Warning: SPOILERS ahead for Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins.
MostHunger Gamesfans expectedSunrise on the Reapingto be a devastating addition to the franchise, but one line just five pages into Haymitch’s prequel cemented that for me. Haymitch’sbackstory is outlined inCatching Fire, and the50th Hunger Games tournamentis among the most gruesome in Panem’s history.Sunrise on the Reapinglives up to that setup, delivering an emotionally devastating narrative from start to finish. And it’s obvious that Haymitch’s backstory will be even more gut-wrenching than it seems almost as soon as the book opens.
The worst parts of Haymitch’s book may not unfold untilSunrise on the Reaping’s ending, but the early chapters deliver some huge blows — including the sad reality thatHaymitch’s birthday is the same as Reaping Day. Haymitch not actually being reaped adds another layer of tragedy to his narrative. However, even something as simple ashis early depiction manages to make his story in the newHunger Gamesbook sadder.
One Line From 5 Pages Into Sunrise On The Reaping Made Me Realize How Heartbreaking It’d Be
Just five pages intoSunrise on the Reaping,Haymitch sets off to work with Hattie Meeney, a District 12 resident who makes liquor — and she gives him some as a birthday gift.Young Haymitch notes that he isn’t “much of a drinker,“though, a detail that may come as a surprise to fans of the originalHunger Gamesbooks. By the time Katniss Everdeen’s story opens, Haymitch is known throughout District 12 for his excessive use of alcohol. He even shows up to Katniss and Peeta’s Reaping Day drunk, and he spends much of the series using liquor to cope with his trauma.
The revelation that Haymitch hardly even likes alcohol as he’s nearing adulthood underscores just how bad that trauma is.
The revelation that Haymitch hardly even likes alcohol as he’s nearing adulthood underscores just how bad that trauma is, hinting at what’s to come after he enters the arena. And readers know before going into the 2025 prequel that President Snow does terrible things to Haymitch and his family after he wins the second Quarter Quell. But the specifics don’t come out until the later parts of the newHunger Gamesbook, andI knew from the moment I read thisSunrise on the Reapingline that they’d be even worse than I’d imagined.
Haymitch’s Hunger Games Prequel Drives Home What A Different Character He Is Before The Games
It Immediately Shows Us How Much The Quarter Quell Changes Him
The point of thisSunrise on the Reapingline is to highlight how different Haymitch isbefore and after the 50th Hunger Games, setting the stage for all the tragedy he’s about to endure. It does an impressive job of that, building the tension before his name is even called during the Reaping. This quote immediately establishes that the character we follow in the 2025 prequel has different values and beliefs than Katniss' mentor, and that he changes drastically because of what he experiences in the prequel.
Why President Snow Really Lets Haymitch Live In The Hunger Games: Sunrise On The Reaping
Leaving Haymitch alive after Sunrise on the Reaping seems counterproductive, but President Snow’s actions after the 50th Hunger Games make sense.
And although we know about thebiggest deaths fromSunrise on the Reapinggoing into the book,The Hunger Gamestrilogy doesn’t prepare readers for just how thoroughly President Snow punishes Haymitch. The deaths of his brother and mom are about what you’d expect after readingCatching Fire, but Lenore Dove’s demise is so much more personal than Katniss realizes. Haymitch also sees some truly terrible things in the Games themselves, from Ambert’s death — one of themost gruesome in theHunger Gamesfranchise— to thedisturbing replacement of Louella McCoy.
All of these tragedies set the stage for Haymitch to lean into alcoholism and become incredibly cynical as an adult.
All of these tragedies set the stage for Haymitch to lean into alcoholism and become incredibly cynical as an adult, allowing readers to fully understand him. Andhis portrayal at the beginning ofSunrise on the Reapingmakes it even more devastatingto see him reach that point.
Haymitch’s Innocence Makes The New Hunger Games Book Even More Devastating
He Didn’t Just Lose His Loved Ones At The Hands Of The Capitol
Haymitch’s innocence and hope at the beginning ofSunrise on the Reapingmakes his story even sadder, as it shows just how much he loses at the hands of the Capitol. It’s not just his loved ones or his own stability; the Capitol rips away any optimism he has as a teenager, leaving him lonely and in a state of despair.
I’ll Never Look At Haymitch’s Nickname For Katniss In The Hunger Games The Same Way After Sunrise On The Reaping
Haymitch calls Katniss “sweetheart” from the very beginning, but Sunrise on the Reaping explains she’s not the first he’s bestowed it upon.
Katniss begins her story with a cynical and somewhat pessimistic view of the world, and the Games make that worse.Sunrise on the Reapingreveals that Haymitch isn’t quite so dejected before the Capitol unleashes its cruelty on him, which makes his fall even harder to witness — and makesThe Hunger Gamestrilogy more difficult to read in hindsight.
