Suzanne Collins' newestHunger Gamesprequel,Sunrise on the Reaping, which will depict Haymitch’s time in the 50th Hunger Games and second Quarter Quell, is set to release June 14, 2025. After a long wait and high anticipation forHaymitch’s Hunger Games storysince its surprise announcement last year, many fans have begun to re-read the original trilogy to re-immerse themselves in Collins' dystopian society of Panem. However, not everyone may have had the time to refresh their memories of the previous series beforeSunrise on the Reaping’s release.
If it has been a while since you’ve read any ofSusanne Collins’Hunger Gamesbooks, you may have forgotten some of the minor and more intricate dynamics of the games. WhileSunrise on the Reaping’s narrativeis sure to cover the basics of the Hunger Games and how they operate, there are several small details that might be overlooked for the sake of being nonrepetitive. If you don’t have time to re-read the series beforeSunrise on the Reaping, these are the top ten things to remember before jumping in.
10Quarter Quells Are Specially Designed Hunger Games Years
Haymitch’s Games Will Require Double The Amount Of Tributes
In the world of theHunger Games,every 25 years the anniversary would be marked by a Quarter Quell, a glorified version of the games that serves as a reminder of those killed by the districts' rebellion. Previously, inCatching Fire, Collins described what these Quarter Quells have previously added to the already daunting games; with the twenty-fifth requiring districts to elect their tributes, the fiftieth — Haymitch’s year — reaping double the amount of tributes, and the seventy-fifth reaping its tributes from the existing pool of victors.
Aside from the unique elements to each Quarter Quells reaping changes, the arenas are also made even more lethal.
The Quarter Quell is announced weeks before the actual reaping, as explained inCatching Fire, so citizens of each district are well aware of what is to come on reaping day. This should play out similarly inSunrise on the Reaping, and it’s likely Haymitch will speak to the heightened odds of being selected in the fiftiethHunger Games,knowing that double the number of tributes will be chosen and considering his name has already been added extra times. Aside from the unique elements to each Quarter Quells reaping changes, the arenas are also made even more lethal.
9Tributes Are Reaped From A Pool Of Children Aged 12 To 18
Haymitch Will Be 16 When He Enters The Games
As a part of the punishment from the rebellion, only children are to be reaped and sent into the Hunger Games area to fight to the death. One becomes eligible for the games on their twelfth birthday, and the final year of eligibility is eighteen — meaningthere are seven years a child must enter into the reaping ceremonies. In the originalHunger Gamestrilogy, it’s explained that no one in District 12 likes it when a 12-year-old is selected, but it’s more common than one would think.
InSunrise on the Reaping, we know from a sneak peek into the early chapters that were shared onPeople Magazine, that the reaping day is also Haymitch’s birthday. Having just turned 16 years old,Haymitch will be entering the arena at the same age that Katniss did. While his fellow tributes' ages are yet unknown, the book’s synopsis also mentions a “young friend” who is reaped as one of the female tributes, and she could be as young as 12 years old.
8District 12 Is The Poorest Of All The Districts
Many Children Die Of Hunger In The Seam
District 12 is generally known to be the poorest of all twelve districts, as dealing in coal hasn’t created a lot of opportunities for wealth in their communities. However, there are poorer areas than others found within District Twelve. The merchants are able to live a relatively comfortable life, albeit with limited means, butthose who live in the area nicknamed The Seam, have it even worse.
Many from The Seam end up becoming Hunger Games tributes, as they need to enter their name more times to receive extra food.
The Seam is District 12’s poorest community, and many of those who live in this area have no other option but to become coal miners when they come of age. It’s often explained in the originalHunger Gamestrilogy thatin this area of the district many children die of hunger. It’s because of this that many from The Seam end up becoming Hunger Games tributes, as they need to enter their name more times to receive extra food.
7Tributes May Enter Their Name More Times To Receive More Tesserae
This Heightens The Odds Of Being Reaped
The reaping system, without modifications, adds a child’s name increasingly to the reaping in correlation to their age. The year one becomes eligible for the games, at twelve-years-old, their name is entered once into the reaping. At thirteen, twice, and so on, until the last year of eligibility when a child turns 18 and has their name entered seven times. This is true for every citizen in all 12 districts across Panem.
And the entries are cumulative. So now, at the age of sixteen, my name will be in the reaping twenty times.
—Katniss Everdeen, The Hunger Games
However, for those who are in dire need, there’s an option to add one’s name extra times into the reaping in exchange for tesserae.Each of the tesserae is worth a meager year’s supply of grain and oil for one person. This can be done for every person in a household, meaning in a household of three people, one’s name at the age of twelve could be added four times into the reaping. Entries are cumulative, so year after year of signing up for tesserae would mean one’s name is added up to 42 times by their eighteenth birthday.
6The Reaping Isn’t Held Until 2pm
This Gives Residents Time With Family Beforehand
Collins explains in the firstHunger Gamesnovel that the reaping is not held until two-o’clockin the afternoon, giving the entire district a morning off from work to prepare for the day’s events. In the first novel, Katniss uses this time to hunt in the woods with Gale before needing to get ready, and it’s likelySunrise on the Reapingwill explore some of Haymitch’s District 12 relationships before he sets off for the reaping.
