Warning: SPOILERS ahead for Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins.

Sunrise on the Reaping finally gives readers the chance to explore Haymitch Abernathy’s backstory in more depth, and there are a lot of character deaths throughout the Hunger Games prequel’s 400-page run. Perhaps this is to be expected, as Haymitch is part of the Second Quarter Quell — one of the bloodiest Hunger Games tournaments in Panem’s history. With double the number of tributes being reaped from each district, the 50th iteration of the Games pushes Sunrise on the Reaping to have a higher kill count than previous books.

Of course, not all the book’s major deaths happen in the arena. While the Quarter Quell claims many lives — some more brutally than others — several of the most impactful deaths happen before or after the tournament. There are also plenty of tributes who perish without much fanfare, as they’re unnamed or don’t hold significance within Haymitch’s story. The fact that there are so many (even Haymitch can barely track them) is a testament to the Capitol’s cruelty. And the book’s biggest deaths drive home just how ruthless President Snow and the citizens of the Capitol can be.

11

Woodbine Chance

SH๏τ During The Reaping Ceremony

Woodbine Chance is the first major casualty of Sunrise on the Reaping, and his death kicks off the events of the entire prequel. In a surprising turn of events, Haymitch is never actually reaped for the 50th Hunger Games. Wyatt Carrow and Woodbine Chance are the two male tributes whose names are drawn, but the latter attempts to run for it. He’s sH๏τ by Peacekeepers for disobeying, throwing the entire reaping ceremony into chaos. Unfortunately, Lenore Dove and Haymitch attract attention amid all the disarray.

After Haymitch attempts to defend Lenore from the Peacekeepers, he’s chosen to replace Woodbine Chance. With the only other option being death then and there, Haymitch complies. It’s somewhat surprising that he’s whisked off to the Games without being reaped. In that sense, Woodbine Chance’s death makes for an unexpected twist from the Hunger Games prequel.

10

Louella McCoy

Accidentally Killed During The Tribute Parade

Haymitch sets out for the Capitol planning to be allies with his neighbor, Louella McCoy, as the two have a close relationship that goes back years. Haymitch intends to protect Louella, who is 13 years old and fairly small, but she never actually enters the arena. Instead, Louella dies during the tribute parade, when she’s accidentally catapulted off District 12’s chariot. A firework thrown by the public causes chaos and collisions, and even Haymitch is thrown off the chariot. But while he survives the impact, Louella isn’t so fortunate.

Louella’s death does mark a turning point in Haymitch’s story, however, as it’s the reason he captures President Snow’s attention. Reeling from losing his friend, Haymitch hijacks a chariot and brings Louella’s body to the gates of President Snow’s mansion. He then claps for Snow, essentially pinning the young girl’s death on him. While this moment is cut from the final footage of the event, it’s a powerful scene — one that starts a more personal feud between Haymitch and Snow.

9

Wyatt Carrow

Died Protecting Lou Lou

Haymitch doesn’t witness Wyatt Carrow’s death, as the other District 12 tribute is killed while they’re separated. However, seeing Wyatt’s face when the cannons go off comes as a blow to Sunrise on the Reaping‘s lead, as he learns to respect both Wyatt and Maysilee Donner as they’re preparing for the Games. To make matters worse, Haymitch feels somewhat responsible for the deaths of his allies, as he decides to go off on his own when the tournament starts. His goal of breaking the arena is admirable, but he wonders whether he could have saved his friends.

Haymitch learns that Wyatt died protecting Lou Lou, something he suspects as soon as he sees the former tribute’s face in the sky. Despite coming from a family that places bets on the Games, Wyatt proves that he’s a decent person. And his death weighs on his family, as the end of Sunrise on the Reaping reveals that his father took his own life after Wyatt died. The Callows are just one example of the terrible impact the Games have on the citizens of the districts.

8

Lou Lou

Killed By The Arena’s Poisonous Flowers

Lou Lou, President Snow’s twisted replacement for Louella McCoy, spends time with Haymitch in the arena. But they aren’t together for long before tragedy strikes and sees her joining the other ᴅᴇᴀᴅ tributes. Her death is delivered by the arena itself, which contains poisonous water, food, plants, and even air. Lou Lou gets excited over the scarlet flowers she finds there, and it quickly becomes apparent that they’re poisonous. She dies as a result of putting her face in them.

Although Lou Lou isn’t actually Louella, Haymitch is devastated and infuriated by her demise. Knowing the Capitol can probably listen in through her ear implants, he tells the Gamemakers, “This is who you are. Murderers.” It’s yet another powerful moment, and it’s made sadder by Haymitch initially refusing to give Lou Lou’s body to the Capitol’s hovercraft. He’s forced to when they send mutts after him, but he leaves an impression all the same.

7

Ampert Latier

Devoured By Flying Squirrel Mutts

Ampert’s death is probably the most gruesome in Sunrise on the Reaping, as the Capitol makes a point of punishing Beetee’s son for his and Haymitch’s stunt with the water tank. He’s attacked by carnivorous muttations that look like golden squirrels, and they seem programmed to target only him. Haymitch states that they’re “tearing Ampert apart,” and indeed, nothing but bones are left when they’re finished with him. Beetee and Ampert expect that he’ll die in the arena, but it’s particularly devastating to see how terrible his death is.

Ampert’s death adds more fuel to Haymitch’s vendetta against the Capitol, and it’s likely the reason Beetee is still working towards revolution in Catching Fire. It’s a wonder his son’s death doesn’t destroy him, as it’s amomg the most devastating moments in Haymitch’s prequel book.

