Sunrise on the Reaping excerpt introduces Haymitch’s girlfriend Lenore

Suzanne Collins’ prequel novel, out March 18, is ready 24 years earlier than the occasions of The Starvation Video games, and tells the origin story of Katniss’ gruff mentor, Haymitch Abernathy. The story picks up on the day of Haymitch’s personal reaping — which additionally happens to be his 16th birthday — and, properly, followers of the Starvation Video games know the way that goes for him.

As the unique trilogy revealed, Haymitch is chosen as one of many District 12’s tributes for the fiftieth Starvation Video games. However after he wins with a intelligent stunt, President Snow orders the dying of Haymitch’s mom, brother, and girlfriend as retribution for his perceived defiance. These deaths formed Haymitch into the jaded man we first met in The Starvation Video games, however a brand new excerpt of Dawn on the Reaping’s first chapter reveals that the seeds of his cynicism — and, extra importantly, the hope that issues may someday change — have been planted way back.

Within the audio excerpt, learn by Collins within the video above, readers are launched to Haymitch’s doomed girlfriend, Lenore Dove, on the morning of the reaping. When the pair speak in regards to the impending choice, by which double the variety of tributes can be picked, it’s simple to acknowledge Haymitch’s resigned tone when he tells Lenore that he tells himself issues can be all proper “as a result of the reaping’s going to occur it doesn’t matter what I imagine.”

Lenore refuses to just accept this line of considering, explaining that any such passive compliance is “a part of our hassle. Considering issues are inevitable. Not believing change is feasible.” She urges Haymitch to think about the world with out a reaping, although he’s reluctant to offer this concept any credence.

This temporary change looks like a small, however formative second in Haymitch’s life, and it’s simple to grasp how with Lenore’s dying, the desires of the higher future she hoped to encourage in him died, too. Nevertheless it’s additionally possible the reminiscence of this second that helped rekindle that flame of hope 24 years later, when he labored with Katniss to overthrow the Capitol and finish the Video games as soon as and for all.

The extra we study Dawn on the Reaping, the extra clear it turns into that the e book goes to harm in one of the best ways. The love between Haymitch and Lenore is so clear on this excerpt, which makes the data of her eventual dying much more painful than it already was. Although maybe essentially the most heart-wrenching element of this entire factor is the reveal that Haymitch’s determination to lift geese is finished in remembrance of Lenore.

We are able to’t wait to seek out out what different devastating particulars Dawn on the Reaping has in retailer when it hits cabinets on March 18.