McKenna’s Reviews > Sunrise on the Reaping > Status Update

Surprisingly this is the first time I’ve cried while reading this book

I fear I’m so emotionally attached to Ampert. I tried so hard to not fall into the trap of becoming emotionally attached and yet I did

Plutarch is like one of my least favorite characters in the entirety of THG and this book is just furthering my hatred

“I don’t care much for mockingjays. Something unnatural about a bird that’s half-mutt”

Such an emphasis on the necessity of being human & holding onto that identity- maysilee specifically also cares a lot about purity which is interesting

(1) I feel like this is very reminiscent of catching fire rn- all of the other districts against careers & underlying plot to destroy the arena. Although, I feel like if the children had been the catalyst to the revolution rather than adult victors that there is symbolism in that
(2) giving him a 1 doesn’t make sense to me from the Capitol’s perspective- it just draws attention to him? Unless that’s the point?

I’m so fascinated by the way that the perception of death does not change in dystopian worlds

My Donner Party theory is already thickening- she asks for plates/cutlery & the line “if you let them treat you like an animal, they will. So don’t let them”

She is going to try and hold out her dignity as long as possible until she physically cannot anymore, which is a theme more generally in these 40 pages but I have a feeling she’ll be a real proponent of the theme moving forward (I could be so wrong)

I’m sure it’s intentional but I cannot stop thinking of the Donner party when I read Maysilee’s last name- I have a theory about how it fits together but it’s too presumptuous to share since I’m only 40 pages in

I’m living the dream young me wanted (my girlfriend gave me her copy of this book with sticky notes of her thoughts while she read)

The benefit: I’m loving getting to read the book & her thoughts at the same time

The downside: it is taking me longer because I’m also writing notes to her as I read (both in response to her notes & otherwise)