There’s a lot to be excited about regarding the upcomingThe Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping, but a broken trend means the upcoming book must follow inBallad of Songbirds and Snakes’footsteps. The newest prequel novel from author Suzanne Collins will follow Haymitch Abernathy through the 50th Hunger Games, and this is a story that has been heavily requested. One of the reasons that this prospect is so exciting is that it’s an opportunity to answer some of the biggest mysteries the four previousHunger Gamesbooks set up surrounding District 12 and its citizens.
Between the threeHunger GamesbooksandThe Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, it’s evident that there is a lot left to learn about District 12 and its people. The whole story of Katniss' parents is among these mysteries. The original trilogy alluded to some significant drama in their early romance, but the details are never clear. Then,Ballad of Songbirds and Snakescreated another intriguing mystery by establishing parallels between Lucy Gray Baird and Mr. Everdeen.Sunrise on the Reapingis the perfect opportunityto fill in the missing pieces, butthe book’s timeline could be a problem.
The New Hunger Games Book Starting With The Reaping Means There Won’t Be Much Time For District 12
Haymitch Won’t Be In District 12 Long At The Start Of Sunrise On The Reaping
One of the teases aboutSunrise on the Reapingis that it will pick up on the morning thatHaymitch Abernathy is reaped for the 50th Hunger Games. This means readers will only get one day set in District 12 before Haymitch is shipped off to the Capitolto fight against other unlucky teenagers. This isn’t long to get to know the younger versions of this District’s citizens. It was hoped that we would see the teenage Mr. and Mrs. Everdeen, and perhaps get some confirmation that Katniss' father was Covey like Lucy Gray. However, it seems that District 12 will be left behind rather quickly.
Sunrise On The Reaping Can Subtly Answer District 12 Questions During Haymitch’s Hunger Games
Haymitch’s Inner Dialogue Can Reveal A Lot
At the very least,we can hope thatSunrise on the Reapingwill more passively answer our questions about District 12and its characters throughout Haymitch’s story. Katniss' inner dialogue did as much in theHunger Gamesbooks, since she was frequently thinking about her loved ones back home while in the Capitol. As she remembered certain events involving her father or the general citizens of District 12, Katniss took readers down memory lane with her. Haymitch is sure to think about his brother, girlfriend, and other people from home during his time in the Capitol and in the arena.
One of Haymitch’s fellow tributes, Maysilee Donner, can also answer some old mysteries throughout Sunrise on the Reaping’s story.
One of Haymitch’s fellow tributes, Maysilee Donner, can also answer some old mysteries throughoutSunrise on the Reaping’s story. Maysilee was Katniss' mother’s best friend before she was killed in the Hunger Games. When Maysilee and Haymitch team up in the arena, they may talk about the people they know and love from home, and these discussions could mean a great deal to readers who have the context ofThe Hunger Games. Still, it would be better ifSunrise on the Reapingprovided a more direct exploration of District 12’s stories, andBallad of Songbirds and Snakescould have the answer.
Haymitch’s Hunger Games Win May Just Be The Halfway Point
The originalHunger Gamestrilogy followed a common formula, andeach book typically ended just after the Hunger Games event concluded. The first book came to a close after Katniss and Peeta won the 74th games,Catching Fireendedwhen the tributes escaped the 75th games' arena, and the third book ended shortly after the war itself (which was, in a sense, its own more immense Hunger Games).Ballad of Songbirds and Snakesinterrupted this formula, however, since the 10th Hunger Games' ending was only about the mid-point of the book. The rest was spent mainly in District 12.
TheSunrise on the Reapingbook releases on August 22, 2025.
Readers learned a lot about District 12 when Coriolanus Snow was stationed there as a Peacekeeper. This is when Lucy Gray was inspired to write the Hanging Tree song that Katniss' father would eventually teach her. This is also when the Covey showed Snow the lake in the woods—another secret of District 12 that Mr. Everdeen shared with his daughter. IfSunrise on the Reapingcontinues past the ending of the Hunger Games like Snow’s prequel did, then this could be precisely the opportunity readers are looking for. Perhaps, these big District 12 mysteries can finally be solved.
