Review: Haymitch’s Hunger Games

Although the first book came out in 2008, The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins remains a classic series for young adults. The novels and movies are astronomically popular, which has earned them a prequel, The Ballad of Snakes and Songbirds, set 64 years before the first book. As of March 18, the continuing popularity has resulted in a second sequel, set 24 years before Katniss and Peeta entered the games.

The District 12 mentor, Haymitch Abernathy, is the center of this new story. Slightly shorter than the tome that was The Ballad of Snakes and Songbirds, it is still a time commitment, longer than the original novels. Although Haymitch’s character is prevalent in the original trilogy, not much info is given on his background. We know he was a quarter-quell tribute, and that his game had twice as many tributes as a normal game. After his victory, the capital kills his family and girlfriend, and he turns to drinking to cope with these losses. Because every book from this series has been immensely captivating, when I heard about this prequel, I was immediately excited to read it.

Suzanne Collins is an excellent writer and world builder; this book was no exception. This is the type of book where it is tempting to skim ahead because each scene is so descriptive and fast-paced. Sunrise on the Reaping may be Collins’s most heart-wrenching book yet. I found it a hard read, not because it was a bad story or slow-moving, but because of its emotional weight. Throughout the introduction to the book, you get to know Haymitch Abernathy, all the while knowing this likable character’s story ends in tragedy.

You may ask, since we already know how the book will end, why read it? This new book’s popularity is obvious; at each local bookstore I went to, the cashiers sadly told me it was heavily backordered. Throughout her books, Collins criticizes the very thing that captivates most of her readers: the games. While part of the series’ popularity is due to the quality of the stories, there is a harsh irony in the fact that one of America’s most popular series is about the game that caused the citizens of this imaginary world so much pain. The themes of desensitization to violence and corruption of power are no joke, and once again, they have captivated audiences worldwide. I believe that the themes of Collins’ work are ever relevant in today’s world, which is just another reason that I wholeheartedly recommend this book.