From the earlySunrise on the Reapingexcerpt, we know that Haymitch was planning on spending the morning with his girlfriend, Lenora Dove, before his mother requested his help with a few chores. Whether or not Haymitch is able to postpone his chores is yet to be seen, but it’s obvious from the typical reaping day timeline thatreaders should get to see Haymitch interact with his friends, girlfriend, and familybefore heading into the Hunger Games.
5Attendance Of The Reaping Is Mandatory
Only Those On Death’s Door Are Exempt
The Hunger Games reaping, even if one has aged out of eligibility, must be attended by everyone in the district. The only real exception to attend is if someone is at death’s door. Peacekeepers will be roaming around the city during the reaping’s events to ensure no one is hiding or has refused to attend — and if one was found doing so, they’d face dire consequences.
Katniss explains in thefirstHunger Gamesnovelthatthe Capitol wishes to treat the Hunger Games as a festivity or a sporting event, wishing for the games to create excitement among its viewers who can root and cheer for their favorite tributes. Although not many, if any, District Twelve attendees likely feel the same way. Instead, the districts have to watch in humiliation as one of their own is sent to their deaths year after year.
District 12’s First Victor Was Lucy Gray Baird
District 12 has long been considered the weakest district because it had so few victors throughout the Hunger Games' decades-long run. At the time of Haymitch’s reaping,District 12 had only one victor in nearly 50 years of the games— Lucy Gray Baird. Lucy’s Hunger Games story is depicted in Susanne Collins’prequel novelA Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, which also highlights President Snow’s rise in power.
Lucy Gray Baird Explained: Hunger Games History, Relationships & Who Plays Her
Rachel Zegler plays Lucy Gray Baird in The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, replacing Katniss Everdeen as the District 12 tribute in the Hunger Games.
But given that there have been no other victors to come out of District Twelve, and assuming Lucy was no longer alive at the time of Haymitch’s reaping,it’s often been questioned whether Haymitch or his fellow tributes ever had a mentor. Typically, those who win the Hunger Games will become mentors in the years to come until there is another victor, but it’s still unknown whether Lucy will make an appearance again inSunrise on the Reaping.
3After The Reaping, Families & Friends Have One Hour To Wish Tributes Luck Or Say Goodbye
They Have A Few Minutes Before They Depart For The Capitol
Once a tribute has been reaped into the Hunger Games, their friends and family have one last opportunity to wish them luck or say their final goodbyes. This is seen in the originalHunger Gamesnovel, as Katniss is visited by a number of friends, family, and acquaintances in the allotted hour before departing for the Capitol. The final goodbyes are held just inside the Justice Building, and from the first novelit’s assumed any number of people can come to say farewell.
“…I try to prepare for the next hour. The time allotted for tributes to say good-bye to their loved ones.”
- Katniss Everdeen, The Hunger Games
For Katniss, she had four separate visits, first from her mother and sister, then Peeta’s father, her friend Madge, and Gale. Knowing this,I’m assuming we should get to see Haymitch say his goodbyesto his mother and younger brother, Sid, in addition to his girlfriend Lenore Dove, among any others who wish to say goodbye. This is bound to be a pretty emotional scene and should highlight a lot about Haymitch’s relationships.
2Haymitch Wins The 50th Hunger Games
He Becomes District 12’s Second Victor
Obviously, as Katniss and Peeta’s mentor in the originalHunger Gamesnovels, we know thatHaymitch wins the fiftieth Hunger Games, but it’s important to note going into his novel that his win will change his life forever. Not only did Haymitch become a victor, butthe way in which he won had consequences for those that he loved. During his games, as detailed inCatching Fire, Haymitch found out the secret of the arena’s force field, and used it to his advantage to win the games.
However, this was seen as a direct act of aggression and rebellion against the Capitol, making them look stupid for not realizing the force field could be weaponized. Because of this, Haymitch’s family and girlfriend were killed as an example of what happens to those who defy the Capitol. While his win should have been celebrated alongside his return to District Twelve and his loved ones,Haymitch returns to find they have been killed.
1Hunger Games Victors Become Mentors
Whoever Wins Never Really Escapes The Games
Winning the Hunger Games comes with a lot of advantages; a brand-new home in the Victor’s Village, plenty of food, and enough money to never work another day in your life. However, there is one caveat, asa Hunger Games victor will also become a mentor for subsequent tributes. Those who win the games never really get to escape it, as year after year they will be brought back to the Capitol to witness the deaths of several more children.
WhileSunrise on the Reapingwill likely focus solely on Haymitch’s games and win, it could give more insight into his life after the games as well.
Before Katniss and Peeta came along, Haymitch spent 24 years after his own victory watching the District 12 tributes diein the Hunger Games. After the death of his family and girlfriend, it couldn’t have been easy to deal with year after year, and Haymitch’s alcohol dependency in the originalHunger Gamesnovels makes much more sense when understanding how this could have affected him. WhileSunrise on the Reapingwill focus solely on Haymitch’s gamesand win, it could give more insight into his life after the games as well.
The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping
Cast
The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping explores the dystopian world of Panem 24 years prior to Katniss Everdeen’s story. This prequel focuses on the reaping of the 50th Hunger Games, known as the Second Quarter Quell, unveiling the origins of crucial events and traditions in the series.
