asterid. Like she honestly failed Katniss in so many ways, I'm honestly kind of mad at her. As soon as I felt she was being a better mom, Prim dies, the war ends, and she just dumps Katniss (after she has MULTIPLE huge traumatic experiences happen) and leaves to go heal other people. Like... ma'am?? You know you have another daughter right?? At least Peeta picks up her slack but still. (How did this become a rant about The Hunger Games??)ANYways, this book didn't really help her character, except to give me more insight into her childhood, make me love her and Brodick's relationship, and make me feel even worse about Brodick's death.I ABSOLUTELY LOVED Effie. She's awesome; (ignoring the fact that she does in fact wholeheartedly supports the Hunger Games, but we don't talk about that). She's honestly so fun, and positive, and bubbly. She's also the only thing I didn't see coming in the book (maybe I should add that to the negatives).I did find this book more political than the others, which I didn't mind. I found it interesting.Loved his district team. I love the growth between all of them, especially with Maysillee. Her characer arc, or at least the understanding that grew between her and Haymitch were amazing to read. I loved the quote, about what it means to have a sister ("you fight with each other and for each other" bit).HOW could they do that to Louella though? She honestly didn't deserve that. I loved that he called her "sweetheart" though and loved the connection to I did grow fond of Lou Lou though, and honestly felt so bad for her.The end fight was kind of gory though. The part with the intestines and Silka slowly dying with an ax in her head made me feel kind of queezy. I kind of liked that feeling (not during, but after) though because it reminds me of the horrors of murder and how thankfully I haven't been dessensitzed to it. No one should be used to that feeling.Okay, now to Haymitch...MY POOR BABY! WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU! *wails*His character wasn't what I expected it to be. I don't even know how to describe his character.The ending was traumatic, I am traumatized. Literally, the whole book was fine, like "cool they're killing each other, that's fine I guess", BUT THEN when he comes home and his literal family is BURNING! STOPP. I 100% didn't expect that. I thought they would have been killed beforehand or something and people would have just told him "oh sorry, your family's dead, they were hanged", BUT NO cuz Snow is so much smarter than that, so he's going to make it look like an accident and nobody will know excpect HAYMITCH. aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahh.OH AND THEN Lenore Dove dies AND I LITERALLY DIED. I AM DEAD. LIKE HOW CAN SNOW DO THAT TO HIM!?? LIKE NOOOOOOO. NOT LENORE!! SHE'S NOT LIKE LUCY GRAY AT ALL??!! AND THE FACT THAT HAYMITCH LITERALLY KILLS HER HIMSELF IS SO. MUCH. WORSE. *cries herself to sleep*.The ending explains Haymitch's character so well in the "next" books, why he is alone, drunk, and irritable.It also makes so much sense that he was drunk during Katniss' reaping. It's his birthday and a reminder of everything he lost.Anyways, good job to Suzanne Collins, for another amazing book.Also, thank you for the epilogue, I would have died without it 🫶🏻.I really hope they will bring in the original actors for the epilogue or something because if they just bring in a random girl with a braid, I'm going to throw hands.