Sunrise on the Reaping Chapter 23 sees the 50th Hunger Games dwindle down to its last three tributes with the death of Maysilee. Later in the chapter, Haymitch finds the other two remaining tributes within the arena. This review will firstly summarise what happens in Chapter 23 before going into a review and discussion on the chapter.

FYI: This review is part of a series where I write a review for one chapter of Sunrise on the Reaping each day as I read along. Each review is written before I have read the next chapter meaning that this review is spoiler-free for anything that happens after Chapter 23.

What Happens in Sunrise on the Reaping Chapter 23?

1/3: Haymitch Finds The Force Field

The chapter picks up with Maysilee and Haymitch standing at the other side of the hedge wondering what they should do now that Haymitch’s plan to destroy the generator is no longer possible. The two agree to part ways before they hear the sound of a canon marking another dead tribute which prompts them to want to stay together after all.

Maysilee leaves to retrieve their potatoes. Haymitch throws a rock down to the generator to measure how far the drop to it is. To his surprise, the rock bounces back up. He realises there is some kind of force field around the generator. Haymitch hears a scream and runs back through the hedge.

2/3: Maysilee is Attacked by Mutts

He finds Maysilee being attacked by waterbird-mutts which similarly to Ampert, have clearly been designed for her as they do not attack Haymitch at all. Haymitch tries to fight them off but by the time the birds clear, Maysilee is beyond saving. The two share a final pinky promise before he leaves Maysilee as she is, allowing her to serve a final ‘poster’ for the Capitol to see.

Haymitch receives sponsor gifts of strawberry ice cream and black coffee which he suspects are from Mags. Both serve as a way to commemorate Maysilee with black coffee being her favourite drink and the ice cream referencing her sassy clap back to Effie’s sister Proserpina in the tribute apartment.

The fallen tributes of the day appear with Maysilee being joined by Maritte. Both have been punished for their act of killing the Game Makers who were in the arena. With just three remaining, Haymitch decides to find Wellie (the other remaining Newcomer). This is a way to help ensure he can keep his promise to Maysilee that there will be a victor who will continue to bring the fight to the Capitol and stand up for the districts. 

3/3: Haymitch Finds Wellie… And Silka

He calls for Wellie and after a while hears a bell, which he recognises as being from a token Maysilee made. He follows it and finds Wellie high in a tree. She is clearly starved and has chapped lips. Haymitch gives her water and decides to let her sleep as she does not seem fit enough to stomach the potatoes he has in his backpack.

Soon another sponsor gift parachute appears, this time sporting chocolates. Haymitch gives Wellie some chocolate and takes a few chocolates himself.

Just as Haymitch is about to sleep, he hears the sound of crying. He realises it is Silka at the bottom of the tree huddled over. The chapter closes out with Haymitch realising that the final three tributes all in despair at the same tree is not a bad ‘poster’ and shows district unity. He drops some chocolates for Silka.

Review – Is Chapter 23 of Sunrise on the Reaping Good?

This chapter really surprised me and in all the best ways (well, besides the death of Maysilee😭).

We get our first hint of the force field’s presence in the arena, which as we know from Catching Fire, is most likely part of the way Haymitch wins/finishes the games.

We are then suddenly surprised by the early on death in the chapter, when Maysilee is punished for her actions against the Game Makers. Maysilee is definitely one of my favourite characters (and I suspect will also be a fan favourite), making this death particularly saddening to read.

Seeing her character go, marks the beginning of the end of the games with just three tributes remaining and builds a lot of suspense as Haymitch now faces the games alone.

The chapter then goes in a direction most readers likely aren’t expecting, with the chapter ending with all three tributes at the same tree. Not looking to kill each other, but instead in despair about all that has happened in the arena and what ultimately awaits them now as the games draw closer to the end.

Haymitch sharing chocolates with his fellow two remaining tributes made for such a beautiful ending to this chapter and achieves a lot more than what an action-packed cliffhanger would.

Discussion – What did you think about the character of Maysilee and the overall arc of her story?

The death of Maysilee is one of the most heartbreaking to read, even though we knew it was coming.

Maysilee is definitely one of the most likeable and strong characters in all of The Hunger Games franchise. She is a character that I think fans are really going to miss and will potentially be looking for references to in any future The Hunger Games book we may get.

Seeing her change – or at least Haymitch’s perceptions of her change – from a spoilt mean brat to the caring yet also sarcastic girl she really is throughout the book was really satisfying to read. 

Her character is something the movie is going to really have to get right as I suspect if the character leans too much on her ‘mean side’ or her caring side and doesn’t showcase both of those layers to her, that many fans will be very disappointed.

Maysilee is a twin with her twin Merrilee watching her in the games and going on to survive so it possible that we might see her in any future books. It would be fun to get to learn more about her and the rest of Maysilee’s family as well as see her house/get a better sense of how her life looked in District 12.

What are your thoughts?

That’s all my thoughts on Chapter 23! Let me know your thoughts on the chapter and the character of Maysilee in the comments below!