In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. The Capitol is harsh and cruel and keeps the other districts in line by forcing them to send one boy and one girl to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death. Katniss Everdeen regards it as a death sentence when she is selected for the games. But she has been close to death before, and survival, for her, is second nature. Yet if she is to win, she will have to make choices that weigh survival against humanity, and life against love.