74 years ago the Districts rebelled against the Capitol, and the Capitol won. As punishment each year all twelve districts must submit one male and female Tribute between the ages of twelve and seventeen to compete in the Hunger Games, a brutal multi-week competition where the children must survive a fabricated wilderness and fight to the death to be the sole winner. The Hunger Games are televised live around the country and a time of raucous partying for the Capitol- and utter terror for the Districts. Katniss Everdeen is a sixteen year old girl from the impoverished District 12, good at illegally hunting in the forest with her homemade bow and arrow. She believes she'll be safe from the Games, until her twelve year old sister Prim is chosen at the annual Reaping and Katniss volunteers in her sister's place. Now Katniss and the male tribute Peeta, who has more connection to Katniss than it seems, must travel to the flamboyant Capitol for the opening ceremonies and then wait for their Games to begin.