After a five year wait, fans of “The Hunger Games” were treated to a new installment in Suzanne Collins’ critically acclaimed trilogy with the release of “Sunrise on the Reaping.” This novel was an emotional rollercoaster that paralleled her previous novels and thoughtfully brought a detailed backstory to Haymitch Abernathy.
The story follows Haymitch, mentor of Katniss and Peeta in the original trilogy. However, in order for Haymitch to become their mentor, he had to win his own games. This is the story of how he did it, and the trauma he endured.
Although most readers already know and love Haymitch, Collins did a superb job of introducing his character as one to truly root for. My one criticism is that she provided excessive details on certain subjects which took away from the overall plot, making this novel very clearly oriented to longtime fans. This included frequent mention of previous characters such as Katniss’s parents, Lucy Gray Baird’s descendents, Effie Trinket and past victors. Despite the fact that it was interesting to see them 25 years younger, it felt unnecessary to the plot and forced.
However, I really enjoyed the slow deterioration of Haymitch’s hopes and morals. This really brought a light to the complexities seen within his character, adding much needed dimension. Throughout the novel we see small pieces of his character alter with each traumatic event. The subtle building of his painful experiences was amazing writing, and it explained his deep psychological issues in the later books. It also deepened my connection to his character, making his further challenges more emotional and upsetting.
Additionally, I appreciated the new characters introduced. Maysilee Donner, another tribute from District 12 embodies this. Haymitch’s original perception of her as an arrogant snob was proven to be inaccurate as we watched her character develop immensely. She was a fiery addition to the games, and I was truly saddened by her inevitable death.
Ultimately, this book surprised me. As it was mentioned and briefly told in previous books, I thought the story would be redundant. However, this book was a heart wrenching adventure that left me on the verge of tears. I felt more connected to Haymitch than I ever did to Katniss or Peeta. This was a beautifully written novel, and I would highly recommend it to fans of “The Hunger Games.”