The Hunger Games franchise ended years ago, but the series offered an intimate look into the life of the main character. While she never celebrates her birthday in the books, we learn that she was sixteen when she competes in the 74th Hunger Games. That would make her the same age as her partner Peeta Mellark, who was 16 at the time of the 58th Hunger Games.
Katniss has dark hair, olive skin, and gray eyes. She is not very tall and has a small waist. In the first book, she is 16 years old. Although her family is underfed, she takes it upon herself to hunt. Her skill with a bow and arrow has earned her an income as she sells game at a black market in town.
Katniss’ father was a coal miner. After his death, his mother was deeply depressed. Katniss wandered the streets and garbage dumps, hoping to find scraps that would feed her family. At one point, she was facing starvation just weeks before her twelfth birthday. But the next day, Peeta’s mother beat him for deliberately burning two loaves of bread. He was instructed to give the bread to a pig, but instead he gave it to Katniss.
After the events of the first Hunger Games, Katniss must adapt to her new role in District 12. She has lived a hard-knock life and her main concern is survival. She knows how to hunt, fish, trap, and fight.
