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I’m still not sure if this book really added anything to the world of The Hunger Games, besides giving us the tragic backstory of a fan-favourite character. All the mentions of Capitol propaganda and rebellion against the Capitol felt quite in-your-face and heavy-handed, and I remember those messages in the original trilogy being more subtle and nuanced, more of a show-don’t-tell vibe. And I wish the concluding section where Haymitch faces the consequences of his actions since the reaping was more drawn out, rather than being condensed into a few hours and a couple of chapters. Like Katniss recovering from the trauma of her first games, that aspect of Haymitch’s story is actually of more interest to me, and I really wanted there to be more of a focus on that part.
But despite my criticisms, this book still made me feel all the emotions, and I always love diving back into the fantastic worldbuilding that Collins has done. The amount of hype for this book just goes to show how timeless this series is, and how relevant it is to the world right now.
Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Death, Violence, Blood, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Alcoholism, Vomit, Police brutality, Medical content, Death of parent
Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal death, Child death, Death, Violence, Blood, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Addiction, Police brutality, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Body horror, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Police brutality, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
Graphic: Child death, Death, Grief, Death of parent
Moderate: Animal death, Physical abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Graphic: Child death, Violence
Moderate: Blood, Grief, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Alcoholism, Animal death, Suicide, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury
If I had to describe Sunrise on the Reaping in one word, it would be painful. This book hits hard—emotionally, politically, and personally—especially if you’ve always been curious about Haymitch's backstory.
Haymitch has always been a complicated character—sarcastic, guarded, always with a drink in hand. But this book really makes you understand why. Life was brutal to him from the moment his name was called at the Reaping. The trauma he faced, the choices he was forced to make, and the aftermath he had to live with—it’s heartbreaking. And while turning to alcohol isn’t a healthy coping mechanism, Sunrise on the Reaping shows why it makes sense for someone who’s seen and experienced that much pain. You can’t help but feel for him.
What really stood out was how we got to be inside Haymitch’s head. He wasn’t trying to be a hero or make a political statement. He was just a kid, trying to survive and protect the people he cared about. And yet, in his own quiet way, he challenged the Capitol. He painted his own kind of poster—one that President Snow definitely saw, even if others didn’t fully get it.
Suzanne Collins does what she does best in this book: reminding us that the real enemy is often the system itself. The Capitol’s manipulation of truth, fear, and violence isn’t just a plot device—it reflects the way real-world power structures work too. And oh.. the way everything connects in every book is always mind-blowing to me. I can kiss Suzanne's mind over and over again. Suzanne Collins, you are genius.
If you’re a fan of The Hunger Games, this book is a must-read. It’s heavy, it’s powerful, and it makes you see Haymitch in a whole new light. I can’t wait to see the movie adaptation next year—it’s going to be emotional for sure.
Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal death, Child death, Death, Drug use, Torture, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail
Graphic: Addiction, Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Gore, Violence, Blood, Grief, Medical trauma, Murder, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Death of parent, Pregnancy
Graphic: Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail
Graphic: Alcoholism, Body horror, Child death, Confinement, Death, Gore, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, War, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Addiction, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Confinement, Cursing, Drug use, Mental illness, Slavery, Torture, Vomit, Medical content, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Classism
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Confinement, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Alcohol, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism