Sunrise on the Reaping

Author: Suzanne Collins

Who Picked the Book: Dara

One-sentence summary: Haymitch tries to fight back against the Capital during the Second Quarter Quell Hunger Games but his attempts ultimately end in tragedy.

B.A.D. Girls Book Rating: 9

Our favorite thing about it: The tie-ins to the other books and the back story to Haymitch and other characters.

Our least favorite thing about it: The tragic ending. 

Main Topics of Discussion: Complex characters, The Raven Poem, Sacrifice, Rebellion

Our favorite quote: "And that’s part of our trouble. Thinking things are inevitable. Not believing change is possible."

Notes: Despite how tragic this story was, it was incredibly written and we thoroughly enjoyed it. It helps that we have read ALL the other books in the series and are invested in the story and characters. But Collins just nailed the story with this one. The tragedy is realistic and earned. The tie-ins to the characters from the "first" books were welcome and interesting. We discussed Plutarch since he makes a re-appearance in this book. He's a classic complex character that we compared to Snape in the Harry Potter series. They both have to allow terrible things to happen in order to work toward a greater good - that might not happen. Even Effie was made more nuanced as a character by learning how she came into her role and how she met and worked with Haymitch. She continues to flesh out the perspective of the Capital inhabitants, which is interesting as well as instructive when you consider their range of responses to the Hunger Games - from complacency to excitement. We had two thoughts about the Raven poem that is woven into the final action of the book. 1) Some of us thought that using the whole poem almost got to be a little much. The poem is LONG and it kind of broke up the rhythm of the storytelling. 2) We all agreed that the poem really drove home the theme of what was happening to Haymitch - complete loss and terrible, unending grief. 

Memorable Meeting Moments: Dara cooked a wonderful Italian meal for us. Lindsay was able to join us.

What We Ate: Caprese Salad, Aperol Spriz, Garlic Bread, Caesar Salad, Linguine with Bolognese, Ding Dong Cupcakes