Chapter 7 of Sunrise on the Reaping explores the District 12 tributes’ relationship with their mentors and details their first time participating in The Hunger Games training.

This review is part of a series where I review one chapter of Sunrise on the Reaping each day as I read along.

What Happens in Chapter 7 of Sunrise on the Reaping?

The chapter picks up with a crying Haymitch being comforted by Mags before she leaves him to have a bath and get ready. The tributes of the 50th Hunger Games are staying in rental apartments which the Capitol have fitted with cameras for the time the tributes will be staying in them.

Haymitch, Wyatt and Maysilee are fed by their mentors who give them time to rest without talking about the impending games. Eventually, the mentors ask the tributes what ‘they want’ to make sure happens or doesn’t happen in their games, to which Haymitch responds that he does not want his family to see him suffer a long painful death and – in agreement with his fellow District 12 tributes – that they change the narrative of how the Capitol see District people or at least the cruelty of the games in a way that convinces them that the 50th Hunger Games should be the last.

The District 12 tributes are then taken to training where they select to practice knive throwing and are paired with the District 7 tributes. Haymitch is masterful at knife throwing and befriends Ringina who he decides he would be unable to kill in the games. As a result, he plans to form an alliance with the District 7 tributes. Out of nowhere, Haymitch is sucker punched by a career who is still mad about the chariot incident. Luckily, Haymitch isn’t hurt and the career is taken away by peacekeepers.

It is in this moment that Haymitch realises that the tributes greatly outnumber the peacekeepers on duty and that all tributes are armed offering the perfect opportunity for them to fight back. Haymitch is just pointing out to Ringina that they could do some damage when he hears someone from behind agree and add that they could have possibly done a considerable amount… the man is Plutarch who calls over cameras. As the cameras approach, Plutarch focuses on Haymitch and sneaks in a quick remark to Haymitch – which is also the closing line of this chapter – “The question is, why didn’t you?”

Review – Is Chapter 7 of Sunrise on the Reaping good?

This chapter does a good job of helping the reader get to know a bit more about the District 12 mentors as we see their caring nature and learn their values from the sharing of their priorities with their mentees about when they were going into the games themself.

The dynamics between the remaining District 12 tributes are also shown to be notably changed by the loss of Louella with Haymitch now having to pay more attention to Wyatt & Maysilee, as well as entertain the idea of being their allies. Haymitch’s gentle warming to both characters is being shown in a very real and progressive way which is very interesting to read.

The training offered further insight into the survival skills of Haymitch, Maysilee and Wyatt. This of course includes Haymitch’s skilful knife throwing but also Maysilee’s street smarts as she puts a focus on having a tough exterior to the other tributes. Plutarch’s surprise appearance at the end of the chapter was done in a really entertaining way that builds a lot of intrigue for readers.

Discussion – Is Haymitch Going to be Part of a Pack?

We see that Haymitch is someone who greatly values forming friendships and alliances in Katniss & Peeta’s games which is why he encourages them to form them. It is likely that we may see later on in Sunrise on the Reaping that there is a reason for this as this is possibly a big factor in his success within the arena.

The prospect of Haymitch being in a pack is very intriguing as it would be interesting to see the difference in dynamics between a larger group of tributes working together compared to what we have seen in other games – well, besides Catching Fire where we find out that Katniss was never really at risk of the pack eventually having to turn on one another.

Haymitch has already had an offer to join a multi-district pack to combat the careers which may be a good option for District 12. He has also made a friend in a District 7 tribute already, so an alliance with that District at the very least is likely.

What are your thoughts?

That wraps up my review of Chapter 7! Let me know in the comments below what your thoughts on Chapter 7 were and if you agreed/disagreed with any parts of my review.