Every Easter Egg You Might’ve Missed in Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping

Warning: This article contains spoilers from Sunrise on the Reaping.

Take a trip back to the arena.

Suzanne Collins’ latest Hunger Games novel, Sunrise on the Reaping, may have only just released a few days ago, but has already been catching fire with fans. Twenty-four years before the events of the original trilogy, the 50th Hunger Games,known as the Second Quarter Quellsends double the number of Tributes to fight to the death—including Haymitch Abernathy.Indeed, the highly anticipated prequel tells the real storyof the fan-favorite character’s journey during the Hunger Gamesand how the tragedy leads to him becoming thedrunken reclusereaders first meet in the 2008 novel.

“They will not use my tears for their entertainment,” is the frequent motto 16-year-old Haymitch recites throughout the course of his time in the Games, but fans will certainly shed a few reading his heartbreaking origin story. 

He journeys to the Capitol alongside three other District 12 Tributes Maysilee Donner, Louella McCoy, and Wyatt Callow after being illegally chosen at the reaping. Yep, you read that right, he was not even among the original fourchosen to compete in the Games, but he quickly finds himself in Capitol crosshairs after a shocking incident during the reaping ceremony. 

Despite knowing he is likely walking to his death, his determination to stay alive in the arena stems from his love for his family and girlfriend Lenore Dove, a member of the Covey—that and his growing quest to rebel against the Capitol and take down the Games. However, President Coriolanus Snow has other plans…

Sunrise on the Reaping discusses difficult topics of political corruption, propaganda, trauma, alcoholism, and death. Butit leaves readers with a newfound understanding of the world of Panemand so many of the people who ultimately guide Katniss to her successful rebellion. It’s a prequel that seems to contain the missing pieces to Collins’ Panem puzzle. 

As such, the fifth installment of The Hunger Games series is filled with plenty of Easter Eggs and references to the other four novels. And we volunteer as tribute to guide you through everything you may have missed…

Katniss Everdeen’s Parents

One of the biggest revelations in Sunrise on the Reapingis how much readers get to know Katniss Everdeen’s parents—especially her dad, who dies in a mining accident long before the events of the Hunger Games. Katniss’ mom’s name is Asterid March, the town beauty and apothecary workerfrom a wealthier part of the district, whileKatniss’ dad, Burdock Everdeen, was one of Haymitch’sclosest friends—which later leads to his dedication to keeping Katniss alive during her Hunger Games.

Beyond being his BFF, Burdock is also revealed to be also related to Haymitch’s girlfriend Lenore Dove. Like the rest of his Covey cousins, Burdock had a beautiful singing voice and was a strong hunter. It’s safe to say the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.

The Ghost of Lucy Gray Baird Continues to Loom

Her presence or lack thereof has caused lasting effects throughout the Hunger Games universeand it’s no different in Sunrise on the Reaping. After becoming victor of the 10th Hunger Games—an event that remains shrouded in mystery 40 years later—in A Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, she ultimately decided to run away into the woods from her mentor and lover, Coriolanus Snow, leaving her fate ambiguous. 

President Snow’s obsession with Lucy Gray and the Covey, a nomadic group known for their music, finds its way into Sunrise on the Reaping.The ghost of Lucy Gray comes to life when the ruthless President notices the similarities between his first love and Lenore Dove, Haymitch’s girlfriend, as Lenore Dove is not onlyCovey, but she is also a Baird,adescendent of Lucy Gray Baird’s family. It’s evident President Snow remains unable to get over Lucy Gray Baird—andis reminded of her at every turn—during a private meeting with Haymitch he suggests Lenore Dove isn’t as in love with Haymitch as he thinks. Although, when he speaks, it’s clear it’s not Lenore Dove he’s referring to. 

“She’s delightful to look at, swishes around in bright colors, and sings like a mockingjay,” Snow tells Haymitch. “You love her. And oh, how she seems to love you. Except sometimes you wonder, because her plans don’t include you at all.”

More Covey Cameos

Another returning character you might remember from The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes is Clerk Carmine Clade, A member of the Covey and the younger brother of Billy Taupe Clade, Lucy Gray Baird’s ex-lover. Collinsconfirms ClerkCarmine’s queer sexuality in the opening chapters of Sunrise on the Reapingwith Haymitch noting his private 30 year romance despite living in the unaccepting state of Panem. Clerk Carmine and fellow Covey memberTam Amber serve as Lenore Dove’s adoptive uncleswho aren’t quite convinced Haymitch is good enough for her.

