Catching Fire #19

Catching Fire

Pg.267-279

4/28/11

Summary: Katniss is on her platform, trying to get a sense for where she is. All that Katniss sees is water, except for an island with twelve spokes and the Cornucopia in the middle as well as woods way off in the distance. In no time the gong sounds, and the Hunger Games begins. Katniss swims to the Cornucopia and is one of the first to successfully arrive on land. She races up to get the bow and arrow, before coming back down and running into Finnick. Katniss is about ready to kill Finnick, but as she loads her bow and arrow, she sees that he is wearing Haymitch’s bracelet. Katniss believes that Finnick wearing Haymitch’s bracelet as a sign from Haymich to trust Finnick. Katniss gives Finnick a chance to gain her trust, and just as she begins to talk to him, Finnick kills and incoming tribute, saving Katniss’s life. They decide to work together and go get Peeta, who is still on his starting spot, since he cannot swim. Finnick tells Katniss to stay on watch for any incoming tributes while he goes out to get Peeta. Although it takes Katniss a second to agree, she trusts Finnick, and in no time, Peeta is on the beach alive. Katniss, Finnick, and Peeta are just about to run into the woods, away from the rest of the tributes when they spot poor old Mags from District 4 almost at the beach knowing that is they leave her, she will be dead in no time. The group decides to wait for Mags, and when she arrives onto the beach, Finnick scoops her up, and they are off into the jungle. Katniss and Peeta have never encountered a jungle before, but it doesn’t take them long to discover that jungles are very hot and humid. To make the long hike even worse for Katniss and Peeta, the jungle has a steady incline. However, do to their workouts with Haymitch, Katniss and Peeta are able to make it about half way up the “never ending” mountain before stopping for a break. While on their break, Katniss climbs up a tree to take a look at the beach bellow and finds the crystal clear water from before the Hunger Games started to be a purplish color from of all of the blood and gore of the killings. Also, due to all of the matching uniforms this year, Katniss is unaware of what to tell her alliance bellow on who is dead, and who is still alive. The alliance votes to keep moving in search of water, which they believe will be on the other side of the mountain, when Katniss spots a strange square shape in midair that doesn’t appear to be moving as she is moving, meaning that it is human made and there is no other side to this mountain. Unfortunately, before Katniss can tell her alliance about her observation, Peeta is shocked and falls to the ground. When Katniss rushes over to see if Peeta is alright, she notices that his gasping breath for air while climbing the mountain has now fallen silent!

Catching Fire #18

Catching Fire

Pg.253-263

4/24/11

Summary: Katniss is still smoldering when she talks to Caesar about her dress and her stylist Cinna. Caesar is so amazed by Katniss’s dress that he has Cinna rise and take a bow. However, this was a bad move by Cinna, for the Mockingjay is frowned upon by the Capital, since Katniss has something to do about it, and he just indirectly showed the Capital that he was on Katniss’s side. Unfortunately, Katniss has no time to take all of the attention off of Cinna before the bell rings, signifying that Katniss’s interview is over, and Peeta walks up to the stage. Peeta wastes no time to capture the crowd’s attention when he asks Caesar if he can keep a secret. Caesar nods his head and Peeta tells the whole world that he and Katniss are already married. I am not quite sure if Peeta is bluffing, but apparently they secretly got married a couple weeks before they were informed about going back into the Hunger Games. In addition, Peeta also says something about how he guesses their baby will never have a chance to live his/her life. Immediately, the crowd goes silent. It takes the crowd a while to react, but Katniss and Peeta know that there isn’t a single person in the world, blood thirsty or not, who wouldn’t be the slightest bit mad at the Capital for having a pregnant woman, Katniss, enter the Hunger Games. The crowed goes wild. They start shouting and throwing things around, and don’t stop until the anthem comes on and the tributes do something never before seen during the Hunger Games; hold hands showing that they are all one. This gets the already chaotic crowd going again, and before the anthem even stops the Capital forces the producers to shut off the cameras, for they don’t want the rest of the world to know about the tributes silent rebel. Within minutes all of the tributes are escorted back to the hotel, and the crowed is forced to go home. On the elevator ride up to their room, Katniss and Peeta look back on what just happened before their eyes. Katniss isn’t a bit upset with Peeta for telling the world about the wedding and baby without her permission. When they get out of the elevator, Haymitch is right by their side. This may be the last time Katniss and Peeta see Haymitch, but there is not much to be said. They give each other their love, and Katniss and Peeta try to get some sleep on their last night before the Hunger Games. However, just like their first Hunger Games, Katniss and Peeta don’t get a minute of sleep. Dawn arrives and Katniss is separated from Peeta to travel into the arena. Cinna tries to get Katniss to eat, but can only get Katniss to drink some water. In no time Katniss is in her capsule ready to be launched into her second Hunger Games. But before Katniss can leave the world with something good on her mind, three Peacemakers come into the room and knock Cinna out cold before dragging is bloody body out of the room, all the while Katniss is three feet away watching Cinna go, and isn’t able to do anything about the tragedy. Soon enough Katniss is shot into the arena, and the only thing that comes to her mind when she hits wet ground is, “This is no place for a girl on fire.”      

