The Hunger Games Series Book 0.5: Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins

 

The Hunger Games Series Book 0.5

When you’ve been set up to lose everything you love, what is there left to fight for?

As the day dawns on the fiftieth annual Hunger Games, fear grips the districts of Panem. This year, in honor of the Quarter Quell, twice as many tributes will be taken from their homes.

Back in District 12, Haymitch Abernathy is trying not to think too hard about his chances. All he cares about is making it through the day and being with the girl he loves.

When Haymitch’s name is called, he can feel all his dreams break. He’s torn from his family and his love, shuttled to the Capitol with the three other District 12 tributes: a young friend who’s nearly a sister to him, a compulsive oddsmaker, and the most stuck-up girl in town. As the Games begin, Haymitch understands he’s been set up to fail. But there’s something in him that wants to fight . . . and have that fight reverberate far beyond the deadly arena.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/214331246-sunrise-on-the-reaping

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My Review: 5/5 Stars

I never thought I would be reading another Hunger Games book. But when I learned Haymitch was getting his story told, I had to read it. We learned so many bits and pieces of Haymitch during the original series. Like how he won his Hunger Games, how his was the Quarter Quell and it was twice as many tributes that year. But never enough details. Like how did he truly end up the way we see him when he meets Katniss and Peeta. Now we get that answer. And it was just as heartbreaking as you would imagine but this was the beginning of Haymitch’s role as a rebel. Haymitch starts this story off with a pretty decent life. He has a loving family with his mother and his younger brother and he has found the love of his life, Lenore Dove. And though we know he obviously ends up in the Hunger Games, the how was actually very surprising. It’s sets an important tone for the rest of the story and in the actions of everything he does. I really don’t want to spoil anything in this book. I loved all the surprises which came in the form of a lot of cameos I didn’t realize we would get! Haymitch’s goal really isn’t so much as to survive the Hunger Games but to find a way to stop them. It’s the beginning of a rebellion and though unsuccessful, it only makes victory years down the road very worth it. Overall, I really love Haymitch’s story. The good and bad moments! It was interesting to see who he was before the Snow and the Capitol broke him down bit by bit. How driven he was by love and how eventually he sacrifices a lot to protect those he cares about. If you remembering enjoying the Hunger Games books when they came out, I definitely recommend checking out Haymitch’s story. His story was definitely worth telling!