Suzanne Collins’ Sunrise on the Reaping answers a lot of questions about Haymitch’s past — exploring how he ended up as the town drunk in the original series, and detailing what happened to him during the 50th Hunger Games. While his games were briefly talked about in Catching Fire, the newest addition adds greater depth to Haymitch’s character, and gives readers insight into some of his actions and reasons for remaining reclusive. However, this isn’t the only mystery the new Hunger Games prequel makes sure to solve — as Collins finally reveals more about the Everdeen family.
Fans of the series have long questioned and have been curious about Katniss’ parents and her lineage, but it’s never discussed in great detail throughout the original Hunger Games trilogy. Both Katniss’ mother and father remain nameless throughout the entire book series; and after reading The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, many fans wondered if Katniss would be related to Lucy Gray Baird. Thankfully, Collins makes sure to address these long-burning questions in Sunrise on the Reaping, and it’s amazing how she bridges everything together so seamlessly.
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Burdock Everdeen Was Katniss’ Father
He Was Also One Of Haymitch’s Best Friends
Sunrise on the Reaping solves one of the biggest Everdeen family mysteries in The Hunger Games early on throughout its narrative — as Collins reveals one of Haymitch’s good friends, Burdock Everdeen, is Katniss’ father. This is the first time his character has been named directly, as the original series doesn’t mention him in great detail, having pᴀssed away a few years prior. But more than that, readers finally get to experience his character’s personality and witness his relationships with others. Burdock remains a minor character, but his inclusion still answers a lot of readers’ long-posed questions about the Everdeen family.
While his scenes are few, readers are able to experience Burdock’s friendship with Haymitch, and his growing crush on the apothecary merchants’ daughter — who we know to be Katniss’ mother. However, Burdock and Haymitch’s relationship doesn’t survive for long after the Hunger Games, as Haymitch begins to push away anyone he’s ever cared about in fear that they may be harmed by Snow. While the two eventually grow apart, learning that Burdock and Haymitch were close friends adds an even greater layer of depth to Haymitch and Katniss’ relationship later on.
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Katniss’ Mother’s Name Is Asterid
She And Haymitch Are Acquaintances As Well
Having been a returning character throughout the original Hunger Games trilogy, it’s odd that Katniss’ mother remained nameless — especially as she began to interact with more characters as the narrative progressed. But thankfully, Collins rectifies this mystery as well throughout Sunrise on the Reaping, and we quickly learn Katniss’ mother’s name is Asterid March. She first pops up in the new Hunger Games prequel as Haymitch enters the apothecary to sell a few bottles of white liquor ahead of the reaping, and it’s quickly inferred from their interaction that Asterid is different from most who come from a merchant family.
“She’s who people turn to for help when a loved one goes under the lash. I guess Asterid has more substance than her pack of snooty town friends suggests.”
—Sunrise on the Reaping, Chapter One
Haymitch explains that most people who live and work in the merchant district are “wealthy” by District Twelve standards, and that makes most of them hesitant to interact with anyone from The Seam. However, it’s revealed that Asterid would often sneak into the poorer communities to help heal the sick or wounded — all without payment. This further builds upon her healer abilities in the original Hunger Games trilogy, adds more depth to her backstory, and offers insight into why she may have chosen to leave behind her riches and family to marry Burdock.
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Katniss May Be Related To Lucy Gray Baird
Burdock Is Considered A Distant Cousin To The Covey’s
After reading The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, there were many who theorized that Katniss Everdeen could somehow be related to Lucy Gray Baird. However, it wasn’t until the new Hunger Games book, Sunrise on the Reaping, that Collins confirmed their connection — albeit, rather vaguely. Early in the novel, Burdock Everdeen introduces Haymitch to his cousin, Lenore Dove, a Covey. And while they may call each other “cuz,” Haymitch explains they’re not cousins in the traditional sense, but instead mentions that Burdock has some distant Covey cousins on his mother’s side.
Lucy Gray’s fate remains as undetermined as it was at the end of The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, but regardless of whether she lived or not, Burdock could still be directly or distantly related to Lucy’s cousins Maude Ivory or Barb Azure.
Collins doesn’t again explore the possible connections between Burdock and Lucy Gray Baird throughout Sunrise on the Reaping, but his distant relation to the Covey’s suggests he could be. Lucy Gray’s fate remains as undetermined as it was at the end of The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, but regardless of whether she lived or not, Burdock could still be directly or distantly related to Lucy’s cousins Maude Ivory or Barb Azure. This would mean Katniss too shares a distant relationship with Lucy Gray Baird.
