Book Review: Sunrise on the Reaping
Here’s my review of Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins. Don’t forget to leave a comment if you’ve read it or plan to read it, or if you have any other book recommendations to share.
Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins won the Goodreads Readers’ Choice award for Young Adult Fantasy and Sci-Fi this year, and for very good reasons. It’s as thrilling as it is heartbreaking, as introspective as it is entertaining, and will keep readers turning pages the whole time they’re reading it. If you’ve read any of the books in The Hunger Games series, you won’t want to miss this one, as it is quickly becoming a fan favorite.
At first, I was skeptical about reading this book, as I wasn’t sure if there could be that much more to add to The Hunger Games repertoire pre-Katniss, post-Snow. But that skepticism was quickly thwarted once I started reading the book and became immediately immersed in a more intimate portrayal of Haymitch Abernathy.
Haymitch Abernathy’s perspective is similar to Katniss Evergreen’s perspective, as he is also from District 12 and finds himself unwittingly thrown into the chaos of participating in the Hunger Games. Unlike Katniss, however, he is not a Capitol favorite in the beginning and outright defies Snow in a very memorable scene prior to the tribute interviews, which inevitably brings him nothing but turmoil and heartbreak… ultimately explaining his advice to Katniss in the other books when he becomes her mentor in a later Hunger Games. Be forewarned that his story is heart-wrenching, though he will make you laugh from time to time with his sarcasm and wit.
Collins does an excellent job balancing exciting action scenes with thorough character development throughout this novel. It’s impossible not to care deeply about Haymitch and the fellow tributes he interacts with, even when he is pushed to his limits whilst trying to survive his worst nightmare come true. And while there are plenty of exciting scenes that will have readers’ blood racing, it will be impossible to forget who they’re rooting for in the end and why, even when Haymitch does things that he’s not proud of or happy about as he learns the real essence of state power and propaganda.
Characters like Plutarch and Effie are also interesting and compelling to follow, as they navigate the (mostly figurative) political borders between District 12 and the Capitol, which makes for a more multi-dimensional narrative. As in real-life politics, it’s often difficult to decipher the true motives of various actors and representatives and who can trust whom. It’s also interesting to see how their characters, and how they engage with propaganda, develop in later timelines in the books at the beginning of the series.
The descriptions of the arena are also incredibly imaginative and mysterious, which will activate the more creative side of readers’ brains and keep them turning pages. Following Haymitch while he’s in the arena is exciting, as readers will learn more about the arena and how to defeat it alongside Haymitch, offering plenty of twists and turns.
Overall, I would recommend this book to fans of The Hunger Games series, as well as those readers who enjoy books with political intrigue, propulsive action, and a good amount of character depth. And I think it will appeal to mature readers above the age of thirteen.
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