The Hunger Games is a science fiction novel written by Suzanne Collins. The story is set in the future, in a country called Panem, which is located in what used to be North America. Panem is ruled by the Capitol, a tyrannical government that controls the lives of its citizens.
Every year, the Capitol holds a brutal competition known as the Hunger Games. The Hunger Games are a televised event in which one boy and one girl, known as "tributes," are chosen from each of the twelve districts of Panem to participate. The tributes are then sent to an arena where they must fight to the death until only one remains. The Hunger Games are meant to punish the districts for a past rebellion against the Capitol and to serve as a reminder of the Capitol's power and control.
The protagonist of The Hunger Games is a 16-year-old girl named Katniss Everdeen. She lives in District 12, the poorest district in Panem, with her mother and younger sister, Prim. When Prim is chosen as a tribute for the Hunger Games, Katniss volunteers to take her place. Along with Peeta Mellark, the boy tribute from District 12, Katniss is sent to the Capitol to train for the Games.
As the Hunger Games begin, Katniss and Peeta are forced to fight against other tributes who are stronger, more skilled, and more experienced than they are. Despite their disadvantage, Katniss and Peeta manage to survive thanks to their wit, resourcefulness, and determination. Along the way, they form alliances with some of the other tributes and make enemies of others.
As the Games progress, Katniss and Peeta's relationship becomes complicated. They both know that they must pretend to be in love in order to win the favor of the Capitol and the audience, but Katniss is unsure if her feelings for Peeta are real or just a part of the show. Eventually, Katniss and Peeta both become so popular that the Capitol fears they will inspire rebellion in the districts. In order to ensure that only one of them can win, the Capitol changes the rules of the Hunger Games and allows two victors if they come from the same district.
Katniss and Peeta are the last two tributes standing, and they are declared the winners of the Hunger Games. However, their victory is bittersweet, as they have lost many friends and suffered great trauma during the competition. When they return home, they find that the Capitol has punished their district for their success. Despite this, Katniss and Peeta become symbols of hope and resistance for the oppressed people of Panem. The Hunger Games has sparked a revolution, and the fight for freedom is just beginning.