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The Hunger Games is a heartbreaking story about the sacrifices Katniss makes, not just when she volunteers as tribute in place of her sister at the Reaping, but throughout the entire series as she fights for the freedom of those in all the districts with help from Peeta, her fellow District 12 tribute, and her mentor Haymitch.
I will forever remember the scene in Mockingjay when the bombs start falling from the sky, hitting families who are desperately searching for safety amidst the fighting. It’s a powerful representation of how those in power will disregard the lives of the people they’re meant to protect for their own goals and gain.
Suzanne Collins does an amazing job of showing her readers the political climate and the fear-mongering tactics the Capitol uses to keep the districts suppressed. The most diabolical of these tactics is the Hunger Games themselves, where children are entered into a raffle—the number of times their name is drawn based on their behavior throughout the year—and forced to fight to the death in a televised spectacle watched by all households.
As we watch Katniss battle both the social and physical aspects of being a tribute, we can see that the Games are rigged. The more popular tributes receive life-saving gifts from sponsors, while the more troublesome tributes, like Katniss, are deliberately driven into deadly situations in an attempt to silence her and everything she stands for to the people in the districts.
The Prequels
In May of 2020, Collins released a prequel to the original series, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, followed by the movie adaptation in November of 2023, reigniting the love for the series. Songbirds and Snakes gives readers insight into the origin story of the main villain in Katniss’ story: President Coriolanus Snow.
Now, Collins has announced the release of another prequel to the original series, Sunrise on the Reaping, which will follow Katniss and Peeta’s mentor, Haymitch Abernathy. Set 24 years before the original series during the 50th annual Hunger Games, this story will delve into the devastating backstory of Haymitch and how he became the only remaining victor in a year with double the usual number of tributes.
In anticipation of the upcoming release on March 18, 2025, I’ll be rereading the entire Hunger Games series. If you’d like to read along with me or if you’re looking to preorder Sunrise on the Reaping, I’ve included links below where you can easily order on Amazon.
Thank you for reading! Are you as excited as I am to finally get the story behind the beloved, alcoholic Haymitch? Let me know your thoughts or predictions for this story in the comments below.
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