BookEvery year the Capitol picks two kids from each district to fight to the death on live TV. When her twelve-year-old sister Prim is chosen, Katniss Everdeen volunteers to take her place.
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The boy tribute is Peeta Mellark, the baker's son who once saved Katniss's family from starving by tossing her bread. Their mentor Haymitch is drunk, their stylist sets them on fire for the parade, and Katniss becomes the girl on fire. Then Peeta tells the whole country he has loved her for years.
In the arena, Peeta joins the Careers. Katniss drops a nest of killer wasps on them and allies with Rue, a tiny girl who reminds her of Prim. When Rue is speared, Katniss covers her in flowers on camera, a quiet act of rebellion.
A rule change lets two tributes from the same district win together. Katniss finds Peeta badly hurt and hiding in the mud, and on Haymitch's advice they play the star-crossed lovers: every kiss earns them sponsor gifts. On the final night, mutant wolves with the eyes of dead tributes drive them to the Cornucopia, and Katniss gives Cato a mercy arrow.
How it ends
The Gamemakers revoke the rule change: only one winner. Katniss pulls out poisonous nightlock berries so the Capitol will have no victor at all, and the Games are stopped with two winners. The Capitol doesn't like being played, Peeta learns the romance was mostly an act, and President Snow is watching.
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