In Suzanne Collins’ recent novel, Sunrise on the Reaping, it follows the story of Haymitch Abernathy as he participates in the 50th Hunger Games. The book is the second prequel to The Hunger Games trilogy and it provides new insights on Haymitch’s character and his experiences as a tribute during a Quarter Quell. In the context of The Hunger Games, a Quarter Quell is held every 25 years and the games have some kind of special twist to them to make them more brutal. For the 50th Hunger Games there were twice as many tributes, which doubled the amount of casualties.

There was so much about the novel that I, as a fan of The Hunger Games, enjoyed reading such as the return of characters we met in Catching Fire like Mags and Beetee which was unexpected. Aside from Haymitch, we got more insight on the past of other characters who were a part of the original trilogy. Readers got both Katniss and Haymitch’s perspective of the reaping and the games. I found both of their monologues unique and stayed true to both of their characters. Even though Katniss and Haymitch are both victors of the games from District 12 they had different ways of thinking. In Sunrise on the Reaping, Haymitch was more silent and observant when it came to rebellion, unlike Katniss who was more outspoken and fierce in the original trilogy. His story is about how one can turn little hope into survival. 

It is so fascinating to me that we got to see what Haymitch was like as a sixteen year old boy in love before participating in the games which changed that. Even after everything that has happened to him, losing people he loves or making an effort to protect those who end up being killed, he was always clever. The deaths of his friends in the games showed Haymitch how the Capitol could get whatever they wanted from their victims. After the games he returns to District 12 only to find his family and Lenore Dove, his girlfriend, dead which was all a part of President Snow’s plan. Haymitch let his depression take over him and he coped through drinking, which is why we see him as an alcoholic in The Hunger Games trilogy. Haymitch’s narrative captured how a cruel world can break one’s happiness.

Sunrise on the Reaping also explored the themes of propaganda which is common among novels and societies that live under a system of control and manipulation. Throughout the entire book series we see the Capitol use visual propaganda like posters and televised broadcasts to reinforce messages and maintain control. We know the games are always broadcasted on TV which shows how the Capitol utilizes fear and resentment to justify the games and silence the districts. Aside from just the games, the Capitol also broadcasts the reapings in each district and we see the Capitol manipulate the footage at the start of the novel. There were multiple instances where clips were edited such as the Chariot Parade with all the tributes. Aside from Capitol propaganda we also see propaganda that encourages rebellion against the Capitol. It said, “NO PEACEKEEPERS, NO PEACE” and it had a subtle but direct message to the districts that they should get rid of the peacekeepers and there will finally be peace since they were the ones who brought chaos to the people living in the districts. I found irony to be a clever and powerful way to rebel. My copy of Sunrise on the Reaping had a little poster with a similar message at the end which really brought the world of the Hunger Games to life.