Minor Characters

Gale Hawthorne – Katniss' best friend, whom she met while hunting in the forest four years prior to the beginning of the novel. Gale is the oldest child in his family and also feels responsible for feeding his mother and his siblings, as his father died in the same mining accident as Katniss' father. Katniss feels a connection with him upon their first meeting. Katniss thinks Gale can have any girl he wants, which she can tell "by the way girls whisper when he walks by in school", and admits to feeling jealousy because of this (though Katniss explains this is only because he is her hunting partner and nothing else). Gale has strong opinions about the Capitol, which he often voices to Katniss in the safety of the woods, and which cause him to have a distaste for those who are better off. He is 18 and has straight black hair, olive skin, and gray eyes. Katniss is unsure if her feelings for him are romantic or platonic.
Primrose "Prim" Everdeen - Katniss' sister. She is, against all odds, picked as the female tribute from District 12 at her first reaping, but Katniss volunteers in her place. Katniss notes that many people seem to genuinely like Prim. Prim is described as being very pretty, with a face "fresh as a raindrop, as lovely as the primrose for which she was named", with light hair and blue eyes. She is 12 years old. She has a goat named 'Lady' which Katniss bought for her, something Katniss claims is her favorite memory, outside those she shares with Gale.
Mrs. Everdeen - Katniss and Prim's mother. She has blonde hair and blue eyes. Though said to be once very beautiful, she now looks worn and beaten-down. The daughter of the town apothecary, Mrs. Everdeen grew up in the merchant class; however, she married a coal miner. Katniss has little respect for her mother now, as after Katniss's father died, Mrs. Everdeen sank into depression and would have let the family starve to death were it not for Katniss's resourcefulness. She now works as a healer, but Katniss still holds her in low regard and refuses to trust her.
Mr. Everdeen - Katniss and Prim's father. He died in a mining accident years ago. He had dark hair, eyes, and skin. He had a melodic and enchanting singing voice, and when he sang, every bird in the forest fell silent. Mr. Everdeen taught Katniss how to use a bow and arrow, and how to hunt. He skillfully made bows and arrows for Katniss and himself. Mr. Everdeen used to support his family, however when he died, Katniss had to take over.
Haymitch Abernathy – As of the beginning of the book, he is the only living District 12 winner of the Hunger Games. Because of this, he assumes the role of mentor for both of District 12's tributes. Haymitch is, until Peeta and Katniss force him to sober up, a drunk, after years of training hopeless tributes. He is described as paunchy and middle-aged. During the Games, he "speaks" to Katniss through his giving of gifts, or lack thereof, from sponsors.
Cinna - Katniss's stylist in the Capitol before the Hunger Games begin. Cinna, in comparison to the majority of Capitol residents, looks very normal and natural: his hair is "close cropped" and "appears to be its natural shade of brown", and he has green eyes. He claims to have requested working with a tribute from District 12, though it is not known why. Throughout the novel, he becomes good friends with Katniss.
Effie Trinket - The Capitol's "representative" for District 12. She is very unhappy with her post because District 12 is the poorest of the districts, and she wishes to be moved to a better one. This results in her consistently making horrible remarks to Katniss and Peeta, while thinking she is being polite. Effie is almost always bright and bubbly, has a "scary" white grin, speaks with a Capitol accent, and wears a bright pink wig.
Avox girl - A red-headed servant in the Capitol who has had her tongue cut out. A few years prior to the novel, Katniss and Gale saw the girl and a boy being chased by a hovercraft in the woods, but did not intervene. The boy was killed and the girl was captured. The girl seems to have forgiven Katniss and acts kindly towards her. She has dark red hair, "striking features", and porcelain white skin.