Haymitch already knew Katniss’s family before becoming a mentor?

Last month, the fifth book of the “Hunger Games” franchise, created by the author, arrived at the world shelves Suzanne Collins: “Dawn in the harvest.” The work, which takes place 24 years before the events of the original trilogy, follows the youth of Haymitch Abernathy, the future mentor of Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark, during the 50th Hunger Games, an edition that marks the second quaternary massacre.

The work, even, already has confirmed cinematic adaptation. The new feature, which will have the direction of Francis Lawrencefilmmaker who also commanded the first feature of the saga, is scheduled to debut on November 20, 2026, and will feature the actor Joseph Zada (‘The Speedway Murders’ and ‘East of Eden’) in the role of the protagonist.

During the book – and, consequently, in the movie – fans will have the opportunity to find out a little more about Haymitch’s life, which turned head to head after he was chosen as a tribute in the 50th edition, and reveals more details about his past, which he refuses to share in the original trilogy.

In the first works, all we know about the character’s youth is what he reveals to Katniss in an intimate conversation, where he states that his loved ones were killed by the capital as a form of punishment for their rebel attitudes inside the arena.

With the new publication, the public also found that, before becoming a mentor, Haymitch already had a connection with Katniss that many could not imagine.

Haymitch’s connection with the Everdeen family

[CUIDADO! O TEXTO A SEGUIR CONTÉM SPOILERS]

Right in the first pages of “Dawn on Harvest”, we found that one of Haymitch’s best childhood friends was Burdock Everdeen, Katniss’s father who died after an explosion in the mine she worked when the girl was only 11.

The two approached when they were still small, with Burdock being responsible for convincing him to first explore the forest outside the fence that delimited district 12. It was also Everdeen who presented Abernathy to Lenore Dove Baird, the great love of his life, as he was a cousin distant from his mother’s family.

On harvest day for the 50th Hunger Games, the pair is side by side waiting for the draw, alongside their friend Blair, while talking about Burdock’s possible relationship with Asterid March – in the future, his wife and mother of Katniss and Primrosis.

After the games, when Haymitch is elected winner and his family, made up of his mother and younger brother, is killed by the capital, Burdock is also present during the funeral, which was attended by much of the residents of district 12, singing a song as a form of tribute.

After the burial, the champion’s friends remain by their side to take care and help what it took, until they found that Lenore Dove had been arrested for singing inappropriate songs as protest. After the death of the young woman, Haymitch lean on the drink, and decides to move away from everyone to avoid further deaths.

For a long time, Burdock still tried to stay present, demonstrating that he did not accept his friend’s decision and making frequent visits to Abernathy’s house, both next to Astrid and alone. Once, the couple had gone to try to talk to Haymitch, but were greeted with stone attacks, where one directly hits the woman’s head, marking the end of childhood friendship.

This, however, would not be the last time they saw each other. One day, while looking for Lenore Dove’s tomb in the forest, Haymitch bumps into Burdock, who heads him to the gang’s secret cemetery, which the girl was part. On the way back, he still watches the old friend to return home and meet again with his new family.

Years later, after Burdock’s death, Haymitch finds himself attached to Everdeen when he becomes Katniss’s mentor. The man, however, does not mention at any time the connection he had with the young woman’s father throughout the games period, the third quarternary massacre and the revolution against Tyran Presidente Snow.

Abernathy only reveals her friendship with Burdock in the epilogue of “Dawn in Harvest”, when Katniss and Peeta are making a memories book, and dedicate one of the pages to the Everdeen patriarch. At the time, Haimytch comments that the couple should highlight the kindness of the man, who showed compassion for himself after destroying his friendship – a clear reference to the moment he helped him find Lenore’s grave.