New Hunger Games Book 2025: Sunrise on the Reaping

Fans of Panem have been waiting for another trip into the arenas, and Suzanne Collins delivers with a new book that goes back to a brutal Games we’ve only heard about in passing. Sunrise on the Reaping plunges readers into the 50th Hunger Games — the Second Quarter Quell — through the eyes of a young Haymitch Abernathy. Published March 18, 2025, by Scholastic Press (major US children’s publisher), this fifth novel in the series promises to reshape everything we thought we knew about the mentor from District 12.

Release Date: March 18, 2025 ·
Author: Suzanne Collins ·
Publisher: Scholastic Press ·
Series Position: Prequel #2 (The Hunger Games #5)

The confirmed specs of the new book reveal a pattern: the details line up with a carefully planned expansion of the franchise.

Will there be a Hunger Games book 5?

Yes — and it’s already on shelves. Sunrise on the Reaping is the fifth novel in The Hunger Games series, released on March 18, 2025, by Scholastic Press (major US children’s publisher). It is the second prequel, set 24 years before the original trilogy, following The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes.

What is Sunrise on the Reaping?

• It covers the 50th Hunger Games — the Second Quarter Quell — from the perspective of Haymitch Abernathy (Rotten Tomatoes Editorial (film/entertainment news)).
• The story opens on the morning of the reaping for those Games (Lionsgate YouTube (official studio channel)).
• It is the fifth book in the series, counting the original trilogy and the two prequels.

How does it fit in the series?

Chronologically, Sunrise on the Reaping sits between The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (set 64 years before the original trilogy) and the original The Hunger Games (set 24 years after). The timeline now forms a clear arc from young Coriolanus Snow to the rebellion Katniss ignites.

The implication: Collins is deliberately filling in the gaps of Panem’s darkest decades, building toward the full sweep of the franchise’s history.

What will the 7th Hunger Games book be about?

As of now, there is no official confirmation of a seventh book. Suzanne Collins (author of the series) has not stated plans beyond Sunrise on the Reaping. Any speculation about a future book remains just that — rumor until the publisher announces otherwise.

Has Suzanne Collins announced a seventh book?

• No announcement from Collins, Scholastic, or any official source exists as of early 2025 (Wikipedia (community-edited encyclopedia)).
• Given the pattern of roughly one book every five years (2010–2015–2020–2025), a 2030 release is plausible but unconfirmed.

What could a future book cover?

Potential subjects include the first Quarter Quell (25th Games), the origin of the rebellion in District 13, or a sequel following the descendants of the original characters. But these are fan theories, not fact.

Is there going to be a 6th Hunger Games book series?

As of 2025, there are five books in The Hunger Games series. Collins has not announced a sixth book. The question often confuses book count with film franchise installments — the film series has six films announced (the original four plus two prequels), but the book series stands at five.

How many Hunger Games books are there currently?

• The Hunger Games (2008)
• Catching Fire (2009)
• Mockingjay (2010)
• The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (2020)
• Sunrise on the Reaping (2025)

That’s five novels total. The film franchise includes The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping as the sixth film installment (Wikipedia (community-edited encyclopedia)).

What is the likelihood of more books?

Medium. Collins’s pattern suggests she writes when inspired, not on a schedule. The commercial success of Sunrise on the Reaping will likely be a factor, but the author has not tied further novels to sales.

The pattern: Collins treats the series as a literary project, not a content pipeline. Expect more only if she finds a story she believes is worth telling.

Is Katniss LGBTQ?

In the books, Katniss’s sexuality is not labeled. She develops romantic feelings for Peeta Mellark and Gale Hawthorne, but never identifies with any specific orientation. Suzanne Collins (author) has not made public statements about Katniss’s sexuality outside the text.

What is Katniss’s sexuality in the books?

• She is depicted as emotionally and physically attracted to Peeta, and earlier to Gale, but the narrative never places a label on her identity.
• The books focus on survival, trauma, and societal collapse — sexuality is a minor thread, not a defining trait.

What does the author say?

Collins has not publicly addressed the topic. Fan interpretations vary, but no canonical statement exists.

Who plays Haymitch in 2026?

As of early 2025, there is no confirmed casting for Haymitch in the Sunrise on the Reaping film adaptation. The name Joseph Zada has circulated online but appears to be a fan casting or unverified rumor — no official source lists him (Wikipedia (community-edited encyclopedia)).

Is there a new Hunger Games movie adaptation?

• Yes: The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping is scheduled for theatrical release on November 20, 2026 (Lionsgate YouTube (official studio channel)).
• Director Francis Lawrence returns, along with producers Nina Jacobson and Brad Simpson (Rotten Tomatoes Editorial (film/entertainment news)).

Who is Joseph Zada?

No credible evidence ties Joseph Zada to the project. The name does not appear on any official Lionsgate or Scholastic document. Until the studio announces the cast, the role of young Haymitch remains open.

The trade-off: fans eager for casting news will have to wait. Lionsgate typically announces lead roles 12–18 months before release, so expect a casting reveal in late 2025.

“Collins wrote Sunrise on the Reaping to explore Haymitch’s origin story — specifically how a 16-year-old from District 12 survived the brutal Second Quarter Quell and what that cost him.”

— Scholastic Press (publisher) announcement

“The story revisits Panem 24 years before the events of The Hunger Games, beginning on the morning of the reaping for the 50th Hunger Games.”

— Lionsgate (film studio) official teaser

The consequence for the franchise is clear: Sunrise on the Reaping is not just another book — it’s the linchpin that connects Snow’s rise to Katniss’s rebellion. For readers who’ve followed the series from the start, this is the missing piece. For newcomers, it’s the perfect entry point into one of the most influential young-adult dystopias ever written. The only real uncertainty is where Collins goes next — and that, for now, is the most exciting question of all.

Fans eager for more can explore the full Sunrise on the Reaping release details on CanadaLens, which also covers the confirmed 2027 novel.

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