Sunrise on the Reaping Chapter 21 sees Haymitch and Maysilee take on a bear-sized porcupine mutt. The 50th Hunger Games progress with the deaths of multiple tributes. This review will first give a summary of Chapter 21 before going into a review and discussion on the chapter.

FYI: This review is part of a series where I review one chapter of Sunrise on the Reaping each day as I read along. Each review is written before I have read the next chapter which means that this review is spoiler-free for anything that happens after Chapter 21.

What Happens in Sunrise on the Reaping Chapter 21?

1/3: Aftermath of the Ladybug Attack

The chapter picks up with Haymitch and Maysilee removing the ladybug mutts from their skin one by one. It soon rains and they manage to wash off the blood.

As a result of the ladybug attack at the hedge and their dwindling food, Maysilee suggests that they head towards the Cornucopia instead to get some more food.

2/3: Haymitch and Maysilee Come Across the Porcupine Mutt

As Haymitch and Maysilee make their way, they hear baby sounds. They follow the sound and soon find a porcupine mutt the size of bear. Two of their fellow Newcomers lie injured and a third begins fighting the porcupine in an attempt to get to the two which lay injured. 

Haymitch and Maysilee seek to join the fight with Haymitch throwing an axe which does very little damage. The porcupine begins spraying its quills/spikes. Maysilee and Haymitch take cover using their tarps.

 Recognising its toddler like behaviour as the porcupine stomps as if in a tantrum, Haymitch suggest they try soothing it like a baby as opposed to fighting it. Haymitch chucks olives which it eats and it seems to do the trick, leading the porcupine away from the clearing.

Two of The Newcomers lay dead and Maysilee desperately tries to help Hull who now lies dying from the poison. She tries to give Hull the antidote but this is to no avail and he too dies.

3/3: Haymitch & Maysilee Wind Down For The Night

Leaving the scene, Haymitch and Maysilee collect their backpacks. They make ‘dinner’ for themself before seeing that five tributes have died throughout the day, leaving just five left. Two Careers and three Newcomers remain.

Maysilee tells Haymitch that she wants one of them to win this thing so that they can be the worst victor in history by bringing the fight to the Capitol more than ever. They pinky promise on this. They also agree to find the remaining Newcomer the next morning as they may also be able to do the same as a victor.

Maysilee jokingly sings a ladybug lullaby she has had stuck in her head before Haymitch goes to sleep for the night. The chapter closes with Haymitch lying thinking and connecting multiple dots. He realises he has a plan for getting through the hedge.

Review – Is Sunrise on the Reaping Chapter 21 Good?

This chapter is very action packed and really delivers on progressing the games in a meaningful and satisfying way.

The deaths in this chapter shape a very interesting remaining five which builds a lot of intrigue for the next few chapters.

The porcupine mutt made for a really intense scene and also an interesting twist with the mutt being as baby-like in behaviour as the noises it was making.

Seeing more of Maysilee and Haymitch bonding is really fun to read and their honest conversation about their siblings as well as what they wish for the other to do as a victor makes for a very emotional moment.

Discussion – Will Haymitch keep Maysilee’s promise to be a bad victor?

Maysilee and Haymitch share a sweet moment in this chapter when Maysilee says that she wants one of them to win and to be the worst victor yet for the Capitol, which they pinky promise to be.

As we all know Haymitch is the victor of these games, it raises a big question about how he is initially as a victor. We know that by the time Katniss and Peeta’s games come along Haymitch has been beaten down by the Capitol into submission (or maybe more complacency). We also know that his family are dead by this time.

It is very possible that Haymitch was the bad victor he promised Maysilee to be and that this may have lead to the punishment of his family being killed. Whether this is the case or if Haymitch’s games end in such a traumatising way from the get go which prevents him from being the bad victor Maysilee wanted him to be, remains to be seen. However, we may see it within the final chapters of Sunrise on the Reaping.

What are your thoughts?

That wraps up all my thoughts on Chapter 21! Let me know yours in the comments below!