Sunrise on the Reaping

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. Each character in Sunrise on the Reaping has a unique approach to the idea of resistance, from Maysilee’s weaponized snark to Haymitch’s arena plot. Which of these approaches resonated with you the most? If you were called to participate in Panem’s revolution, how would you choose to do it?

2. What aspects of Haymitch’s character did you find most and least relatable? If placed in a similar situation, would you have stood up for the rebellion, or complied with the Capitol to keep yourself safe?

3. In the arena, Maysilee and Asterid kill three Gamemakers who are not directly threatening their lives. Considering the situation the tributes are in, do you think that these are justified killings? Why or why not?

4. What type of society is Panem? Can you think of any real-world parallels that may have inspired Collins’s world-building?

5. The power of propaganda is a major theme, with both the Capitol and the tributes fighting to create footage that supports their cause. There are several moments in the arena where a brave act or a moment of solidarity is framed as a “poster” for the tributes. Does their desire to produce their own propaganda make their actions any less genuine or worthy of praise? Why or why not?

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

1. Panem is modeled after a futuristic dystopia in the ruins of North America. Analyze parallels between Panem and modern-day North American society. What aspects of culture and society might Collins have intended the novel to critique?

2. Sunrise on the Reaping references several real-world texts, including The Goose and the Common and “The Raven”. Why might Collins have chosen to include real texts along with fictional songs and poems?

3. David Hume’s concept of implicit submission is central to the novel, with Collins exploring how this idea is exploited by Panem’s authoritarian government. Is this tactic exclusive to oppressive governments, or do all governments utilize it to some degree? Can you think of any examples of real-world propaganda that you encounter in your daily life?

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

1. Sunrise on the Reaping is a prequel, so most readers will already be familiar with the events that occur after the novel. How does Collins leverage dramatic irony to enhance the narrative?

2. One of the novel’s opening quotes is from philosopher David Hume: “Force is always on the side of the governed, the governors have nothing to support them but opinion” (1). How does this quote relate to the relationship between the Capitol and the districts, specifically in regard to the Capitol’s use of propaganda?

3. How does the Capitol’s surveillance system resemble a panopticon? How does this affect its citizens’ ability to organize and take decisive action?

4. Speaking to Haymitch after the failed arena sabotage, Plutarch says that their actions are part of a continuum—that real, sustainable change may take generations. How do his words affect the way you think about the sacrifices made by characters like Haymitch, Maysilee, and Lenore?

5. The mockingjay pin, a central symbol of Katniss and the rebellion, makes an appearance in Sunrise on the Reaping as a forgotten trinket of Maysilee’s that is passed on to Katniss after her death. How does this context affect the meaning of the symbol?