A review by popthebutterfly
Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins

adventurous challenging dark emotional inspiring reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

 
Disclaimer: I bought 5 copies of this book. Support your authors! All opinions are my own. 

 

Book: Sunrise on the Reaping 

 

Author: Suzanne Collins 

 

Book Series: The Hunger Games 0.5 

 

Rating: 5/5 

 

Diversity: Indigenous, Black, and POC characters 

 

Recommended For...: Young Adult readers, Dystopian, Fantasy, Science Fiction 

 

Publication Date: March 18, 2025 

 

Genre: YA Dystopian 

 

Age Relevance: 16+ (alcohol, alcohol consumption, violence, gore, parental death, death, child abuse, suicidal ideation) 

 

Explanation of CWs: There are a couple of mentions and scenes involving alcohol and alcohol consumption, especially underage alcohol consumption at the end of the book. There is violence, blood gore, and puke shown in the book. There are mentions and scenes of parental, child, and other death. There is a child abuse scene. There are mentions of suicide and suicide ideation. 

 

If This Was a Taylor Swift Song: Eyes Open 

 

Publisher: Scholastic Press 

 

Pages: 382 

 

Synopsis: As the day dawns on the fiftieth annual Hunger Games, fear grips the districts of Panem. This year, in honor of the Quarter Quell, twice as many tributes will be taken from their homes. Back in District 12, Haymitch Abernathy is trying not to think too hard about his chances. All he cares about is making it through the day and being with the girl he loves. When Haymitch’s name is called, he can feel all his dreams break. He’s torn from his family and his love, shuttled to the Capitol with the three other District 12 tributes: a young friend who’s nearly a sister to him, a compulsive oddsmaker, and the most stuck-up girl in town. As the Games begin, Haymitch understands he’s been set up to fail. But there’s something in him that wants to fight . . . and have that fight reverberate far beyond the deadly arena. 

 

Review: I am not well after reading this book. And like… in a good way. I have been a long time fan of this series since I was younger so I didn’t have any expectations going into this book. I knew it would be good and I know that Suzanne always writes when she has something to say so I wanted to sit and hear it. But the level of lore, detail, and such deep examination of US propaganda is so amazing. The book is expertly written. The worldbuilding is unreal. The book and its connections to the series are next level. I want to give a hug to Suzanne and thank her for this life changing read. And like, that’s all I can call this book really: life-changing. This book will force you to confront the horrors and levels of propaganda that the US has used and will use and that’s so unfortunately important in today’s age. Reading is political and Suzanne proves this time and time again. 

 

The only thing I could even dent the book for is that it leaves me wanting more and that I want more of Haymitch. And that now I’m strangely craving to see Woody Harrelson on the screen again. 

 

Verdict: It was FANTASTIC! This book and series are required reading.