There are books that entertain, books that provoke thought, and then there are books like Sunrise on the Reaping-the kind that reach into your chest, squeeze your heart, and leave you staring at the wall when you’re done. Five stars doesn’t even feel like enough.
This fifth installment in the Hunger Games series is everything I didn’t know I needed. We all knew Haymitch Abernathy had a past, that something led to his sarcasm and desire to get lost in bottle of liquor, but nothing could’ve prepared me for the emotional gauntlet Suzanne Collins puts us through in this prequel.
Five stars doesn’t even feel like enough.
Summary
Sunrise on the Reaping transports readers back to the 50th annual Hunger Games—also known as the Second Quarter Quell-where twice the number of tributes are chosen from each district.
In District 12, we meet a young Haymitch Abernathy, who’s just trying to keep his head down, survive, and stay close to the girl he loves. But when he is chosen, everything changes.
He’s ripped away from the only pieces of safety and love he’s ever known and thrown into the Capitol with three other tributes: a girl who’s practically his sister, an eccentric odds-maker, and a wealthy, aloof rival.
As the Games begin, Haymitch quickly learns this isn’t just a battle for survival-it’s a political game with rules that change at every turn. And he’s been set up to lose.
What follows is a brutal, heart-wrenching journey through loss, betrayal, sacrifice, and resilience that reshapes everything we thought we knew about Haymitch.
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Review
This. book. wrecked. me.
From the very first page, Collins doesn’t just reintroduce us to Panem-she drags us back into it, deeper than ever before. The politics, the fear, the simmering rage beneath every tribute’s breath-it’s all there, sharper and more devastating than ever.
Reading Haymitch’s story is like watching someone walk barefoot across fire, knowing full well what’s coming, but unable to look away.
The emotional toll of this story is staggering. Collins doesn’t hold back. She doesn’t sugarcoat the trauma or hide behind quick victories. She makes you feel every choice, every crack in Haymitch’s soul, and every drop of hope that bleeds away as the Games unfold.
And yet, in the darkness, there’s light.
There’s something incredibly powerful in watching a character get knocked down again and again, only to rise stronger-not because they’re unbreakable, but because they keep choosing to stand. Haymitch isn’t a hero in the traditional sense. He’s angry. He’s damaged. He makes mistakes. But his fight, his refusal to be a pawn, his ability to outwit a system designed to crush him—that’s the fire that sparked a revolution.
Why This Book Matters
This book isn’t just a Hunger Games prequel-it’s a mirror to the world we already know. It explores the cost of survival, not just physically, but emotionally and morally. It shows us that survival often comes with a price, and sometimes, the cost is pieces of yourself you can never get back.
The way Collins deepens the world of Panem while staying true to the tone and spirit of the original trilogy is nothing short of masterful. This isn’t just a story about a boy in the Games. It’s a story about what happens when you refuse to let the Capitol win. It’s about the ripple effects of courage, even in the face of certain defeat.
Final Thoughts
Reading Sunrise on the Reaping as an adult-especially as a mother-hit entirely differently than it would have as a teenager.
The original Hunger Games trilogy sparked a love of reading in many of us as teens; it lit a fire in us with its rebellion, romance, and raw emotion. But this book? This one gutted me.
Because this time, I wasn’t just seeing myself in the tributes-I was seeing myself in the parents. In the mentors. In the people left behind when a name is called and everything changes forever.
It’s one thing to root for survival when you're a kid, imagining what you would do in the arena. It’s another thing entirely to imagine what it would be like to watch your child, your student, your sibling be ripped away-helpless, angry, and completely unable to stop it.
As a mother, I couldn’t help but picture my own kids and the quiet terror that must pulse through every family on Reaping Day. And that made this story feel all the more suffocating, devastating, and achingly real.
Suzanne Collins has always written with a sharp edge and a deep empathy, but Sunrise on the Reaping proves just how much her stories evolve with us as we grow.
This isn’t just a book about a boy in the Games. It’s harrowing. It’s honest. And it stays with you long after you turn the last page.
Have you read Sunrise on the Reaping yet? What did you think of Haymitch’s journey? Let’s talk in the comments. And if you haven’t read it yet-be warned: this book will break your heart in the best way.
Here are 3 powerful, emotionally intense reads to pick up if you loved Sunrise on the Reaping!
1. A Northern Light by Jennifer Donnelly
Set against the backdrop of a real-life murder in 1906, this historical YA novel follows a young girl torn between familial duty and dreams of education. Like Sunrise on the Reaping, it explores the cost of growing up too fast, the weight of societal expectations, and what it means to fight for a future that feels out of reach. Emotional, feminist, and unforgettable.
2. Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys
This WWII historical fiction novel follows four teens from different backgrounds as they seek survival during one of the greatest maritime tragedies in history. With multiple POVs and gut-wrenching stakes, it echoes the emotional intensity and heartbreaking choices found in Haymitch’s story.
3. They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera
While this one leans speculative fiction, it captures a similar emotional devastation and urgency. Two boys meet on their last day alive and form a bond that makes every moment count. If Sunrise on the Reaping made you cry over stolen time and what people do with it—this one will, too.