Catching Fire #17

Catching Fire

Pg.238-252

4/21/11

Summary: The shock on the Gamemakers face is immediate after Katniss hangs the dummy. Some gasp while others wine glasses drop out of their hands and shatter on the ground. Katniss is dismissed and she goes to meet up with her team. When Katniss shares the news about what she has done, her teams reaction is almost identical to the Gamemakers. However, Peeta is thankful because his performance didn’t quite go as planned meaning it took the Gamemakers attention off of him. Katniss shortly heads to bed after the team dinner, and for the first time in months Peeta sleeps by her side. In addition, they both get their first well nights rest since their first Hunger Games together. After waking up the next day, Katniss and Peeta receive a letter form Haymitch informing them the interview lessons were cancelled, leaving Katniss and Peeta with the whole day to themselves. Peeta decides to go have picnic lunch on the roof and Katniss tags along. Katniss end up having a well-deserved relaxing day that she wishes will never end. However, it is already time for bed since tomorrow night the interviews with all of the tributes will be held. Katniss is woken up quite early in order for the prep team to “beatify” her. Katniss is given her wedding dress, which President Snow is making her where, and heads over to the City Circle. When Katniss arrives, she gets many mixed comments about her dress. Some are good, while others are quite immature. However, when Katniss is being interviewed by Caesar, everybody’s perspective of her dress diminishes. For when Katniss twirls to show off her dress, Cinna somehow gets the dress to ignite on fire and turn into a beautiful mockingjay!        

Catching Fire #16

Catching Fire

Pg.218-237

4/18/11

Summary: Katniss and Peeta have a quiet dinner with their new Avox Darius. After, Katniss and Peeta watch the recap of the Opening Ceremonies. Katniss shortly heads off to bed after the Ceremonies are over, but has many nightmares that always end with somebody’s tongue bleeding or getting severed from the rest of their head. Katniss decides to sleep in up until the last minutes before she has to be downstairs at the Training Center. Katniss really isn’t looking forward to the training sections. She has been told by Haymitch to try and make friends since everybody already knows everyone except for Katniss and Peeta because they have just won the last Hunger Games last year. Katniss tries her best and comes to like the tributes from District 3, Wiress and Beetee, when she talks to them over at the knot tying station. However when Katniss meets back up with Peeta during the lunch break, Peeta has different opinions about who they should team up with. Katniss and Peeta decide to sit with all of the other tributes at the big table they have put together for lunch, even though Katniss was highly pushing against the decision, to try and make more friends that could possibly be on their side once in the Hunger Games. Katniss meets Chaff, one of Peeta’s new friends, and realizes he isn’t as crazy as she had thought before, and could be a great teammate. After lunch Katniss does the “edible insect” station with the tributes from District 4 before being invited to make hammocks with the tributes from District 1. Katniss gives up on trying to make friends because she thinks Haymitch will just laugh when she tells him, “I want and eighty-year-old [Mags form District 4] and Nuts and Volts [Wiress and Beetee from District 3] for my allies.” Katniss decides to go over and shoot some arrows to get over the frustration she is feeling inside of her. However, once she is finished shooting, she turns around and finds all of the eyes on her in disbelief. Katniss realizes she should have just started with the archery station and let her new friends approach her. Anyways, the training section is now over and it is time for private sessions where the tributes have fifteen minutes to show the Gamemakers their skills. Of course, being the girl from District 12, Katniss is the last tribute of the day leaving her with plenty of time to think of how she will amaze the Gamemakers. Katniss goes into the room to find the Gamemakers’ to be a bit upset and thinks that Peeta made them mad somehow. Katniss decides to blow off the plan she had to amaze the Gamemakers’ and do something that will really make the Gamemakers’ mad in order for them to forget whatever Peeta did to them before. Katniss first kills a dummy with a noose. Afterwards, Katniss retrieves some fake blood and blows the Gamemakers’ away when she writes “SENECA CRANE” in big letters across the dead dummy.

