Sunrise on the Reaping
Suzanne Collins
Content report card
What's inside
Violence
Fighting, weapons, death
Language
Swearing, crude humor
Sexual content
Romance intensity, nudity
LGBTQ+ themes
Presence of characters or themes
Scary or mature
Horror, trauma, heavy themes
Substance use
Alcohol, drugs, smoking
What it offers
Positive messages
Kindness, courage, honesty, resilience
Positive role models
Characters who model good judgment and growth
Educational value
History, science, culture, how the world works
A note for parents
This is a prequel to The Hunger Games series, so it contains the same core content: graphic depictions of death in a televised arena survival competition, including violence, killing, and trauma. The story emphasizes themes of resistance, love, and fighting against oppression, which provide moral weight to the violence. While appropriate for fans of the original series (typically ages 14+), it contains pervasive graphic violence and mature themes that make it unsuitable for younger readers, and some profanity and sexual references reflect the YA audience it targets.
Analyzed by AI · 1 hour ago
Parent age guide
Is “Sunrise on the Reaping” right for your kid?
Ready from about age 16.
From about 13, okay with a grown-up nearby.
For younger readers
- Violence is intense (5/5) — a bit much at 15; fine with a grown-up nearby.
Based on this book's content report card and typical guidance by age. You know your reader best.
For your family
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From the publisher
The phenomenal fifth book in the Hunger Games series: Haymitch's story. #1 USA Today Bestseller - #1 New York Times Bestseller - #1 Indie Bestseller - #1 Publishers Weekly Bestseller - A New York Times Editors' Choice "A propulsive, brutal Hunger Games prequel is here. And it's great." The New York Times When you've be... The phenomenal fifth book in the Hunger Games series: Haymitch's story. #1 USA Today Bestseller - #1 New York Times Bestseller - #1 Indie Bestseller - #1 Publishers Weekly Bestseller - A New York Times Editors' Choice "A propulsive, brutal Hunger Games prequel is here. And it's great." The New York Times 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.
Shelved under
- Young Adult Fiction
ISBN 9781546171607 · Scholastic Press