Sunrise on the Reaping
Author: Suzanne Collins
Published by: Scholastic
Pages: 382
Format: Hardback
My Rating: ★★★★1/2
Published by: Scholastic
Pages: 382
Format: Hardback
My Rating: ★★★★1/2
When you’ve been set up to lose everything you love,
What is there left to fight for?
My thoughts:
This month’s book club took us back to the world of Panem, as we gathered at Good Day Café in Bath to discuss Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins—and what a brilliant choice it was. Along with most of the group, I found this prequel absolutely gripping. Collins has a way of pulling you straight into her world, and it was both nostalgic and fascinating to return to the universe she created in The Hunger Games trilogy.
In Sunrise on the Reaping, we follow a young Haymitch Abernathy during his own Hunger Games—decades before Katniss Everdeen volunteers as tribute. It’s a clever and compelling story that adds so much depth to a character we’ve known for years but perhaps never fully understood. Watching Haymitch’s journey unfold gave me a new appreciation for his complexities, and Collins writes him with empathy, insight, and care.
The plot is strong and well-paced overall, filled with tension and emotional weight. I was especially impressed by the character development—not just of Haymitch, but also the supporting cast and some familiar names from the other books, who felt vivid and real. That said, I did find some parts of the story a little slower, particularly when Haymitch is alone in the arena. The pace lagged just slightly there for me, but it didn’t take away from the emotional punch of the story’s final chapters.
And what an ending. I found myself crying through the last 20 pages—Collins doesn’t hold back, and the emotional impact really hits hard. Even though we know how Haymitch’s story ends from the original trilogy, this novel breathes new life into his past in a way that’s both heartbreaking and beautiful.
All in all, Sunrise on the Reaping is a deeply satisfying read—thoughtful, tense, and emotionally resonant. Whether you’re a longtime Hunger Games fan or relatively new to the series, this is a book that deserves your attention. A solid 4.5 stars from me.
Overall reaction:
This month’s book club took us back to the world of Panem, as we gathered at Good Day Café in Bath to discuss Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins—and what a brilliant choice it was. Along with most of the group, I found this prequel absolutely gripping. Collins has a way of pulling you straight into her world, and it was both nostalgic and fascinating to return to the universe she created in The Hunger Games trilogy.
In Sunrise on the Reaping, we follow a young Haymitch Abernathy during his own Hunger Games—decades before Katniss Everdeen volunteers as tribute. It’s a clever and compelling story that adds so much depth to a character we’ve known for years but perhaps never fully understood. Watching Haymitch’s journey unfold gave me a new appreciation for his complexities, and Collins writes him with empathy, insight, and care.
The plot is strong and well-paced overall, filled with tension and emotional weight. I was especially impressed by the character development—not just of Haymitch, but also the supporting cast and some familiar names from the other books, who felt vivid and real. That said, I did find some parts of the story a little slower, particularly when Haymitch is alone in the arena. The pace lagged just slightly there for me, but it didn’t take away from the emotional punch of the story’s final chapters.
And what an ending. I found myself crying through the last 20 pages—Collins doesn’t hold back, and the emotional impact really hits hard. Even though we know how Haymitch’s story ends from the original trilogy, this novel breathes new life into his past in a way that’s both heartbreaking and beautiful.
All in all, Sunrise on the Reaping is a deeply satisfying read—thoughtful, tense, and emotionally resonant. Whether you’re a longtime Hunger Games fan or relatively new to the series, this is a book that deserves your attention. A solid 4.5 stars from me.
Overall reaction:
