The release of The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping is just one week away, and I’m locking in some predictions before digging into Haymitch’s prequel story. Sunrise on the Reaping will draw readers into the 50th Hunger Games tournament — a competition we know the outcome of, thanks to Catching Fire. But even if the circumstances surrounding Haymitch’s win and his later fate are already common knowledge, there are likely to be surprises in store for readers picking up the new Hunger Games book.
These surprises could come in the form of Hunger Games cameos and references, but they could also be worked in through unexpected storytelling choices. While Sunrise on the Reaping‘s ending is somewhat predictable given what we know about Haymitch’s backstory, there are still ways Collins can keep things interesting. My predictions for the newest addition to the series include a number of interesting nods to the original story, as well as some twists on the established narrative.
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Sunrise On The Reaping Will Keep Us Guessing With A Love Triangle
We Won’t Know Who Becomes Haymitch’s Girlfriend & Dies Until The End
The original Hunger Games series reveals that Haymitch’s mother, younger brother, and girlfriend are killed by the Capitol after he uses the arena’s forcefield to win his iteration of the Games. However, Catching Fire doesn’t actually tell us the name of Haymitch’s girlfriend, and I think Collins will use that to her advantage in Sunrise on the Reaping. Although the Hunger Games prequel’s excerpt and marketing suggest Lenore Dove is Haymitch’s love interest, and thus, the character who will die, Collins could very well introduce a strategic love triangle to keep us guessing.
With Sunrise on the Reaping‘s biggest issue being its predictability, a decision like this could help keep readers engaged.
Having Haymitch be interested in more than one girl would be a way of keeping the tensions high throughout the upcoming prequel, as readers would be left guessing which love interest will become his girlfriend and later be killed. This theory fits with Collins’ clever use of the love triangle in the original books as well, as the author tends to give her romance subplots a deeper purpose. And with Sunrise on the Reaping‘s biggest issue being its predictability, a decision like this could help keep readers engaged.
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The Hunger Games Prequel Will Catch Us Up With Young Coriolanus Snow
It Offers An Opportunity To Fill In The Blanks From Ballad Of Songbirds & Snakes
The former Hunger Games prequel, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, followed a much younger Coriolanus Snow, showing us how he got his start in the Capitol. By the end of the novel, readers have a better understanding of how he became the president of Panem during Katniss’ story. Of course, there are more than 60 years between Ballad and the original Hunger Games trilogy. Snow’s rise to power continues during that time frame, and I think Sunrise on the Reaping will feature an appearance from him to fill in the blanks.
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Snow is already the president when Haymitch’s prequel story opens, and he’s no doubt involved in planning the second Quarter Quell. We also know that he’ll be responsible for what happens to Haymitch’s loved ones. While the book shouldn’t focus too heavily on the villain, I’m guessing we’ll see his evolution after Ballad up close and personal, rather than just having Haymitch glimpse him from afar. This would offer an opportunity for Collins to connect both prequel stories, allowing her to build on The Ballad of Songbirds and Snake‘s ending.
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Sunrise On The Reaping Will Have A Similar Setup To The Ballad Of Songbirds And Snakes
The Entire Book Probably Won’t Be Set During The Hunger Games
The synopsis of Sunrise on the Reaping focuses primarily on Haymitch being thrust into the arena, but I’m predicting that the new Hunger Games prequel will be structurally similar to The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. Snow’s prequel only spends half of its pages on the actual tournament, while the latter portion of the book reveals what happens to Lucy Gray and Snow after the fact. Given that the most tragic part of Haymitch’s backstory occurs once he’s out of the arena, I suspect Sunrise on the Reaping will be the same way.
Sunrise on the Reaping needs to wrap up the Quarter Quell around the halfway point.
The 2025 Hunger Games prequel also promises to tackle the use of propaganda. And while the Capitol certainly strives to control the narrative during the Games, I’m guessing Haymitch’s forcefield stunt will leave them picking up the pieces after. Collins will need to explore the Capitol’s attempts to spin Haymitch’s win, and she’ll need to drive home the terrible impact Snow’s retaliation has on Haymitch. That will take more than a few chapters, so Sunrise on the Reaping needs to wrap up the Quarter Quell around the halfway point.
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Haymitch’s Hunger Games Prequel Will Finally Introduce Katniss Everdeen’s Father
He’d Be In District 12 During Haymitch’s Tournament
Sunrise on the Reaping gives readers a chance to know Haymitch better, but the book could also expand on other District 12 characters present during the 50th Quarter Quell. This could include Katniss’ parents, as they’re around the same age as Haymitch when the prequel takes place. And considering how little we know about Katniss’ father, I’m on board with the theory that we’ll meet him during Sunrise on the Reaping.
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Featuring Mr. Everdeen would be a nice nod to the original Hunger Games trilogy, and it could even make his fate feel more tragic in hindsight. I don’t necessarily think that Collins should reveal a deeper connection between him and Haymitch, as that risks looking like a retcon. However, seeing Katniss’ father in passing would be sufficient, driving home how connected everything in Collins’ series is, even if it’s at a distance.
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The New Hunger Games Book Will Reveal The Name Of Katniss Everdeen’s Mother
Sunrise On The Reaping Could Solve Another Everdeen Family Mystery
Another Everdeen family mystery I think Sunrise on the Reaping will solve is the name of Katniss’ mother. Oddly enough, Katniss’ mom isn’t given a name during the original series, likely because she’s not present enough in Katniss’ life. According to Katniss, the loss of her husband turns her into a husk of a person. But even as she steps up a bit in Catching Fire and Mockingjay, she’s simply not granted a name. It’s a bizarre choice, but it’s one that Haymitch’s prequel can either make sense of or undo.
The book could take a moment to give Katniss’ mother a cameo, potentially revealing her first name in the process.
Like Mr. Everdeen, Katniss’ mom lives in District 12 when Haymitch is chosen for the Games. It doesn’t seem like the two are very familiar with each other in the original story, so Sunrise on the Reaping can’t have them interact too much. However, the book could take a moment to give Katniss’ mother a cameo, potentially revealing her first name in the process.
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Other Familiar Hunger Games Winners Will Show Up In Haymitch’s Story
There’s Still The Question Of Who Haymitch’s Mentor Will Be
Haymitch’s Hunger Games prequel is an opportunity to explore supporting District 12 characters, but it also could bring in previous winners from other districts. I’m especially interested to see who mentors Haymitch during the 50th Hunger Games, as Lucy Gray is the only District 12 winner at this point — and she obviously isn’t around to help. Readers have floated the idea that a former winner from another district could step in, and I think this would be an ideal way for Sunrise on the Reaping to expand on the characters introduced in Catching Fire.
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There are a few known victors who might be able to mentor Haymitch and his fellow District 12 tributes, including characters like Mags, Beetee, and Chaff. Beetee showing up in Sunrise on the Reaping would be particularly fitting, as he’s the one who tells Katniss about the forcefield in the original series. Perhaps he’s also responsible for Haymitch’s revelation, 25 years earlier. Or maybe Haymitch’s friendship with Chaff stems from the second Quarter Quell. Any of these reveals would be an exciting way to tie Sunrise on the Reaping to Catching Fire.
4
We’ll See The Mockingjay Pin Again Through Maysilee Donner’s Character
Her Niece Is The One Who Gives The Token To Katniss In Book 1
Madge Undersee, the daughter of District 12’s mayor, gives Katniss her Mockingjay pin in the first Hunger Games book — and I think the iconic token will make an appearance in Haymitch’s story. We know that Maysilee Donner, Madge’s aunt, is among the other District 12 tributes to be chosen for the 50th Hunger Games tournament. It’s very likely Sunrise on the Reaping will acknowledge this connection between the characters, potentially by having Maysilee wear the pin into the arena, too.
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This would be another clever way to connect the prequel to the original trilogy, but it would also be in line with The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes’ foreshadowing. The other spinoff also sets up the Mockingjay symbolism, placing an emphasis on the jabberjays that eventually give way to the other species of bird — and happen to infuriate Snow. With these prequels laying the groundwork for what comes later, it only makes sense to have more nods to Katniss’ Mockingjay role later on.
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Sunrise On The Reaping Will Confirm Katniss Everdeen’s Connection To Lucy Gray
Lenore Dove Could Be The Key To Their Covey Connection
There have been theories that Katniss Everdeen and Lucy Gray are related since The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes debuted, and I think Sunrise on the Reaping could finally address all the speculation. Perhaps it’s a stretch, but the two-part name of Haymitch’s love interest — Lenore Dove — sounds like it could be a Covey name. We know that Lucy Gray is a member of the Covey, and many believe Katniss is descended from them as well. Through Lenore Dove, Sunrise on the Reaping can finally confirm this Katniss and Lucy connection.
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With many believing that Katniss is a descendant of the Covey on her father’s side, the inclusion of Lenore Dove and Mr. Everdeen in Haymitch’s book would make this theory even more likely to come true. Sunrise on the Reaping running with it would no doubt please fans who have been discussing it for years. It would also honor both of the franchise’s former leads and the impact they have on Haymitch’s story.
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The Death Of Haymitch’s Brother Will Be More Devastating Than Prim’s Mockingjay Fate
The Prequel’s Excerpt Already Highlighted Sid’s Younger Age
The Hunger Games series draws an obvious parallel between Katniss losing Prim in Mockingjay and Haymitch losing his little brother, Sid, after the second Quarter Quell. I’m guessing the latter will be even more devastating than Prim’s fate, as Sunrise on the Reaping goes out of its way to tell us how young Sid is. Sid being 10 years old — three years younger than Prim when she dies — makes the biggest Everdeen family tragedy even worse. It’s certain to feel that way, too, as Sid isn’t just younger and more innocent than Prim; he’s also not expecting such a fate.
Sid will be murdered by the Capitol in cold blood, for no other reason than the fact that his brother offended Panem’s leaders.
Prim perishes while working as a combat medic in Mockingjay, and her actions after Katniss volunteers for the Games suggest that she’s on board with the rebellion. Although Prim’s fate is still heartbreaking, she dies fighting for a cause that she believes in — and likely knows the risks of her work beforehand. By contrast, Sid will be murdered by the Capitol in cold blood, for no other reason than his brother offending Panem’s leaders. This will make Sid’s ending even sadder than Prim’s.
1
Sunrise On The Reaping Will End With A Katniss & Peeta Flash-Forward
It’s The Most Hopeful Ending Haymitch’s Prequel Could Have
Sunrise on the Reaping could break the trend of The Hunger Games books’ having hopeful endings, but there’s an easy way to ensure the book’s final scene remains somewhat uplifting — and I think Collins might utilize it. Unlike Katniss’ story, which sees the Capitol falling, Haymitch’s prequel will conclude with the Capitol still in power and the book’s main character succumbing to grief and depression. Even Lucy Gray’s fate is ambiguous enough to offer hope, but Haymitch’s story will be lacking in that department. The only way to change that is to end it with Katniss and Peeta.
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Sunrise On The Reaping Will Set Up The Hunger Games’ Saddest Katniss & Haymitch Parallel That Mockingjay Made Even Worse
The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping will set up a tragic Katniss and Haymitch parallel that’s made more devastating by Mockingjay’s ending.
I fully believe we could get a flash-forward at the end of Sunrise on the Reaping, taking us back to the beginning of the first book. This would serve as a reminder that, although Haymitch loses everything to the Capitol, he eventually has a hand in overthrowing it. I’m also a fan of the theory that Sunrise on the Reaping‘s title will come from a montage of sorts, showing Haymitch’s response to every reaping after his. Concluding this with Katniss and Peeta getting called perfectly ties Collins’ stories together, with The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping setting up Haymitch’s later arc.
The Hunger Games
- Created by
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Suzanne Collins
- Cast
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Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Elizabeth Banks, Woody Harrelson, Stanley Tucci, Donald Sutherland, Lenny Kravitz, Willow Shields, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Rachel Zegler, Tom Blyth, Viola Davis, Peter Dinklage, Hunter Schafer, Jason Schwartzman