WHEN THEY HAVE TRAPPED YOU LIKE THIS SO THAT YOU LOSE EVERYTHING YOU LOVE, WHAT IS LEFT FOR YOU TO FIGHT FOR?

As the day of the annual Hunger Games dawns, fear grips the citizens of Panem. This year, in honor of the second Quarter Quell, each district must send twice the number of tributes. In District 12, Haymitch Abernathy tries not to think too much about his chances; all he cares about is getting through the day and being with the girl he loves. When he hears his name, he feels all his dreams collapse. 

He is torn from his family and his love, and taken to the Capitol along with the other District 12 tributes: a young friend of his, who is almost like a sister to him, an impulsive bookmaker, and the most haughty girl in town. As the Games begin, Haymitch realizes that the game has been rigged so that he will fail. But there is something inside him that makes him want to fight… and to extend the fight far beyond the deadly arena.