I volunteer!!

Katniss Everdeen was almost out of the age range to be called for the Hunger Games on reaping day. She had for years put her name into the bowl additional times so that her family would have enough food and she would often hunt to help provide also. This was her normal life although nothing too spectacular, it was still better than what it could be. This all changed when her sister got her name called at the reaping which no one could have guessed was going to happen. Katniss volunteered for the hunger games and thus accepted the call to adventure.

Her mother expressed the regret for this by being sad but Katniss told her mother that she had to be there for Prim. On the way to the Capitol, Katniss met Haymitch Abernathy who would teach her and Peeta how to survive in the games which of course is getting people to like you. Haymitch does his best to prepare them as well as Katniss putting on a good show for the judges but eventually she must cross the threshold. This occurs when the games start and she is lifted into the arena and gets a look at all the other kids from around Panem who are only thinking about survival.

Katniss experiences enemies almost instantly when one of the premier kids in the games almost kills her with throwing knives. She is tracked down by the Careers after this and faces challenges to get away from them. Eventually she gets stung by a tracker jacker which disorients her but then she is covered with leaves and sticks by Rue a girl who is very similar to her sister Prim. With her new ally, Katniss decides it is time to attack the stockpile the Careers have made and blows up all the supplies. One comes after them however and hits Rue with a spear which is the ordeal of this story. Katniss sings Rue a lullaby to lull her into the eternal sleep. She meets up with Peeta once there was an announcement that they could both win together and kill the other tributes. They eventually won the games although controversially and were able to go back home.

The climax occurred in the arena when Katniss had to fight off Mutant dogs and Cato to win and they were rewarded with a house and food for the rest of their lives (Elixir because everyone was starving. Get it? HUNGER Games?) That was the end of the hero’s journey for Katniss, at least for this book!