Entering the Capital

Katniss Everdeen is a spunky, stubborn, and determined sixteen year old who has been taking care of her family since her father's death. Since then, she has braved punishment at the hands of the so called 'peacekeepers' who hold all twelve districts in a choke-hold of fear by escaping her district's limits and foraging in the woods to feed her family. This perilous existence has remained unchanged; until now. When her frail younger sister's name is drawn in the annual 'Hunger Games', a tradition devised by the ruthless capital to hold districts in fear, Katniss volunteers herself as tribute. Taking the place of her sister, she and a boy she knows only vaguely, Peeta, are taken to the capital to 'be trained in the art of survival' and to undergo frivolous makeovers to entertain the capital audience. And while Peeta genuinely seems to care about Katniss, she knows that only one tribute will leave alive. And she is determined for the sake of her mother and sister that that person will be her.
There are many commendable character traits to admire in Collin's cast of characters. Katniss is fiercely devoted to her family and will stop at nothing to protect them, even risking her own life to do so. Her alliance and friendship with Gale, a boy from her district is also to her credit; they meet while foraging for food and decide to look after one another and their families.
This story, with all of its rampant injustice reminds me of Rigoberta Menchu's testimony. I remember being struck with the strength and beauty of her spirit and the characters from this book are no different. Sometimes in the midst of the greatest evil, light is most visible.