RILEY RAINS / SPORTS EDITOR

A   new  Hunger  Games tribute  has  entered   the  arena — this  time, through  the  eyes of a  different  generation. Susanne Collins recently released her second prequel to “The Hunger Games” franchise, “Sunrise on the Reaping.” The novel follows Haymitch Abernathy’s games, giving us a window into the past life of Katniss Everdeen’s mentor. Readers gain insight into Haymitch’s life in District 12, his romantic and personal relationships  and  his attempt to  stand  up  to  the  Capitol. 

In the  original  books, which  follow  the   74th  and  75th  games, Haymitch is a decrepit drunk   who   starts   off   useless  to  the  main  characters,   Katniss and Peeta. However, once the aging victor sees Katniss’s defiance, he is encouraged to aid in the revolution. Thanks to Haymitch, Katniss and Peeta’s resistance, the “rebels” eventually overturn the oppressive Capitol that hosts the Hunger Games. 

Some    USD   students   enjoyed getting a different perspective on Haymitch in the new book. USD first-year Adriana  Quezada  gave   her  input   after completing the novel. 

“I practically flew through the book because it was that good,” Quezada explained. “In my opinion, ‘Sunrise on the Reaping’ is probably the most devastating book in the whole series, but it is also poignant, thought-provoking and incredibly relevant. It left me with a large pit in my stomach when I finished reading and has made me see the original trilogy in a whole new light.”

Allusions to how  the games began are sprinkled in the original  series. The   war, ending 74  years   before   Katniss’s   game,  was  caused  by   rebellion  in  the  13 districts.  The  “Dark  Days,”  as   characters  call  it,  resulted  in the   destruction   of  District  13 and   the    implementation   of   the    Hunger   Games  as   a symbol of the Capitol’s power. Every year, a reaping event is held  and  two  children from each   district  are   called  to  fight to  the  death  on  live  television. Only one victor remains. The games were named after the starvation that festered its way through all areas of Panem  during  the  Dark  Days. 

The new prequel centers around  the  50th  Hunger   Games, the  second  quarter quell. Haymitch’s game is unique  because  there  are double     the    amount   of   tributes:  48   instead  of  the usual 24. Haymitch, in the book, calls it “two Hunger Games in one.” 

Collins’ books always are double edged swords — she is known for strong plots with intense   messages,  and   she never  writes   without   a   purpose. In an interview with David    Levithan,  Collins’   editor, she  described  what  type of   themes   the  novel   surrounds.  

“Within the story, I’m attempting to have implicit submission play out on three levels: individual, Hunger Games and national,” Collins explained. “First, there’s Haymitch’s personal dramatic arc. Will he defy his own implicit submission to the Capitol and stop that reaping? The second level plays out during the actual Hunger Games. By refusing to demonstrate implicit submission, will Ampert’s alliance against the Careers upend the usual results in the arena, allowing a Newcomer to win? Finally, there’s the nation of Panem, in which not just the districts, but the entire country has ceded power to a dictator and his cronies.”

Without spoilers, Ampert is one of Haymitch’s allies in the games — someone whose father readers know and love. Collins dances the line of a variety of different narratives, reflecting our real world in every sentence. USD junior Hailey Wood explained the connections she observed.

“I saw a lot of connections to modern day society with the all-powerful government taking control of people who don’t have a voice,” Wood said. “I can see the government using money and power to corrupt innocent lives today through deportation, taxes, [lack of] prison reform, etc. It honestly scares me how much our reality is becoming a dystopian novel especially with the most recent election.”

Collins uses propaganda as a major foothold for the story’s plot. The Capitol uses the catchphrase “NO GAMES, NO PEACE” to keep citizens in line with its oppressive rule. Collins also addresses problems like the ignorance of the rich, child labor and class division. Quezada commended Collins for her ability to spark difficult conversations. 

“I admire Suzanne Collins so much because of her tendency to write when she wants to make a statement,” Quezada said. “It was honestly scary to read this book and see some striking connections to our society, country and world as of late. Propaganda and nationalism were huge themes in this book.”

Propaganda    is    indisputably a large part of “Sunrise on the Reaping,” but   some  readers  felt  the message was superficial. Kaylee Nguyen, a John Hopkins News-Letter editor, highlighted  the  flaws that she  saw. 

“In terms of the portrayal of propaganda, I found it to be surface-level at best,” Nguyen wrote. “Rather than offering the sharp, unflinching commentary that made the original series a literary phenomenon, ‘Sunrise on the Reaping’ leans on nostalgia, threading its narrative  through  the  familiar rather than the daring. Its political commentary (while present) lacks the layers of its predecessors.”

Some agree with Nguyen, and felt that the series relied heavily on the original trilogy and lacked depth. Staff writer Hannah Galway for The Harvard Crimson shared her critiques in a review. 

“While the ending is emotional — since audiences have come to  love Haymitch  over   the  course  of   this  book and  the  original  trilogy — there is  little information  shared that will actually enhance readings of the other books,” Galway explained. “In short, ‘Sunrise on the Reaping’ just feels   unnecessary  in  the   grand scheme of Collins’ universe. It’s  a  treat  for fans, but on  its  own doesn’t have much new to say, and its redundancy threatens to weaken the overall impact of the series.”

USD sophomore Ella Fitzpatrick, an avid reader, disagrees. Fitzpatrick described her praise and excitement for Collins’ writing.

“I mean, in  my opinion I don’t   think   anybody  does  it  like   Susan    Collins,”  Fitzpatrick said.  “She is the blueprint for a lot of fantasy novels that we see coming out nowadays … I feel like the characters that she tends to write  tend  to be morally  gray or complex. This  book adds  a lot of  depth  to  the  narrative, and it fills in  missing pieces. She gave   us  a  better  understanding of the main storyline.”                         

While many of USD’s “Hunger Games” readers were excited for the book, even more are ecstatic for the movie. Lionsgate, the film company producing ‘Sunrise on the Reaping,’ is releasing the casting list gradually: two characters a day, and as always, ladies first. Students are buzzing with anticipation in light of the tease that reflects the structure of the reaping. 

“The casting for this movie is already perfect,” Wood stated. “Joseph Zada and Whitney Peak look just like how I imagined  Haymitch and Lenore Dove while reading the book. I also saw McKenna Grace’s casting coming from a mile away. She will be so perfect for Maysilee Donner. The casting team is doing an amazing job so far, and I cannot wait for more actors to be announced. ‘The Hunger Games’ movies are some of the best book-to-movie  adaptations ever, in my opinion, and I have no doubt that this new movie will be just as good, if not better, than the other movies.”

With the movie expected to be released in November of 2026, students are excited to see what else Collins has in store. Regardless of varied opinions, Haymitch’s story has given readers a snapshot into his dark past. Collins wasn’t done with Panem, and neither are fans at USD. 

Many bookstores quickly sold out of Suzanne Collins’ new novel, ‘Sunrise on the Reaping.’ Photo courtesy of @novelswithnick/Instagram