SUZANNE COLLINS does it again!! Her world-building throughout The Hunger Games universe astonishes me with its emotional depth and crossovers between all of the books.

SUNRISE ON THE REAPING tells the story of Haymitch Abernathy’s games in the 2nd Quarter Quell, starting on reaping day. In an unfortunate turn of events, he is reaped on his birthday and leaves his family and love behind to take part in a fight to the death. He is thrown into the midst of the Capitol, where time and time again, he is shown that the games are rigged.

Despite the reader knowing the outcome of his games, the details, story, and characters come to life, bringing new meaning and significant heartbreak to what we learned in the original books.

The clarity it brings to older Haymitch while including parallels to all the books tickles my brain in just the right spot. From references to “sweetheart,” the Covey, the edge of the arena, the mockingjay pin, and so much more.

I especially appreciated the quotes in the beginning by writers and philosophers alike, like David Hume and George Orwell, emphasizing how these books are much more than just young adult novels, but an ode to some of the finest philosophy and ideals of freedom that have made up the Western world.

hindsight: desert island book