Photo courtesy of IMDb
By Rebecca Poltorak
Normally, there would be a spoiler warning on a book review; however, since “Sunrise on the Reaping,” written by Suzanne Collins, is a prequel to the “Hunger Games” series, the reader already vaguely knows what will happen. The real enjoyment is learning exactly how the plot unfolds, and how it differs from what readers may expect.
“Sunrise on the Reaping” tells the story of Haymitch Abernathy, the only living District 12 Hunger Games victor, who plays a large role in the first “Hunger Games” book. This prequel recounts how Haymitch Abernathy survived the 50th Hunger Games, the Second Quarter Quell.
The prequel fleshes out the events described in “Catching Fire,” which briefly mentions Haymitch’s story.
“Sunrise on the Reaping” is certainly very emotional. It contains a lot of curveballs and unexpected twists. On top of this the book is very sad, which fits any “Hunger Games” story where children are killing each other.
Dramatic irony is a literary device when the reader knows what is going to happen before the characters. “Sunrise on the Reaping,” being a prequel, uses dramatic irony well.
As a prequel to the Hunger Games saga, “Sunrise on the Reaping” employs the use of dramatic irony effectively by letting the reader know what is going to happen before the characters.
The reader becomes attached to characters like Maysilee Donner and Ampert, despite knowing they will die.There can be only one Hunger Games victor, and the reader already knows that it’s Haymitch, making the inevitable deaths in this novel even sadder .
As a dystopian novel, “Sunrise on the Reaping” has many political elements. A dominant theme is the propaganda element of the Hunger Games, which ties into the dramatic irony and plot twists in “Sunrise on the Reaping.”
To Reflecting the nation’s current leader, President Snow is revealed to act silly in private, instead of being as menacing as he was in the original trilogy. This change effectively shows that Panem is so bad that the dystopian country can let a buffoon into power.
The politics are unsubtle, which is perfect for a young adult novel. What feels less subtle, sadly, are all the original trilogy characters forced into the story, like previous victors Beetee, Mags, Wiress, and mostly Effie Trinket, to make “Sunrise on the Reaping” feel as “Hunger Games”-like as possible instead of letting the novel develop its own identity.
When Effie Trinket shows up, “Sunrise on the Reaping” begins to feel like fanfiction. The novel succumbs to prequel syndrome, trying to offer as many explanations about the original trilogy as possible while not introducing much that is new.
“Sunrise on the Reaping” fleshes out Katniss’s parents, depicting them as teenagers.
While the names of Katniss’s parents are well-chosen, them being Haymitch’s friends, especially Katniss’s father, only makes sense when considering that District 12 is small.
In “Catching Fire,” Haymitch’s girl is mentioned, and in “Sunrise on the Reaping,” she is given the name Lenore Dove.
Lenore Dove is a rebellious Covey girl, which makes her seem too similar to Lucy Gray Baird from the first “Hunger Games” prequel, “A Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.” This similarity makes it seem as if Lenore Dove was created by an author other than Suzanne Collins, who usually makes unique characters.
Some people thought telling Haymitch’s story, which readers have already read about in “Catching Fire,” was redundant. To those readers, “Sunrise on the Reaping” feeling like a fanfiction is inevitable.
Regardless of the flaws of “Sunrise on the Reaping,” Suzanne Collins puts heartbreaking emotion and relevant political commentary into the new “Hunger Games” book, making it a pleasure to read.
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Written by: Rebecca Poltorak on October 21, 2025.
Last revised by: Alisha Durosier
