Into the Arena...again

I felt thrown into a new universe when I first started reading The Hunger Games. I was awestruck. I could not put the book down. I still consider it one of my favorite books, so before you start reading, I would like to warn you there are spoilers in this blog.

Intro to The Hunger Games

The Hunger Games is a book series about a futuristic world. What used to be North America has now become Panem, a nation-state including its 12 districts and Capitol. Ever since the rebellion caused by District 13 the Capitol has forced each district to present one girl and one boy to attend the barbaric and brutal Hunger Games that is hosted every year. In these "Games" the 24 children, ages 12-18, are expected to fight to death until one single victor remains. The books focus on Katniss Everdeen from District 12 and her journey through the 74th and 75th annual Hunger Games and the Rebellion. 

Currently, there are four books in the Hunger Games series. The Hunger Games trilogy includes "The Hunger Games," the first book "Catching Fire," the second book, and "Mockingjay," the third one. The trilogy focuses on Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark. About ten years later Suzanne Collins, the author of The Hunger Games, published a prequel, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. This book focuses on the beginning of the Hunger Games and Coriolanus Snow's older teenage years. Now all four of the books have their own movies.

Photo on mediaroom.scholastic.com

Sunrise on the Reaping

A couple of days ago I found out that a new Hunger Games book was going to be released I was ecstatic. Words can't describe how happy I was. My brother and I already planned to read the book together and then watch the movie together, now all we have to do is wait. Yes, the movie has already been confirmed and we have even been given an exact date but before all that let's talk about the book.

The Book

The Sunrise on the Reaping is Suzanne Collins's new book expected to be released on March 18, 2025. It's the second prequel novel to the Hunger Games trilogy. This book is suggested for 12 year olds and older.

This book will be focusing on Haymitch Abernathy at 16 and his journey through the 50th Hunger Games also known as the second Quarter Quell. A Quarter Quell happens every 25 years and is celebrated by having it especially hard for the players. This time for the Quarter Quell there were double the players in the arena, meaning Haymitch had to go against 47 other people instead of 23. The game makers made a beautiful arena to celebrate the Quarter Quell. The lush arena was filled with flowers, animals, and a dazzling snow covered mountain. Although it was a truly wonderful site it was as deadly as beautiful. The flowers were poisonous, the animals violent, and the mountain exploded killing twelve unexpecting tributes. Eighteen tributes died in the opening act. 

Haymitch was not seduced by the enchantment of the surroundings. At the cornucopia, Haymitch grabbed a bag and a knife and headed for the woods. He encountered three career tributes. His situation seemed bad at first but quickly he killed two of the tributes with the knife however the third one disarmed him. Right when Haymitch's journey seemed like it would come to an end Maysilee Donner, another District 12 tribute kills the last career tribute. After that scene, the two pair up and start heading for the edge of the arena. Soon after Haymitch discovers the forcefield around the arena and that anything thrown at it will bounce back. Maysilee wanted to go back to the center of the arena however Haymitch refused. Soon after Maysilee left Haymitch she was killed by a mutt. That day 2 other tributes had died leaving a girl career tribute from District 1 and Haymitch. The ensured violent fight included Haymitch being gashed in the chest and the girl's eye being cut out. In the end, Haymitchs opponent throws an axe violently at him which he dodges allowing the axe to hit the forcefield and be thrown right back at the girl. He was the victor of the 50th annual Hunger Games. Though Haymitch might have thought that life was going to get better now and that he finished the worst of it he had been mistaken. President Snow wasn't pleased with Haymitch's use of the arena and ordered for Haymitch's mother, brother, and girlfriend to be killed. To suppress the pain Haymitch started drinking a lot and now sleeps with a knife. Haymitch is one of many examples of how victors still live a nightmare after the arena.

Photo on mediaroom.scholastic.com

The Movie

As mentioned before the movie has been confirmed and will be released on November 20, 2026. It was announced in an Instagram post announcing: "Welcome to the Second Quarter Quell. The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping – in theaters November 20, 2026." Adam Fogelson, chair of the Lionsgate Motion Picture Group disclosed the film projects. Though we don't have a lot of information about the movie yet we know the producers are Nina Jacobson and Brad Simpson under the Color Force. Francis Lawerence will most likely be the director. 

References

- Scholastic Media Room
- Collider
- CBR
- Good Housekeeping
- Instagram
- Teen Vogue