Sunrise on the Reaping Podcast with Book Club!

After hearing that Sunrise on the Reaping book was in the works, we knew we had to do a read-along podcast. We got so much from our Hunger Games and Songbirds and Snakes read-throughs and loved that our listeners loved our nerdy, snarky POVs.

We're going to spend most of 2025 discussing Suzanne Collins' new book (yes, there's exactly that much to talk about) and are so excited to take a deep dive into the 50th Hunger Games. In each episode, we'll explore our first impressions on the section we read, compelling elements that connect to our world, and various POVs that aren't Haymitch Abernathy's.

We're starting slow with some chapter-by-chapter episodes, but may pick up the pace once we get into the games. We'll see how the book progresses! If you haven't read Sunrise on the Reaping yet, don't worry - our episodes will be spoiler-free.

Listen to this first podcast episodes right here:

Britt and Chris introduce their new read-through podcast for Sunrise on the Reaping, including a bit about themselves and what they hope to find in the new Hunger Games book.

Covering Chapter 1, Britt and Chris discuss defiant District 12 families, the inevitability of the Hunger Games, the Goose and the Common song, and of course Courtesy of the Capitol butt shorts. They also explore the POVs of Lenore Dove and Haymitch's mother, and the unexpected end to the first chapter of Sunrise on the Reaping.

For Chapter 2, Britt and Chris discuss important differences between the 50th and 74th reapings, Haymitch's brief goodbyes, the very dreadful Drusilla Sickle, and the prioirty of cinematic production vs district control. They also explore the POVs of both Plutarch Heavensbee and a random district kid.

Britt and Chris explore the good, the bad, and the amazing moments on the train, including proper sandwich etiquette in Sunrise on the Reaping. They also discuss the Potosí silver mine, some Romani history, and the POVs of Louella McCoy and Maysilee Donner.

Britt and Chris discuss the icon that is Maysilee Donner and THE SLAP. They also laugh about birthday singing and what the Capitol would do with AI, and end with an exploration of clothing imports, US military bases, and the POVs of Drusilla Sickle and Wyatt Callow.

Britt and Chris dive into conversations about insecticide showers, the backstage chaos of kids musicals, Lenore Dove's willingness to sacrifice, and the fiasco that is Opening Ceremony of the 50th Hunger Games. They also explore Haymitch's last conversation with Louella McCoy and the POVs of Proserpina, Vitus, and Magno Stift.

For the most bold chapter of Sunrise on the Reaping so far, Britt and Chris bow to Haymitch's snarky audacity, laugh over Wiress' Hunger Games fails, celebrate Collins' evocative writing, and launch a new segment to rave about Mags. They also discuss Olympic Villages and ideas of disobedience, along with the POVs of Wyatt Callow, Maysilee Donner, and President Snow.

Britt and Chris jump into discussions on Panem surveillance, the tributes considering what they want in their Hunger Games, and that pot of grief soup. They also explore Haymitch's desire for the Capitol to see tributes as people, along with the POVs of Wise Wiress and Magnificent Mags.

Britt and Chris discuss the Newcomers alliances, potato batteries, District 6 kids, and the goodest boy Ampert. They also explore Wyatt Callow being coded as on the autistic spectrum, in addition to the POVs of token master Maysilee and poor, poor Beetee. Also, here's the link to the video Britt mentioned in this episode: https://bit.ly/newton-of-gaza

Britt and Chris jump into some great conversations about mansions, sabotage as resistance, Snow's caricature of the Covey, and the huge Heavensbee library complete with a hidden bar. They also explore the POVs of sad-for-himself Snow and  we-don't-know-if-he's-a-rebel-yet Plutarch.

Britt and Chris think about Haymitch and Maysilee's characters arcs in Part I of Sunrise on the Reaping and include some conversations from their Patreon meet-up. They also discuss the narrative threads of lies, Capitol weakness, and community action, tying them to the original triology and Songbirds and Snakes.

Britt and Chris of course must discuss "Lou Lou" and all of the horrible elements surrounding her forced insertion into the 50th Hunger Games. They also explore some choice Haymitch lines, Plutarch being Plutarch, arsenic complexion wafers, and the POVs of Mags and Maysilee

Britt and Chris think about lovesick Haymitch, District 9's sunflower tokens, if Ampert knows he's going to die, and how #SuperSillySnow puts pettines above logic (as per usual). They also make several connections to the other Hunger Games books and explore the POVs of Maysilee winning over District 9 and Wyatt protecting Lou Lou.

Britt and Chris discuss the tributes' interview prep, the power of stage presence, and Drusilla knowing a riot when she sees one. They also think about the connection between empathy and relatability, and explore the POVs of Wiress mentoring Wyatt and Maysilee disliking mockingjays.

Britt and Chris dive into meme culture, Effie's patriotic speech, Caesar's palate cleansers, and Lou Lou's hissing accusations in this Sunrise on the Reaping episode. They also think about the POVs of Effie joining the District 12 team and Marrilee watching the interviews from home.

