Major Characters

Katniss Everdeen – The narrator of the story and the female tribute from District 12. At age 16, Katniss volunteers to enter the 74th Hunger Games after her sister, Primrose, is chosen to be a tribute. Her father, a coal miner, died in a mine explosion; since then, Katniss has become the primary supporter of her mother and younger sister. She gets food by hunting illegally in the forest outside District 12. Because of this, Katniss has strong survivalist instincts and is a wonderful archer. Katniss has straight long black hair, which she normally pulls back into a long braid, olive skin, and gray eyes. She is also known as "the girl on fire" during the Hunger Games; she earns this title from her fierce personality and the outfits created for her by her stylist, Cinna.
Peeta Mellark – The male tribute from District 12. He is the son of the town's baker, and has two older brothers. On live television, Peeta first confesses his lifelong love for Katniss, having had a crush on her since they were five years old. He is skilled at camouflaging and baking, and is very strong. Peeta is of medium height, has a stocky build, "ashy blond hair that falls in waves over his forehead", and blue eyes. Katniss knows him as "the boy with the bread" from when he gave her two loaves of bread after he saw her scrounging for food in the baker's garbage cans.