Sunrise On The Reaping Easily Breaks One Hunger Games Record & That's Exactly Why The Series Must End

Warning! Major spoilers for Sunrise on the Reaping ahead!

Sunrise on the Reaping is easily the most devastating book in the Hunger Games franchise, and it’s for precisely this reason that the series must end. Suzanne Collins’ popular novels are known for their brutality, especially given their young adult target. The Hunger Games books center around a totalitarian government that forces children to fight to the death for its entertainment, so there has never been any shortage of tragedy. However, Sunrise on the Reaping took this to a whole new level, and I’m not sure I could handle any more.

Sunrise on the Reaping is another Hunger Games prequel, following up Collins’ The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. This time around, the story follows Haymitch Abernathy as he competes in the 50th Hunger Games—the Second Quarter Quell. We already knew a great deal about that year’s events since Catching Fire provided details about Haymitch’s arena and victory. It was also revealed that Snow killed Haymitch’s family and girlfriend as punishment for his unique victory. However, Sunrise on the Reaping demonstrated how we barely knew a fraction of the devastation Haymitch experienced.

Sunrise On The Reaping Is Easily The Most Devastating Hunger Games Book Yet

Suzanne Collins Held Nothing Back

The cover of Sunrise on the Reaping against a blue tinted image of a stage from the Hunger Games movies — Custom Image by Yeider Chacon

Katniss’ story in the central Hunger Games series was certainly jarring and heartbreaking. Little Rue’s death is impossible to forget, and Prim burning alive was an astonishingly horrible way for the series to come to an end. The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes was also quite gutwrenching, with references to cannibalism and a disturbing look into Coriolanus Snow’s mind. I didn’t think it could get much worse in Sunrise on the Reaping, especially since we already knew how Haymitch’s games would end. Of course, I was very wrong.

There’s really no compeтιтion—Haymitch’s story was the most heartbreaking of the Hunger Games franchise by far. Louella’s death was tragic, and poor Lou Lou being forced to replace her was downright disturbing. Ampert’s bones being picked clean by carnivorous squirrels forced me to put the book down. Haymitch screaming outside his childhood home while his mother and brother burned to death was horrendous. Still, nothing compared to Haymitch unwittingly feeding Lenore Dove that poisoned gumdrop and watching her die.

Sunrise on the Reaping feels like the final verse of a ballad—a last, painful nail in the coffin.

I feel as if Collins was sending a very clear message here. The Hunger Games franchise is mᴀssively popular and entertaining, but when it comes down to it, the series’ purpose is to dissect far deeper and more uncomfortable topics. Sunrise on the Reaping feels like the final verse of a ballad—a last, painful nail in the coffin.

Suzanne Collins’ Haymitch Prequel Is The Perfect Place To End The Hunger Games Series

Sunrise On The Reaping Is A Powerful Finale

Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence), Haymitch Abernathy (Woody Harrelson), and Lucy Gray (Rachel Zegler) in Hunger Games movies — Custom Image by Cooper Hood

Collins certainly held nothing back with Sunrise on the Reaping, making the novel feel like the perfect, impactful finale. This is quite fitting since Haymitch is the last District 12 victor to have his story told. The author made it clear in her Hunger Games books that the coal mining district had only ever had the four victors. Katniss and Peeta won the 74th Games in the central Hunger Games books, Lucy Gray won in The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, and Haymitch stood as the victor in Sunrise on the Reaping. Through these District 12 characters, Collins’ told her overarching story.

Collins was able to paint the full picture of Panem’s revolution through District 12’s victories. Katniss’ story details the downfall of the Hunger Games, but the two prequels explain retroactively that President Snow’s fight had always been with the least threatening of his Districts. Twelve was the smallest and most overlooked, but the president had become obsessed with these people, creating his own downfall. Sunrise on the Reaping brought a terrible but immaculate balance to this story. At this point, more would only damage The Hunger Games’ central theme.

A Finnick Or Mags Prequel Would Contradict The Hunger Games’ Themes

These Stories Would Be Entertaining, But Wouldn’t Add Value To The Hunger Games’ Core Lesson

Sunrise on the Reaping was a brutal reminder of what the Hunger Games franchise is all about. Sure, these stories are exciting and entertaining, but their true purpose is to explore complex questions about morality, behavior, governance, and so much more. There are 71 Hunger Games left that Collins could explore in further books, but none of these would add more value to the existing message. In fact, any further books or movies about Finnick or Mags’ Games would just be stories about children killing one another for our own entertainment—just as the Games themselves were meant to entertain the Capitol.

Haymitch’s story was a harsh reminder that the Hunger Games aren’t fun and celebratory.

Haymitch’s story was a harsh reminder that the Hunger Games aren’t fun and celebratory. Sunrise on the Reaping was a powerful and devastating book, outranking the Hunger Games trilogy and The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes in brutality without breaking a sweat. I truly loved it. However, after reading Collins’ masterpiece, I can’t help but feel that this has to be the end.