Britt and Chris talk all about Lenore Dove and Haymitch's phone call (and Britt being a weird teenager), ideas of freedom and forbidden songs, and the Hunger Games being a "family-friendly" show. They also explore the POVs of off-page Beetee and distraught Lenore Dove.

There was way too much to discuss in SotR Chapter 15, so Britt and Chris split their discussion into two parts! This first part explores the District 11 tributes finding out about Lou Lou, THE GROUP HUG 😭, and Effie Trinket seeing Haymitch off into the 50th Games. They also think about the pull Haymitch feels to help his fellow Newcomers and several parallels to the other Hunger Games books.

Britt and Chris finish their discussion on Chapter 15, exploring Newcomers strategies, the "launch room," ideas of abundance and of course poisoning the environment. They also think about the POVs of Wiress seeing her mentees off, Maysilee preparing to enter the arena, and Capitol citizens viewing the start of the 50th Hunger Games.

Britt and Chris dive into Wyatt and Lou Lou's deaths, undocumented immigrant labor, ideas about canaries, and how Haymitch boldly screamed, "Enough!" at the end of the chapter. They also explore the POVs of President Snow, Haymitch's mother, and even a little bit of Katniss in her first Games.

Britt and Chris are back to discuss hope (gasp!) and disappeared and tortured bodies (typical). They explore Lou Lou's ferocity, Haymitch creating a fan identity, and Capitol elitism complete with grape juice goblet etiquette. They also sit with the POVs of Lenore Dove, Maysilee Donner, and sweet hugging boy Ampert.

Britt and Chris begrudgingly dive into this horrible chapter, discussing Ampert's end, Haymitch's thoughts on death, backup generators, and Palestinian and Native American acts of resistance. They also explore quite a few POVs, including Wiress, Capitol citizens, tributes, and Gamemakers.

Britt and Chris discuss the character arcs of Haymitch, Maysilee, and Ampert in Sunrise on the Reaping Part II: "The Rascal." They think about radicalization, class conscience, and community action, as well as explore the arena’s capitalist messages and how we sing the songs of the dead.

Britt and Chris dive into SOTR Part III: "The Poster," discussing glittery volcanoes, Haymitch feeling like a failure, labor unions, and child combatants. They also explore the POVs of Panache and mentors Mags, Wiress, and Beetee.

The return of Maysilee is exactly what Britt and Chris needed! They laugh about her wire fork and cleverness, awww about the sibling moment, and think about her 50/50 or no deal requirement. They also explore her POV as she's finally reunited with Haymitch and Mag's POV as she sent in District 12 mourning soup.

Britt and Chris jump into alliances, pinky promises, 'bad' victors, and bearcupines in this Sunrise on the Reaping chapter. They also share a couple amusing anecdotes, ponder Haymitch's ripple metaphor, and explore the POVs of Hull's and Maysilee's families watching from home.

Britt and Chris discuss Maysilee Donner's breakfast poster and grandmother, the end of the arena, toad-eaters, and some Katniss-Gale and Haymitch-Maysilee parallels. They explore the POVs of Capitol workers, Maysilee, and Maritte.

In this episode, Chris praises the good chocolate-giving boy Haymitch and Britt grumbles about Maysilee dying despite knowing it was coming since the new Sunrise on the Reaping book was announced. They also discuss Peacekeeper bicycles, short vs long-term resistance, pinkie commands, and 😭 coffee and strawberry ice cream. They ponder Collins' death scenes in SOTR and explore the POVs of the 50th Games viewers and Maysilee on her last day.

The final day in the 50th Hunger Games has too much going on, so Britt and Chris split the chapter into two episodes. This week, they cover gender stereotypes in the arena, rich people not paying for stuff, and the grossest poison delivery system. Chris brings in some 1600s Wampanoag history and Britt discusses differences in Snow VS Newcomers landing on top.

In the second part of their conversation on Chapter 24 of Sunrise on the Reaping, Britt and Chris discuss the Zapatistas and alter-globalization movements, why you should eat potatoes, and the POVs of Wellie and Silka as they choose their final acts on the last day in the arena. They also wonder about Snow's poisonous milk prank and what Maysilee's necklace says about agency.

If you enjoy these Sunrise on the Reaping podcast episodes, make sure to subscribe to Geek Between the Lines on any of your favorite podcatchers or simply click here for episodes on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.

If you like our ideas and want to geek out with some thought-provoking conversations about book, we would love to have you join us! We've got discussions going and will be hosting live Zoom meet-ups here on Patreon for only $1 per month.

You can also listen to our other read-along podcasts:

The Hunger Games

Songbirds and Snakes

And, we have to mention that we are so, so, thankful to Lacelit for designing our logos and icons! To see more of her amazing work and get her adorable Katniss sticker, go to lacelit.etsy.com! (And, if you are a Harry Potter or Magicians fan, there are even some magical items to enjoy!)

...and until next week - GEEK OUT!