The Sunrise on the Reaping is the newest addition to the Hunger Games franchise as the second prequel to the original Hunger Games.

This new book was released on March 18 and introduces young Haymitch Abernathy, which is connected to the original Hunger games as the mentor to our main characters Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark. It also talks about some events that were mentioned in other books. This second prequel follows the first one, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.

In the 50th annual Hunger Games, which is the 2nd quarter quell, Haymitch gets forced into the games and is with 48 other people including his fellow tributes Louella McCoy, Wyatt Callow, and Maysilee Donner. Abernathy was in for a treat as instead of the normal number of 24 contestants playing they had double the people with 48. Abernathy fights for his life in the games and wins when he throws an opponent’s axe and kills them which breaks the forcefield holding them in the arena.

Sophomore Valeria Garza read all the books including this new one and enjoyed it.

‘’I really liked how they connected things to the original,” Garza said. “This new book helps us understand more things and find out secrets that were mentioned in the other books. I think it’s a great installment to the franchise that still goes with the story of the first book but still keeps its own word or story for Haymitch. It was interesting how we got to read how he survived his own games in this 2nd prequel.’’