Return of the Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping

Suzanne Collins is stepping back into the arena with her newest installment of her bestselling series, The Hunger Games. Originally released in 2008, the dystopian novel is one of the most well-known books in the world. The franchise hasn’t seen a new installment since 2020, with the release of The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, and fans were ecstatic to receive a new book featuring one of the most beloved side characters in the original novel. 

The Hunger Games takes place in the USA, roughly 300 years in the future. It’s based on a girl named Katniss Everdeen, who was selected to compete in the 74th annual Hunger Games- a battle to the death with the promise of food and prosperity for the winner. As a part of the Hunger Games, a girl and boy from each of the twelve districts is selected to compete for the entertainment of the wealthy citizens of the Capitol, a city reserved for the famous and rich. The story follows Katniss throughout the battle and her evolving connection with the male competitor from her district, Peeta Mellark. 

Collins’ newest release, Sunrise on the Reaping, is set prior to the events in the original novel, and is told from the perspective of one of the most adored characters in the series: Haymitch Abernathy. As one of Katniss’s mentors in the original book, Haymitch is known for his cunning and spunk, and remains a fan favorite amongst readers of Collins’ work. In fact, the movie adaptation is already in the works, and is expected to be released sometime in Fall 2026.

The book, though the fifth novel to be released in the franchise, is labelled as book 0.5, and is a great read to familiarize yourself with the characters. It helps to set up the events in The Hunger Games, and gives ample bac kstory on some of the more important characters in the first book. 

Collins is known for her beautiful writing and detailed character development, and Sunrise on the Reaping is no exception. It’s a great way to top off the enthralling series, with the introduction of important characters and conflicts that tie into Haymitch’s character throughout the franchise. The novella does an amazing job making connections between Haymitch and Katniss’s life, and even between characters mentioned fleetingly in the rest of the series. 

Sunrise on the Reaping is nothing but perfection, and is one of the best prologues to a series I’ve ever read. Collins’ work does a great job of incorporating every detail mentioned in the storyline. All in all, I’d recommend this series, but especially this novella, to anyone who’s looking for a captivating dystopian read.