Catching Fire #15

Catching Fire

Pg.204-217

4/12/11

Summary: Katniss goes to see Flavius, Venia, and Octavia, her prep-team, to get ready for the opening ceremony. What Katniss didn’t realize was how sad her prep-team was because they had really gotten to know Katniss, and became heart-broken when they heard she had to go back into the arena. Even though Katniss was touched, she got sick of all the tears, so when Cinna walks into the door Katniss threatens to kill him if he cries. Cinna doesn’t cry, and takes Katniss over to the changing room where she puts on her new dress for the ceremonies. Katniss looks amazing. The dress illuminates to look just like a fire and matches the coal theme of mining in District 12. Katniss decides to go down onto the ground floor to wait with Peeta for their chariot. However, Peeta hasn’t arrived yet, and before she knows it another tribute from District 4, Finnick Odair, is right next to her. Apparently, to many young woman Finnick is beautiful with his, “Golden skin and bronze-colored hair and those incredible eyes” but Katniss personally isn’t attracted to him so when Finnick tries to flirt with Katniss, she isn’t impressed. Soon enough Peeta meets Katniss on the ground floor, just in time as well, for their chariot has just arrived. They get in to the chariot, and are on their way to the opening ceremony while following Cinna’s advice on not to wave and smile, but to simply look ahead. At last they are back in the City Circle, and Katniss leads Peeta into the Training Center where they meet back up with their team. While in the Training Center Katniss and Peeta meet their new Avox (the person who tends them right up until the games). Their Avox looks to be the twin of their last Avox in the Hunger Games, and for some reason the man looks familiar to Katniss. Then it comes to Katniss, their Avox is Darius, the man who lay unconscious in the square while the life bled out of Gale!

Catching Fire #14

Catching Fire

Pg.188-203

4/10/11

Summary: Katniss is on a train with Peeta and her team headed to the Capital. At first, there is a very sad and quiet tone flowing around the cabins. Not much is said and everybody heads to bed. However, Katniss wakes up to a nightmare about the Hunger Games and walks out of her room to find Peeta watching clips on previous Hunger Games trying to gain knowledge on their new completion. He has watched all of the clips with the tributes that will be returning to this year’s Hunger Games so Katniss pushes Peeta to watch the clip where Haymitch wins the Hunger Games. The first thing Katniss realizes while watching the clip is how beautiful the location was where the Hunger Games were held at the time when Haymitch played. For instance, there were meadows with a snow-caped mountain where you would never once think about hundreds of children dying at your feet. Also, Katniss discovers that Haymitch was very intelligent. He was the only tribute to really explored the map. On his journey throughout the Games, he joined an alliance with the other District 12 tribute and they headed for the unknown “end” of the map. Haymitch knew there had to be an end to this place somewhere and sure enough it ended at a massive canyon. Coincidently, when Haymitch was walking on the edge of the canyon, a pebble fell into the canyon, and when it seemed like the pebble fell forever, it shot back up out of the canyon. Haymitch was able to use his knowledge of the canyon, which had been made by the Capital for the Hunger Games, to win the Games. When it was just down to him and the other District 12 tribute, Haymitch got the tribute angry and ran toward the canyon. When the tribute threw her ax at Haymitch he jumped into the canyon. The tribute had thought she won when all of a sudden the ax came flying out of the canyon and into the tributes skull leaving Haymitch the victor. The part that shocked Katniss and Peeta was how similar Haymitch’s experience in the Hunger Games was to theirs when District 12 teamed up both times and won by playing the Capital. Katniss is now sure that two people who have caused the Capital so much trouble can think of a way to get Peeta home alive!          