Familiar Faces from The Hunger Games Trilogy

In addition to Haymitch, Sunrise on the Reaping reveals origin stories for many characters who becomes a crucial part of the original trilogy. Such as…

MagsFlanagan, winner of the 11th Hunger Games and District 4 tribute in the 75th Hunger Games, makes her return in Sunrise on the Reapingas Haymitch’s mentor for the Second Quarter Quell, with whom he forms a close bond. And their shared experience in 25 years prior is on his mind during Catching Fire.

“I just hope when she goes, she goes quickly,” he tells Katniss and Peeta. “She’s actually a wonderful lady.” 

Wiress is District 12’s second mentor for the Second Quarter Quell and a District 3 tribute in the 75th Hunger Games. Having won the 49th Hunger Games just one year before the Second Quarter Quell, she was forced to mentor as a punishment for outsmarting the gamemakers in her own Games. The Capitol continues to punish her for her role in the rebellion, leading her to the deteriorated mental state we see her in during the 75th Hunger Games.

BeeteeLatier’s appearance comes as a surprise when Haymitch meets him during a training session in the Capitol. It is soon revealed that his son, Ampert, who is only 12, was reaped for the 50th Hunger Games as Beetee’s punishment for sabotaging the Capitol’s communication systems. As such, he has to mentor his child and watch him live out his final days in the arena.

Plutarch Heavensbee serves as the Capitol TV producer assigned to District 12 during theSecond Quarter Quell.Still a slippery figure, it’s revealed hisplans of a rebellion started years before the events of Mockingjay, as he begins looping in characters like Beetee, Mags, Wiress, and Haymitch on his plans to overthrow the Capitoland bring an end to the Games—even if his loyalties aren’t always so clear.

Caesar Flickerman, the iconic host—and relative to Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes host Lucky Flickerman—is finally helming the Games pre-show, interviewing all 48 tributes set to compete in Sunrise on the Reaping. 

Unsurprisingly, Effie Trinket makes a glamorous entrance, coming to the rescue in Sunrise on the Reapingto dress the District 12 tributes for success—and save the grades of her sister Prosperpina and fellow University glam team student Vitus—after their assigned stylist, Magno Stift, did not show up on interview night.

The MockingjayPin

Theorigins behind the famous mockingjay pinis at long last revealed.Covey family member Tam Amberput his metal working abilities into action,forging the pin as a commission for Maysilee Donner, years before she became a District 12 tribute. The pin has since been passed down by Maysilee’s twin sister, Merrilee, onto Madge Undersee, who ultimately ended up giving the pin to Katniss Everdeen.

Parallels Between Panem’s District 12 Tributes

Haymitch’s life closely parallels that of Katniss Everdeen’s. Both born in District 12 in the poor neighborhood called the Seam, themost obvious similarities are in family; both have a widowed mother, younger sibling, and a father who tragically passed away in a coal-mining accident. 

And then, their journeys to and in the Hunger Games have many similarities—starting with the fact that neither are initially chosen but instead end up as tributes due to circumstances beyond their control. But once they’re there they forge bonds that change everything for them.

During the 74th annual Hunger Games, Katniss Everdeen grows fond of 12-year-old Rue, who she formed an alliance with and wanted to protect from harm. Haymitch Abernathy had a similar relationship with 13-year-old Louella McCoy, during the 50th Games. However, neither of the District 12 Tributes were able to protect their young alliance members during their respective Games.

After Rue and Louella’s death, Katniss and Haymitch both incited acts of rebellion against the Capitol’s cruelty. Katniss decorated Rue’s body with flowers and gave the symbolic three-finger salute, while Haymitch carried Louella’s lifeless body to President Snow after hijacking District 1’s chariot during the Tribute Parade.

The Roots of the Rebellion

Another major similarity Katniss and Haymitch share is their role in the rebellion—dating back to their time in the arena. Years before Katniss led the revolution, Plutarch, Beetee, Wiress, Mags, and Haymitch were all working together on plans to take down the Capitol and to end the Hunger Games. In Sunrise on the Reaping Beetee, Plutarch, and Haymitch all plan on rebelling by destroying the arenafrom within, forcing an end to the Games. Although things did not work out as planned during the 50th Hunger Games, Katniss Everdeen was able to end the years of war and become the Mockingjay twenty-four years later.

In the epilogue of the book, which takes place post-Mockingjay, it appears even Haymitch recognizes his own similarities to Katniss Everdeen“She’s like me, Peeta always says,” he notes. “But she was smarter than me, or luckier. She’s the one who finally kept that sun from rising.” 

 Keep reading for more secrets from The Hunger Games.

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