Sunrise on the Reaping Review and Summary (Spoilers!)

I'd like to preface this post by saying: This is a review of Suzanne Collins new novel. These are my thoughts, and there will be spoilers of Sunrise on the Reaping as well as her other series. Read at your own risk.

I'm ashamed to admit that while I've enjoyed every Hunger Games movie, I had never read the books...until last month. And let me just say, I DEVOURED them. I didn't want to believe it, but truly, the books are so much better. I finally got my hands on Sunrise on the Reaping through my library (I started 500th line!), and it was fantastic. Absolutely soul-crushing. I cried entirely too much. And while I can't wait for the SOTR movie, I'd bet the book will still be better.

Sunrise on the Reaping Summary

At this point, I don't think I need to recap the series for anyone, especially if you're reading this post. Sunrise on the Reaping is Haymitch's tragic story. Suzanne gives us insight as to why he becomes the bitter drunk we see in Katniss's story. And after reading SOTR, let me just say, this man doesn't drink ENOUGH. And I will never look a goose the same again.

Haymitch was born on July 4th, also known as Reaping Day. He is a typical sixteen-year-old boy who enjoys sneaking off with his love, Lenore Dove (Who is Covey. If you've read/watched The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, you know why that's interesting). Lenore Dove, his mother, and his brother, Sal are his favorite people - his family. Haymitch also helps distill white liquor, which generates a little more income in addition to his mother's washing business.

On Reaping Day, Haymitch's priority is spending time with Lenore Dove and her beloved geese before the ceremony. After spending some time in their favorite meadow, they anxiously gather with the rest of the twelve-eighteen year old children. Since it is the quarter-quell, there are special rules: two boys and two girls will be reaped instead of one. 48 children in total. For me, the most tragic part is that Haymitch was never actually reaped. He was illegally chosen as a punishment.

Haymitch gets involved when a Peacekeeper is about to harm Lenore Dove. The reaping went sideways after one the boys runs instead of walking on stage. He is killed, and the Peacekeepers try to keep his mother away from him. Lenore Dove doesn't stand for it, and tries to force the reunion. Peacekeepers aren't kind, despite their name, and will do whatever is necessary to keep the citizens in line. Haymitch is dragged away without being able to say goodbye to Lenore Dove, or his family. Plutarch Heavensbee intervenes eventually and manipulates them into allowing Haymitch to say goodbye.

Haymitch is reaped with Wyatt, Louella, and Maysilee. Wyatt's family is all about calculating odds, and betting. Maysilee comes from a well to do family (as well as one can be in District Twelve). Louella is special though. She is Haymitch's sweetheart. Not in a romantic way, but he does care for her deeply. On the train, Haymitch comforts Louella: "In every way, you are a thousand times better than anybody in the Capitol. You are loved better, raised better, and a whole lot better company. You are the best ally I could ever hope for. Okay, sweetheart?" Their friendship is incredibly sweet, though short-lived. Poor Louella doesn't even make it the arena and is killed during the opening ceremony. After her death, the Capitol does something particularly heinous by "replacing" Louella with a look alike from District 11.

Because there hasn't been a single winner from District Twelve in 50 years, Mags and Wiress are assigned to them as mentors. It was exciting seeing them engage with Haymitch after the main trilogy. Once in the Capitol, Plutarch spends a lot of time encouraging Haymitch to start a revolution. Even though his is only 16, Haymitch decides to help Beetee's son Ampert destroy the arena. Effie is introduced after District Twelve's costume designer decides they aren't important enough to show up for. She graciously arrives with outfits from her family's closets.

The arena is actually quite breathtaking: fields of flowers, flowing streams, and a picture-worthy mountain. But of course, things are not as they seem. Everything is poison. Additionally, there are Capitol mutts that appear to be adorable creatures. Ampert unfortunately becomes the target of an attack when Haymitch is attempting to blow up the water reservoir in the arena. Not only does he fail, Ampert dies tragically. Wyatt dies defending LouLou (the nickname for Louella body double), and LouLou dies after being poisoned by flower pollen. Maysilee and Haymitch are the only ones left from District Twelve. They team up, and work together to survive the Careers.

Unfortunately Maysilee doesn't survive and Haymitch is the survivor. Because of Haymitch's rebellion in the arena, he becomes Snow's latest target. Mags and Wiress are tortured, explaining their altered state in the trilogy. Haymitch returns to find his home on fire, with his mother and Sal inside. They don't survive. After starving Lenore Dove in prison for days, she is let out and meets Haymitch in the meadow. She finds gumdrops and assumes they're from Haymitch. But they're from Snow and they're poisoned. Because Lenore Dove's stomach was empty, the poison works quickly and she dies in Haymitch's arms. He has lost everything. He pushes everyone away in fear of Snow hurting them. This is how Haymitch becomes a miserable, secluded, alcoholic.

Sunrise on the Reaping Review

I adored this book. Suzanne Collins does a fantastic job of sharing an important topic with a young audience. One of my favorite quotes says, "And that's part of our trouble. Thinking things are inevitable. Not believing change is possible." Lenore Dove says this to Haymitch while in their meadow, discussing how the reaping will happen no matter what. Collins is encouraging her readers to do something. Do something to enact the change you want to see. Do something to stand up to those who harm others for entertainment. After the reaping, Haymitch comments, "She isn't crying, so Plutarch won't get his tearful good-bye. Not from her and not from me. They will not use our tears for their entertainment."

Aside from the political message, the story is just wonderful. Maysilee is my favorite character. She represents strength we could all use. I loved how Suzanne showed us different characters from the trilogy including Beetee, Wiress, Mags, Effie, and Plutarch. Snow is the ultimate villain, and on the same level as Voldemort in my opinion. Speaking of Voldemort, apparently the budget for SOTR is unlimited because the actor who played Voldemort has been cast as Snow.

This is easily the best book I've read this year so far. It deserves a full 5/5 star rating. As I already said, I cried more than I thought I would, especially at the end. Sunrise on the Reaping changed the way I see the world and helped me understand reading truly is political.