#👀 girl math and that ilk

[districtfourmermaid]

Countdown to Sunrise on the Reaping (SotR) book release...

What's the burning questions about Haymitch you hope is answered in this book?

What are your predictions about Katniss' family or ancestry in SotR?

Were you shocked about Haymitch's life story in the chapter preview that's been released?

Any other thought about SotR?

Thank you :)

@curiousnonny

Ahoy, Curious Nonny! Thanks for the ask!

I saw @districtunrest's answers to these and liked them, too. Here are some other thoughts.

What's the burning questions about Haymitch you hope is answered in this book?

I am curious to see more of his pre-Games personality and how those post-Games weeks went, the manner of his family and girl's deaths, who is his Mentor, etc. etc.

The alcohol! Will he have his first drink in the Capitol? Has he already tried alcohol in Twelve as a young teen, or does it start there pre-Games? Post-Games there or back in Twelve? Post-executions? Like, if he hasn't tried it yet by the start of the book, it could be a last hurrah drink, a scarred new Victor drink (like around the Victory Interview/Recap Watch), a victory drink immediately after his return home (family and friends and District happy and celebratory, him more traumatized but maybe keeping it hidden for their sakes), or a really rough start to the descent into dependency after he loses his people. Pretty excited to see how that is presented.

I am very excited to meet Maysilee and hear more about her pin, if it has been a family heirloom for a long time or has any other significance.

What are your predictions about Katniss' family or ancestry in SotR?

Since the Ballad, everyone has been speculating about her and the Covey. I am not sure which, if any, of the named Covey members I would see as Mr. Everdeen's parent. I like the idea of him being adopted or simply close to their community. I dislike Maude Ivory as his mom, because she's too blonde. It rubs me the wrong way, sort of diluting Katniss's Seam side being brown/Native-coded. I know it's possible and genetics are weird, but her having 3/4 blonde grandparents ancestry and moving her away from the heritage I see and relate to just feels weird to me.

I am very curious to get her parents' names! It's been too long. I think it would be cute to see some of the history between young Mrs. Everdeen, Mr. Mellark, and Mr. Everdeen in the background. Also young Hazelle. But since this is about Haymitch, I think they will be very background, if anything. If Mr. Mellark's name isn't bread, I will understand, but I'll be disappointed.

Were you shocked about Haymitch's life story in the chapter preview that's been released?

I was surprised at how Gale-coded his home life was, with the Hazelle-coded mom and younger sibling. Of course, I am here for it. I think it could be a chance to connect to Hazelle, perhaps, through laundry services in Twelve.

Semi-surprised about his Reaping Day birthday, but since I spent a few months writing a fic in which I asked myself, "How can I disturb this woman?" at every turn, I get it.

I was surprised that he and Lenore Dove are able to go out to the woods. Do they sneak or is the fence less strict at that time? Curious.

Any other thought about SotR?

I hope the propaganda theme is done well and encourages readers to reflect on the impact of propaganda in our society. Basic, explicit, government propaganda is a generally well-understood concept. But I would like it to challenge people to look at how social norms and everyday media are propaganda-driven in themselves. The fucking HG makeup line that came out was propaganda to enforce gender norms and capitalism. The alterations made in the movies were propaganda against the rebellion (on top of the whitewashing). Everything you see today, even things which can seem innocuous or even good from a certain perspective, that confirm biases around gender roles/misogyny, homophobia, racism, classism, xenophobia, ableism, etc., which are so commonplace today that some people barely even notice it--but once you start noticing, they scream--are a kind of propaganda. I hope this book inspires people to think critically about social norms, where they come from and who benefits, and genuinely question things that may seem like givens or consider other perspectives.

In that vein, I'll be interested to see the progression of Panem's culture around the Games, especially for Career Districts, since the Ballad.