The Hunger Games series and was released on September 14, 2008. "The Hunger Games" follows 16-year-old Katniss Everdeen, a girl from District 12 who volunteers for the 74th Hunger Games in place of her younger sister Primrose Everdeen. Also selected from District 12 is Peeta Mellark. They are mentored by their district's only living victor, Haymitch Abernathy, who won 24 years earlier and has since led a solitary life of alcoholism. Peeta confesses his longtime secret love for Katniss in a televised interview prior to the Games. This revelation stuns Katniss, who harbors feelings for Gale Hawthorne, her friend and hunting partner. Haymitch
Katniss Everdeen York Times", Katie Roiphe said that Katniss in "Mockingjay" was "a great character without being exactly likeable. [She] is bossy, moody, bratty, demanding, prickly", and commented that this is what makes many recent literature heroines likeable. "Entertainment Weekly" compared Katniss to Bella Swan from the "Twilight Saga" and said that "unlike "Twilight's" passive, angsty Bella, Katniss is a self-possessed young woman who demonstrates equal parts compassion and fearlessness." Laura Miller of Salon.com finds Katniss too virtuous and without motivation, negatively contrasting Katniss to Bella of "Twilight", saying, "In some ways, Katniss is more passive than Bella, allowed to have all