Sunrise on the Reaping
offers surprising insights into Panem's history. How did the Covey line lead to not only Lenore Dove but also Katniss Everdeen? What are the connections to Emperor Caligula's reign? What are the deeper meanings of bee balm and nepenthe, doves and geese? Name meanings likewise reflect the characters' deep metaphors and where they are going. There's new philosophy and poetry, especially the gothic haunting of Poe's "The Raven," until Haymitch and Lenore Dove both come to embody it. As Suzanne Collins reflects dark moments in history through her future dystopia, one thing becomes clear: this book is really about modern America.