A line forms around the inside of the Perkins Rowe Barnes & Noble at 11 p.m., leading to the checkout register. The customers waiting have been in the store for two hours, some for even longer. They are all waiting for one thing: to get their hand on “Sunrise on the Reaping” by Suzanne Collins, the newest addition to the Hunger Games series.

“Sunrise on the Reaping” was released on March 18 and is the second prequel to the original Hunger Games trilogy. This novel follows Katniss Everdeen’s mentor Haymitch Abernathy as he fights for his life in the games, 24 years before the first book.

In celebration of Collin’s first book since her release of “The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” in 2020, the Perkins Rowe Barnes & Noble hosted a book drop party that featured scavenger hunts, trivia and more from 9 p.m. until the book’s release at 11 p.m..

“Being a fan is definitely one of the biggest aspects to having a successful event,” senior bookseller Eliza Bilbo said.

The store received around 200 books for the initial release. In preparation, Bilbo and other employees worked together to create the perfect night for Hunger Games fans. Upon entering the store, customers were greeted by Bilbo who would check them in, their wrist band guaranteeing that they would be able to purchase a book at the end of the night. It also entered them into a raffle. They were then set free to do as they want, whether that meant grabbing a coffee at the cafe before reading a book in a corner or joining in on the fun.

Mine Doğu spent days glueing butterflies on her outfit to prepare her Effie Trinket outfit. Alongside Bilbo, the two of them directed a scavenger hunt around the store. Customers were tasked with finding different note cards featuring each district.

Doğu led team trivia afterwards, asking questions in her best Trinket voice. The night ended with the raffle winner receiving a full set of the original series and everyone leaving the store with a copy of “Sunrise on the Reaping.”

“Everyone here is going to connect in some kind of way,” Bilbo said.

LSU English senior Ireland Wiesman got to Barnes & Noble 15 minutes before check-in to guarantee she was able to get a book. Wiesman has been a big Hunger Games fan since she was nine. She said she would read the books behind her parents back when she was younger because of her love for Peeta Mellark.

Wiesman was really excited that Collins decided to release a book about Haymitch. His story has been long talked about within the fandom, readers begging to know more about the quarter quell that he fought in. She said even though fans know that he wins, they want to know how his higher-stakes game went.

“I think events like this bring the book community together and are so fun,” Wiesman said. “It creates a space for readers to love their favorite books without judgement.”

Megan Rojas said that she was going to spend the next day reading the book. Rojas found out about the event three weeks ago and decided to bring her friend, Victoria Faulkner. The two spent the evening joining in on the activities and sharing their love for the fandom.

“I remember getting to see the first movie in theaters and it felt like such a big deal,” Rojas said.

Now over a decade later, she is about to read the newest addition. A film adaptation of the book is set to be released by Lionsgate on Nov. 20, 2026. There is currently not an actor casted to take on the role or Haymitch.