6

Panache Barker

Killed By Maysilee’s Poisoned Dart

There are several Career characters who pose a threat to District 12’s tributes in Sunrise on the Reaping, but Panache Barker gets the most attention. He’s arguably the most crude of District 1’s tributes, and he and Haymitch develop personal problems with each other prior to entering the arena. When they finally meet in the Games, Haymitch is forced to fight Panache and his District 4 allies. Haymitch manages to kill the District 4 tributes, but Maysilee hits Panache with a poisoned dart before he can kill Haymitch.

As with all Collins’ Career characters, Panache doesn’t come off well from the perspective of the District 12 tributes. But like the other Hunger Games books, Sunrise on the Reaping manages to drive home the fact that he’s as much of a victim as the rest of the kids thrown into the arena. His death may not hit Haymitch and Maysilee the same way as others do, but killing the tributes directly still leaves its mark.

5

Maysilee Donner

Killed By Waterbird Mutts

Both Haymitch and Maysilee couldn’t make it out of the arena in Sunrise on the Reaping, but Maysilee gets fairly far before she’s killed by the Capitol. She, Haymitch, and two Career tributes run into Gamemakers on the edge of the arena, and in a moment of unity, Maysilee and the Careers kill two of them. A hovercraft immediately retaliates by dropping a bomb, which Haymitch and Maysilee manage to escape. But just like it does with Ampert, the Capitol then sends muttations after Maysilee as punishment for her actions.

The waterbird mutts wind up killing Maysilee, adding her to the list of loved ones Haymitch loses in Sunrise on the Reaping. Fortunately, he’s able to keep his promise to her and remember her as a sister rather than an adversary. But with all her spunk, readers will be sad to see Maysilee go.

4

Wellie

Killed By Silka

Wellie is one of the District 6 tributes Haymitch befriends in Sunrise on the Reaping, and despite lacking the physical prowess of other characters, she makes it to the very end of the Games. Haymitch finds Wellie after he loses Maysilee, and he tries to protect her, as she’s in a fragile state. But while he’s able to help with her dehydration and hunger, he’s unable to save her from Silka. Haymitch leaves Wellie alone with Maysilee’s dart gun, as he’s bent on getting to the Cornucopia and making a scene in front of the Capitol.

When Haymitch leaves, Silka finds and kills Wellie, ensuring she and Haymitch are the final tributes in the 50th Hunger Games. Haymitch is once again devastated to lose an ally, and he notes that the image of Silka using her ax against Wellie will haunt him. It’s a tragic moment, especially considering how innocent Wellie seems.

3

Silka

The Arena’s Forcefield Sends Her Ax Flying Back At Her

Silka is the final tribute Haymitch faces in Sunrise on the Reaping, and she’s the one involved in the forcefield stunt we learn about in Catching Fire. She and Haymitch get into a physical confrontation after she kills Wellie, and he gets her to chase him to the edge of the arena. However, Silka badly wounds Haymitch, and she nearly does him in. She throws an ax just as he sinks to his knees in pain, and the ax hits the forcefield and ricochets back to Silka.

It’s hard to feel sorry for Silka in the moment, even though she is another victim of the Games. And her death is important, as it forces the Capitol to save Haymitch; otherwise, the second Quarter Quell would have no victor. Silka’s is the final death within the arena, but Haymitch faces more tragedy when he returns to District 12.

2

Ma & Sid

Killed In A Fire When Haymitch Returns To District 12

Haymitch knows that President Snow is gunning for his loved ones at the end of Sunrise on the Reaping, but it doesn’t stop him from looking forward to a reunion with Ma and Sid upon his return to District 12. However, this happy reunion never comes, as the two of them die in a house fire on the day of Haymitch’s homecoming. Given President Snow’s comments to Haymitch, the fire is clearly an intentional act of vengeance. But there’s no proof, and District 12 rules it an accident.

Even so, Ma and Sid’s deaths highlight just how far Snow is willing to go in order to punish tributes that fall out of line. And given how young Sid is, Sunrise on the Reaping repeats the biggest Everdeen family tragedy: Prim’s death. This loss gives Katniss and Haymitch yet another thing in common, even if Prim’s death doesn’t come from Snow. And the deaths of Haymitch’s mother and brother haunt him long after they happen. They aren’t the only victims of Snow’s anger, either.

1

Lenore Dove

Poisoned By President Snow

President Snow also kills Haymitch’s girlfriend, Lenore Dove, at the end of The Hunger Games prequel — and he does so in a more predictable way than a fire. We know Snow loves to poison his enemies, and he uses poison to kill Lenore Dove. Knowing that Haymitch likes to bring Lenore gumdrops, Snow places a bag of them outside her house. She and Haymitch don’t realize what they are until the latter notices their distinct red coloring. And by then, it’s too late.

Lenore’s dying wish to Haymitch is that he’ll find a way to stop the Games and the reaping, and that’s what drives him to move forward and into the original Hunger Games story. Her death is als what fully devastates him, though, prompting him to push everyone else in his life away. He fears the Capitol will hurt anyone he’s close to, so he goes into isolation after Lenore’s poisoning. It’s easily one of the most impactful deaths in Sunrise on the Reaping, though all of them hurt in different ways.

Sunrise on the Reaping

Publisher(s)

Scholastic Press

Genre

Sci-Fi, Dystopia, Young Adult, Fantasy, Adventure

Number of Pages

400

Franchise

The Hunger Games

ISBN#

9781546171461

Author(s)

Suzanne Collins

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