Anyone involved in the book world has probably heard about the newest prequel to the notorious series “The Hunger Games”: “Sunrise on the Reaping”. Readers have wanted to learn more about Haymitch Abernathy’s story since the original book came out, and they finally have that opportunity. Set 24 years before the first book during the 50th Quarter Quell, readers follow Haymitch and his navigation through the reaping, and eventually, the Games. He spends his time trying to paint his poster, all the while thinking about how he can get back to his family and his girl. Gripping and gut-wrenching, Suzanne Collins has an amazing ability to expand on book series with great prequels.

Not only does “Sunrise on the Reaping” take a deep dive into Haymitch’s story, it’s also told from his point of view, much like how the original trilogy is told from Katniss’. Readers find it easier to sympathize with Haymitch because they feel like they’re not just in the arena with him, but they’re in the arena as him. In addition to developing Haymitch’s story, the book also expands on other characters from the original trilogy. Readers have found that this helps make the prequel feel necessary to developing “The Hunger Games” as a series and not a cash grab.

“It made me understand why [Haymitch] is who he is in the trilogy,” Anna Gamble (’27) said.

The original series follows themes such as social inequality, division and control. The divide between what the Capital sees as impoverished versus what the districts do is extreme and parallels the level of gross over consumption in the world today. By keeping the districts separate from each other and the Capital, the amount of control held over the citizens increases greatly. “Sunrise on the Reaping” both expands and adds to these themes. Haymitch often remarks that he knows very little about other districts and doesn’t understand why Capital citizens feel the need to have so much. In addition to that, the book continues to expand themes that are timely to the world climate. This book focuses on propaganda, specifically what the government chooses to show and omit from news coverages and live TV. Quotes about propaganda from figures like George Orwell and David Hume decorate the first page. 

“Definitely ‘[the Capital] is not unbeatable’ was a theme we saw in ‘Sunrise on the Reaping,’” Bowen Cuthbertson (’27) said.

The final aspect that makes this a perfectly crafted prequel is the integration the story has with the preexisting books. As readers sift through, they find more and more connections between “Sunrise on the Reaping,” “The Battle of Songbirds and Snakes” and the original trilogy. Previously nameless characters become named and backstories are revealed, particularly for a lot of characters present in “Catching Fire.” The depth that is added to characters through this book makes rereading the original series mean so much more.

“[The book explains] how media censorship by the government is really dangerous, and I think that’s really relevant right now,” Ksenia Koltovich (’26) said.