Katniss Ever-changing **Spoiler Alert**

          So far, I have only read the first Hunger Games book and part of the second one, Catching Fire. Katniss Everdeen is the main character. While reading the two books, I have noticed Katniss changed. While she has changed physically, (she gained quite a bit of body strength while being in the arena and while in training for the Hunger Games) she has been more altered on her emotional and mental side. This is to be expected, because the Hunger Games were a traumatizing experience for her, and anyone that has ever participated for the Games. Katniss Everdeen, one of the winners of the seventy fourth annual Hunger Games, has been changed forever.
          One different thing about Katniss that changed after she came home, a victor from the Games, was the way that she lived. First of all, her pre-Hunger Games best friend, Gale, is clearly not as comfortable around Katniss as he was before. Before Katniss was put in the arena with twenty three other tributes, her and Gale would go out of District Twelve's boundaries to hunt in the forest. They would share everything with each other. They would share food that they traded for, and they would share what was going on inside of their heads. After the Hunger Games, they still went hunting, but they weren't as comfortable around each other as they used to be. Of course, I am not far in Catching Fire, but I think that Gale is uncomfortable around Katniss because he has feelings for her and wants to be more than a friend. When Katniss was in the arena, she tried to make everybody believe that she was in love with her fellow District Twelve tribute, Peeta Mellark. This most likely made Gale feel hurt and rejected, even though he never spoke about his feelings to Katniss. Second, she now lives in Victor's Village, which is a little area in District Twelve that is designed for winners of the Hunger Games that are from that district. Even though the house that Katniss lives in now is much nicer than the one she lived in previously, it isn't her home. I think that Katniss always had a special connection to the home that she lived in, even if she doesn't go around telling everyone. This is kind of like Prim's cat, Buttercup. Katniss always said that she hated the cat, but when she was in the arena, she missed her. Katniss doesn't realize what she has until she doesn't have it anymore. Katniss changed in the arena.
          While Katniss changed in the arena, I think that it was destined to happen anyway. Maybe she wouldn't like her new house more if she wasn't a tribute because it wouldn't be there, but she would have changed anyway. Every day, every single person changes, whether they like it or not. It is just apart of life. Katniss was one of those that wishes she didn't, but I think it will end up working out for her.