Suzanne Collins, author of The Hunger Games franchise, is set to release her next book on March 18, 2025. The new prequel book, Sunrise on the Reaping, will follow Haymitch’s experience through the 50th Hunger Games, also known as the Second Quarter Quell — and the bloodiest Hunger Games in history. Anticipation for the book’s upcoming release is at an all-time high, especially as an early excerpt was published by People, giving readers a look at Sunrise on the Reaping‘s first chapter.

From the Sunrise on the Reaping excerpt, readers get a glimpse into Haymitch’s life before the reaping, which just so happens to be his birthday. Having just turned 16, Haymitch is woken up by his younger brother Sid to the sound of “happy birthday” being chanted in his ears. It’s clear from this short pᴀssage that Haymitch holds a lot of love for his younger brother. But this small detail holds much more weight to his overall character arc, and it may be the reason Haymitch decides to truly mentor Katniss in the original trilogy.

Hunger Games: Sunrise On The Reaping Hints At The Real Reason Haymitch Mentors Katniss

Haymitch Can Relate To Katniss’ Sibling Relationship

While the first look at Sunrise on the Reaping is relatively short, there’s a lot of information Collins reveals about Haymitch’s character. For one, he has a 10-year-old brother named Sid. And while their relationship is only briefly shown in the pᴀssage, it’s obvious there’s a lot of love between the two brothers. However, Haymitch’s tragic Hunger Games victory, which is briefly discussed throughout the events of Catching Fire, is made more tragic by this revelation — as his brother, mother, and girlfriend will be killed by the Capitol after his Games.

Haymitch’s relationship with his younger brother draws a parallel to another Hunger Games character, as Katniss and Prim’s dynamic is quite similar. Knowing this, it’s likely Katniss’ situation during her Hunger Games year reminded Haymitch of his own — and all that one would be willing to do for their family. This parallel between their characters seems to be an intentional choice by Collins, and it’s possible that their similar family situations are what motivated Haymitch to become a viable mentor to her during her games.

Their Siblings Aren’t The Only Things Haymitch & Katniss Have In Common

There Are Several Similarities Between The Hunger Games Characters

Being an older sibling is not the only similarity between Haymitch and Katniss, and it’s likely he sees himself in her character from the start. The Sunrise on the Reaping excerpt also reveals Haymitch to be from the Seam, District 12’s poorest community. Those who grow up in the Seam, as seen through Katniss’ experience, often live a hard life — and many die of hunger over anything else. Additionally, the two have family backgrounds that mirror each other: both lost their fathers to coal mine accidents at a young age and were forced to provide for their families.

“Don’t let yourself panic. Don’t give the Capitol that. They’ve taken enough already.”

— Haymitch, Sunrise on the Reaping

The pᴀssage also showcases Haymitch’s sentiments and feelings towards the Capitol, and they appear to be very similar to Katniss’ thoughts in the original Hunger Games trilogy. Haymitch, while thinking of the Reaping, refuses to let himself panic or to let the Capitol take anything else from him. The two characters’ circumstances and beliefs are made so similar in this pᴀssage, and it couldn’t be clearer that Collins is planning to use it as a way to add context to Haymitch’s actions in previous books.

Sunrise On The Reaping’s Katniss Connections Make The Hunger Games Prequel Even Better

It Provides So Much Context About Haymitch

It’s exciting to see Collins making such big connections between Katniss and Haymitch in the Hunger Games prequel excerpt, as it will provide more context about the latter’s actions in the original trilogy. In the first Hunger Games novel, Haymitch is depicted as someone who uses alcohol to soothe his problems, even falling off the stage when the Reaping first begins. One reason fans have always wished for Haymitch’s story is to understand what brought to this point — and this is something Sunrise on the Reaping will finally touch upon.

For years, Haymitch’s alcoholism got in the way of him properly mentoring District 12 tributes, but something about Katniss and Peeta’s Hunger Games saw him sobering up enough to mentor them properly. Aside from seeing that Katniss and Peeta weren’t resigned to death, it’s clear that Haymitch saw a bit of himself in Katniss. It’s possible he wanted to do everything he could to provide her with the life he wished for after his own Games. Knowing this, it’s likely the connections between their characters will continue to grow in the upcoming Hunger Games novel.

Source: People