The Hunger Games is a trilogy of science fiction books written by Suzanne Collins which have also been made into films. The hero is a sixteen-year-old girl called Katniss Everdeen. She lives in a fictional place called Panem (once called North America). The city (Capitol) is very rich and there are twelve districts around it. Katniss lives in district 12, which is very poor. 

Katniss is a strong character who solves her own problems and takes control of her own life. She is quiet, but people like her. Her father died in an accident and because her mother is sad about his death, Katniss looks after her and her younger sister Primrose. This includes finding food for them. She is an excellent hunter and she is good at archery and trapping animals to eat.

The Hunger Games is a game that the Capitol likes to play to show its power. Two children, one boy and one girl from each district from the ages of twelve to eighteen, have to leave their families and compete in the Games, a live event that is shown on TV. Katniss' life changes again overnight when her sister is chosen to compete, but she volunteers to take her place. This one act not only changes her life but changes the lives of those around her forever.

As she trains for the Games Katniss makes friends and becomes stronger. She doesn't want to hurt or kill anyone but she wants to survive. She is given the name 'girl on fire' and throughout the story she remains a hunter and a survivor, but at the same time she is also confused by her feelings for different boys (Peeta and Gale). She hates the Capitol and the Games but if she doesn't follow the rules, she will be punished or even killed. She is brave and heroic and returns home from the Games a star in her district and the Capitol, but she's not a hero to the people in charge of Panem.

Jennifer Lawrence played the role of Katniss in the films and in some ways they are alike – they are both independent and they always speak their mind, even when it gets them into trouble. Lawrence had to train for six weeks before filming, this involved archery, climbing, fighting and yoga. It took her three days to make the decision to play the part of Katniss as she was worried about how it would change her career. Like Katniss though, she made the big decision and it changed her life too.