The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reapingwill take readers back into the world of Panem, andthe book could restore a series staple thatThe Ballad of Songbirds & Snakesskipped. Set to come out in March 2025, thenewHunger Gamesbookwill follow Haymitch Abernathy, Katniss' and Peeta’s mentor who participates in the second-ever Quarter Quell. This is one of thebloodiest Hunger Games tournamentsin Panem’s history, and that’s not to mention the tragic losses Haymitch faces after surviving the arena.
Sunrise on the Reapingis poised to be a heartbreaking narrative — and the trailer for the upcoming prequel suggests it could be a return to form for Suzanne Collins. Her first threeHunger Gamesbooksdrive home their themes using a storytelling device that helps immerse readers in Katniss' struggle: a first-person perspective.The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakesmoves away from this, opting for a third-person point of view instead. Butit looks like Haymitch’s story could utilize the same perspective as Katniss, which would be a fitting decision on Collins' part.
Haymitch Quote Hints That Sunrise On The Reaping Could Return To A First-Person POV
The Book’s Newly Released Quote Sounds Like Katniss Everdeen’s Inner Thoughts
The Hunger Games’official website revealed the cover and synopsis forSunrise on the Reaping,and it also shared a quote from the novel, which is attributed to Haymitch: “They will not use my tears for their entertainment.” While it’s possible Haymitch could be saying this to another character,Instagramuser balladofsongbirds points out that it seems more like internal dialogue. In fact,it sounds incredibly similar to Katniss' thoughts throughout theHunger Gamestrilogy. This suggests Haymitch’s story could also unfold from a first-person POV.
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This is an important element ofThe Hunger Gamestrilogy, as Katniss' first-person POV helps readers step more easily into her shoes. It drives home the horrors she experiences in the arena, raising the stakes for the characters and the readers themselves.The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakesunderstandably moves away from this storytelling style, but the first glimpse atSunrise on the Reapingoffers hope it will return in Haymitch’s prequel. This makes sense, asHaymitch and Katniss are incredibly similar characters.
It Makes Sense For Sunrise On The Reaping To Restore This Hunger Games Staple After Ballad
The Book Centers One Of The Franchise’s Heroes Again
It would make sense forSunrise on the Reapingto return to the first-person perspective used in the originalHunger Gamestrilogy, asCollins' is centering another one of the franchise’s heroes.The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakesseemingly skips this type of storytelling because it’s a villain prequel. Collins wants to keep readers removed from Coriolanus Snow’s point of view, as we aren’t meant to relate to him. By contrast, she clearly intends for us to empathize with Katniss — and the same will be true of Haymitch inSunrise on the Reaping.
Haymitch’s first quote already sounds like something Katniss would think, and his inner dialogue could continue calling back to the prior installments.
Additionally, restoring thisHunger Gamesstaple will allow Collins to draw interesting parallels between Katniss and Haymitch. The original books already highlight how similar the two characters are, andSunrise on the Reapingcan emphasize their connection further. Haymitch’s first quote already sounds like something Katniss would think, and his inner dialogue could continue calling back to the prior installments. This is the perfect way to useThe Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reapingto honor the rest of the franchise.
Source:The Hunger Games,Instagram
The Hunger Games
The Hunger Games is a multi-movie franchise starring Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss Everdeen. The films are based on the young adult dystopian book series by author Suzanne Collins. The first film was released in 2012, followed by Catching Fire in 2013, Mockingjay Part 1 in 2014, and Mockingjay Part 2 in 2015. In 2023, the fifth film in the series was released, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.
