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Book Synopsis:
As the day dawns on the fiftieth annual Hunger Games, fear grips the districts of Panem. This year, in honor of the Quarter Quell, twice as many tributes will be taken from their homes.
Back in District 12, Haymitch Abernathy is trying not to think too hard about his chances. All he cares about is making it through the day and being with the girl he loves.
When Haymitch’s name is called, he can feel all his dreams break. He’s torn from his family and his love, and shuttled to the Capitol with the three other District 12 tributes: a young friend who’s nearly a sister to him, a compulsive oddsmaker, and the most stuck-up girl in town. As the Games begin, Haymitch understands he’s been set up to fail. But there’s something in him that wants to fight . . . and have that fight reverberate far beyond the deadly arena.
My Review:
4.5/5 stars. Once again, Suzanne Collins has delivered a thrilling, heartbreaking, powerful novel with the same formula as the original—someone gets reaped and has to survive the Games—but with its own twists and new atrocities from the Capitol. Haymitch has such a big heart, and I just want to give him a big hug. I loved the other characters, too. The ending is almost too depressing for my preference, though, which is why this isn’t quite five stars.
The writing style feels different from the original trilogy. It is in first person like the original, but it feels simpler or like things are explained more. Not necessarily dumbed down, but different. That didn’t affect my enjoyment, but it was something I noticed.
The plot is similar to the original Hunger Games book since it mostly takes place in the Arena. It’s familiar but has many new plot points and aspects of the Games to make it unique. The action and horrifying circumstances are on par with the original, but with new obstacles. The theme is different, too—less about active rebellion, and more about the way powerless people accept the status quo.
I loved the characters in Sunrise on the Reaping. I wasn’t expecting Haymitch to be as big-hearted as he is. The other characters, like Wyatt, Maysilee, Louella, and Ampert, are great. The cameos from familiar faces are fun, even if there are a lot of them.
Rated: Moderate. This book’s strongest content is violence and gore. There are lots of descriptions of injuries, deaths, blood, killings, torture, etc. As for other content, there is mild language, lots of kissing that isn’t described, and a few plot-relevant details about drugs and alcohol.
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