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A review by betweentheshelves
Sunrise On The Reaping by Suzanne Collins
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Suzanne Collins really was like, you wanna see why Haymitch drinks all the time? Bet. And then wrote a story guaranteed to emotionally devastate you, but also comment on the current political climate (as she does). Getting the full story of Haymitch's Games changes the context of the books that follow. Especially when it comes to propaganda and who gets to tell the story. I highly recommend reading the Q&A with Suzanne Collins that's included in the B&N edition because it shows her thought process and the importance of the quotes at the beginning of the book.
While the overall structure of the story is familiar (Reaping, Game prep, Games themselves, aftermath), we get different insight in this book, especially in relation to the whispers of rebellion in Panem. Haymitch's and Katniss's Games parallel each other in so many ways, honestly making me like their relationship in the original books even more.
From a plot standpoint, you could probably read this before reading the original trilogy, but I think you get more out of it if you don't read them in chronological order (plus there are spoilers in the epilogue for Mockingjay). The little connections, both from Katniss's story and from Ballad, make this an even more intense reading experience. Lots of people from other stories make an appereance in this book, giving us more context for their backgrounds as well.
In addition to familiar faces, we meet a lot of new people as well. It is a Hunger Games novel, though, so be wary of getting attached to anyone because there are 48 people in Haymitch's Games. 48. If you read Ballad and thought that getting Snow's background made hime more likable, Suzanne Collins really said think again. His actions in this book...oof.
Suzanne Collins is a masterful storyteller, writing stories you'll still be thinking about long after you finish them. There's so much more I want to say about this book, so I'll probably write a blog post about it eventually. If you are a Hunger Games fan, I would say this book is a must-read.
Also, side note, does anyone else remember this <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7mUjssn86h4">fan made video</a> from back when the original books came out? It came to mind while I was reading this, and the real story behind the Games is so much worse than we ever could have imagined.
While the overall structure of the story is familiar (Reaping, Game prep, Games themselves, aftermath), we get different insight in this book, especially in relation to the whispers of rebellion in Panem. Haymitch's and Katniss's Games parallel each other in so many ways, honestly making me like their relationship in the original books even more.
From a plot standpoint, you could probably read this before reading the original trilogy, but I think you get more out of it if you don't read them in chronological order (plus there are spoilers in the epilogue for Mockingjay). The little connections, both from Katniss's story and from Ballad, make this an even more intense reading experience. Lots of people from other stories make an appereance in this book, giving us more context for their backgrounds as well.
In addition to familiar faces, we meet a lot of new people as well. It is a Hunger Games novel, though, so be wary of getting attached to anyone because there are 48 people in Haymitch's Games. 48. If you read Ballad and thought that getting Snow's background made hime more likable, Suzanne Collins really said think again. His actions in this book...oof.
Suzanne Collins is a masterful storyteller, writing stories you'll still be thinking about long after you finish them. There's so much more I want to say about this book, so I'll probably write a blog post about it eventually. If you are a Hunger Games fan, I would say this book is a must-read.
Also, side note, does anyone else remember this <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7mUjssn86h4">fan made video</a> from back when the original books came out? It came to mind while I was reading this, and the real story behind the Games is so much worse than we ever could have imagined.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, and Violence
Moderate: Alcoholism, Death of parent, and Alcohol
Minor: Suicide, Torture, and War