Catching Fire #13

Catching Fire

Pg.174-187

4/6/11

Summary: Before Katniss even comes to her senses after the devastating news she heard about herself, and either Peeta or Haymich, going back into The Hunger Games, she is running faster than she ever has before trying to get out of District 12. However, Katninss doesn’t make it too far because of the new rule of fence always being on, so she runs into an abandoned house. She stuffs a piece of clothing in her mouth and just screams at the top of her lungs until she gets all of her anger out. Katniss pulls herself together and goes to talk to Haymitch about their newly formed situation. They conclude that if Katniss and Peeta go back in to The Hunger Games, and their can only be one winner between the two of them, this time Peeta will be the winner. Katniss stagers home, for she is now drunk from having a drink with Haymich, to find her mother and Prim waiting at the door to give her a big hug. Katniss tries to stay strong, but immediately breaks down internally when her family tries to comfort her. Gale is also in her house, and tries to convince Katniss that is still not too late to run away into the woods. Unfortunately, Katniss isn’t in the mood to talk so she heads up to bed. When Katniss wakes up it is already late afternoon, and Haymitch and Peeta are waiting downstairs to talk. Throughout the whole conversation on what their plan is going to be, Peeta is arguing with them the whole time. They decide to all work out, and gain some well needed weight to prepare for The Hunger Games. In no time the date of the reaping comes, and Katniss doesn’t even have a chance to talk to Gale about all she has learned. The names are read and Katniss and Haymitch are going to the games, but of course Peeta volunteers to take Haymitch’s spot. Before Katniss has a chance to say anymore last goodbyes, she is loaded onto the train with her team and is in course to the Capital. 

Catching Fire #12

Catching Fire

Pg.164-173

4/4/11

Summary: Katniss is starting to get sick of lying in bed all day because of her injury, and just wants to get outside and do something. However, she is surprised by her makeup and hair crew that arrives three weeks early to prepare Katniss up for her wedding dress shoots which have moved to that day. Katniss is soon swept away and gets a full makeover that includes hiding the lash on her face from the whip. During Katniss’s makeover, one of the crew members, Octavia, makes a remark about how there has been a shortage of sea food because of the bad weather in District 4 which somehow gets Katniss thinking once again about the uprisings. Katniss doesn’t have much time to think, though, because she is brought downstairs and the photo shoot begins. Katniss wasn’t expecting the photo shoot to take as long as it did because by the end of the pictures for the first dress she was already exhausted. After the photo shoot, Katniss goes in search of Gale to inform him about the news she has learned from Bonnie and Twill about District 13, but comes up empty handed. Instead, she talks too Haymitch about the uprisings and District 13. Haymitch is unsure about the rumors Katniss heard from Bonnie and Twill about District 13, but doesn’t want to bring Katniss’s hopes down so he changes the topic. Haymitch decides to tell Katniss that her wedding dress pictures may be on the mandatory broadcast tonight. Katniss is stunned. She never realized that the producers at the capital could get the photos all the way from District 12 in a day, and put them in the program. Sure enough, the photos were the opening part in the program. However, the news only got worse from there. Since this year is the 75^th anniversary of The Hunger Games, also known as the “third Quarter Quell”, the capital changed The Hunger Games (just like they did on the first and second Quarter Quell), but this time it is different. For the third Quaker Quell, Districts will have to choose both a boy and girl tribute (person to have won the games) and send them back to The Hunger Games for a rematch. It takes Katniss a while for the fact to come across her that the only other tribute from District 13 is Haymitch, meaning that Katniss, being the only girl tribute from District 12, is automatically going back into The Hunger Games!