The main character and narrator of the story. Katniss is slender with black hair, grey eyes and olive skin. She is sixteen years old and attends a secondary school somewhere in Appalachia, known in the book as District 12, the coal mining sector. She is often quiet and is generally liked by District 12's residents, mostly because of her ability to provide highly-prized game for a community in which starvation is a constant threat. Katniss is an excellent hunter, archer, gatherer, and trapper, skilled just like her deceased father. She and her father shared singing ability, too. Since his death in a mine explosion, which killed Gale's father too, Katniss has been the sole provider for her family, a role she was reluctantly forced to assume at the age of eleven when her mother's grief overcame her ability to function. Katniss is surprised when her sister is chosen to compete in the Hunger Games, and willingly steps forward to take her place out of love.
Peeta Mellark
The 16-year-old male tribute from District 12. He is described as being "medium height with a stocky build" and has "ashy blond hair that falls in waves over his forehead" with blue eyes. He is the town baker's son and is talented in baking breads, cakes and icing cakes, which proves to be an unexpected boon to him in the arena. Upon arriving in the Capitol, it is discovered that Peeta has an instinctive ability to perform on camera and manipulate public sentiment. He has harbored a secret liking for Katniss since they were five that continues through the Games. He is rarely moody or upset and generally takes things lightly. He is also very loving and self sacrificing.
Gale Hawthorne
An 18-year-old who is Katniss's best friend and hunting partner. Like Katniss, he has dark hair and gray eyes. His father died in the same explosion that killed Katniss's father. The pair have combined their respective talents, his at trapping and hers at archery, to become an effective team. Their success makes them fixtures at District 12's black market, the Hob, where they trade their illegal game for other valuable items. Gale has three siblings: Rory, Vick and Posy. Gale is less resigned than Katniss to the authority of the Capitol and even suggests half-seriously that the two flee to escape selection for the Hunger Games.
He, like Katniss, Has a stubborn streak and has a temper and get's jealous really easily.
Haymitch Abernathy
A "paunchy, middle-aged man" who was the victor of the 50th Hunger Games. Since winning made him independently wealthy, he has spent almost all of his intervening leisure intoxicated to the point of embarrassment. Being the only surviving Hunger Games champion from District 12 (there were only two, so far), Haymitch acts as a mentor for Peeta and Katniss before they enter the Games, as he has for every couple in the twenty-five years since his own victory. He is often sarcastic and drunk as well as anything but sober, which Katniss finds highly irritating. However, when pushed, he emerges as the pair's greatest advocate and shows himself to be highly canny as he guides his protégés in a cleverly designed, highly unorthodox strategy aimed at securing the survival of both tributes.
Finnick Odair
He is from district 4 and is the victor from the 65th hunger games, winning at age 14. He is talented at tying knots and using a trident, district 4's trade being fishing. Finnick is described as being very handsome and having eyes the color of the sea. He has many admirers and is one of the more famous victors.
