 As punishment for a past rebellion against the Capitol , in which a 13th district was destroyed , one boy and one girl between the ages of 12 and 18 from each district are selected by an annual lottery to participate in the Hunger Games , an event in which the participants , the " tributes " , must fight to the death in an outdoor arena controlled by the Capitol , until only one individual remains . The story is narrated by 16 @-@ year @-@ old Katniss Everdeen , a girl from District 12 who volunteers for the 74th annual Hunger Games in place of her younger sister , Primrose . The male tribute chosen from District 12 is Peeta Mellark , a former schoolmate of Katniss who once gave her bread from his family 's bakery when her family was starving . 
