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Sunrise on the Reaping
Summary
It's 24 years before the events of The Hunger Games. In Panem, the 50th Games are a Quarter Quell, and the Capitol decides to double the toll: every district now sends four tributes into the arena instead of two.
The reaping lands right on Haymitch Abernathy's 16th birthday. He's a short-fused District 12 kid who sells liquor on the side and just wants to get back to his family and his girlfriend, Lenore Dove. By the end of the day, Haymitch is among the chosen, and the ceremony even gets restaged so it looks good on the broadcast.
In the Capitol, he meets the other District 12 tributes, including the wealthy, prickly Maysilee Donner. Mentors come from other districts, alliances form fast, and President Snow keeps a close eye on everything. Early on, Haymitch notices that the Capitol controls which version of events reaches the screens.
The book returns to the series' favorite question, real or not real, this time through the eyes of Katniss's future mentor. It's the fifth volume of the saga and the second prequel, after The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.
Awards and nominees
- Goodreads Choice Awards 2025 · Young Adult Fantasy & Science Fiction
Trivia
- Suzanne Collins drew on philosopher David Hume and his idea of how easily the many are governed by the few.
- It sold more than 1.5 million copies worldwide in its first week, the biggest debut in the series.
- Lenore Dove sings lines from "The Goose and the Common," an 18th-century poem protesting land enclosure in England.
- Lionsgate set the film for November 20, 2026, with Francis Lawrence directing and Joseph Zada as Haymitch.
Characters
- Haymitch AbernathyA short-fused District 12 tribute who bootlegs liquor and turns 16 on reaping day.
- Lenore Dove BairdHaymitch's girlfriend, a member of the nomadic Covey.
- Maysilee DonnerA wealthy, prickly District 12 tribute and the original owner of the mockingjay pin.
- BeeteeA former District 3 victor who mentors his own son in the Games.
- Coriolanus SnowPanem's president, who rules with an iron fist.
About the author
Suzanne CollinsCreator of The Hunger GamesChildren's TV writer turned young adult novelist. She created The Hunger Games, a dystopia about teens forced to fight to the death on live TV, which sold millions and became a film series. She returned to Panem with the prequels The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes and Sunrise on the Reaping.
Full biography →Sources: en.wikipedia.org · goodreads.com
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