Review by hiddenfallacies - Sunrise on the Reaping

hiddenfallacies 's review for:

Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins

5.0

challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Sunrise perfectly encapsulates the feelings of dread, grief, and fear that have come to define today's world. This novel expertly uses the concept of propaganda to explore why corrupt governments are able to retain power over the many. Perhaps, most importantly, it reminds its readers that resistance in the face of evil is never in vain. That even if the changes accomplished today are small, they will help enable future generations to accomplish what we could not. The actions of the past are never meaningless, even if they will never be publicly known. Like Haymitch, we all must do what we can to paint our own posters and resist any attempts to control us for as long as we can.

Haymitch was not a perfect protagonist or a rebel hero. He was simply human. His emotional journey throughout Sunrise, and his capacity to blame himself for both real or perceived failings, grounded the plot in reality. Any of us have the capability to intervene when injustice is in front of us. To continue resisting even when it's been decided by broader forces that an example will be made of us. The fact that Haymitch only truly broke

upon returning to District 12 and losing the last of his love ones

speaks to his strong will. No one can blame him for ending up in the state we met him in come Hunger Games. Just existing, continuing to live despite everything, was Haymitch's greatest act of resistance.

Just because your acts of rebellion go unseen does not mean they didn't make a difference. Do not comply early. Remember that attempting to protect your loved ones, and yourself, will always be a noble cause. Cruelty cannot endure forever so long as people remain to fight against it.

Content Warnings