Hello. My name is Clove Fuhram and I am 15 years old. I live in district 2, Panem. Panem is made up of 12 districts and then a place called the Capitol, where all the rich, important people live. I have a little sister called Clara, who is 10 and my Mother. My father died when I was 6 years old. The districts are all different.
The first place is the Capitol where people like the President and his grandson live. They don't have to work or worry about where their next dinner will come from.
Next is District 1. They make things like jewellery and luxury. Then it's District 2, where I live. we specialise in masonry. We are quite well off but since Father died and my mother isn't strong enough to work in the stone industry we survive off her money from being a washer woman. District 3 is technology, 4 fishing, 5 is power, 6 is transportation,7 is lumber, 8 is textiles, 9 is grain, 10 is livestock, 11 is agriculture and 12 mining. I'm supposedly lucky to live in District 2 but I don't feel that way. We belong to the Capitol. There's no escape.
I'll tell you more about Panem. Panem was founded over 100 years ago. It was once apon a time a place known as North America but after many natural disasters and wars we ended up with the country we know today. Exactly 74 years ago there was a war, the districts against the Capitol, which was known as the dark days. People turned on there friends and family. The Capitol bombed a now extinct district know as district 13. District 13 was the main up riser along with 12, 11 and 10. People were sorted due to there loyalty into districts, with districts such as 12 with half the population starving to death and then districts like 1 where they own big houses and have posh clothes and cars. It's quite unfair but that's how it is and how it will always be. You grow to get used to it. Complaining will only make things worse.
The ruler of Panem is known as President Cornelius Snow. He has ruled for over 50 years, his family having ruled over Panem for centuries. He had a daughter, wife and son - in - law who all died. his wife in childbirth, daughter and her husband in a train accident. But there is a heir. His name is Prince Cato Snow, President Snow's arrogant, rich, monstrous grandson. They are alike. He turned 18 on the 7th of May, just last week. He has everything. Money, good looks, as well as being rather muscular. You'd think that he would have no shortage of admirers (and he does) but being a prince he goes through the same process as every other member of Panem royalty.
When a member of Panem's royal family reaches there 18th birthday a reaping is held. 2 girls and 2 boys are reaped from each district and sent to the Capitol ; where they are taught how to act like royalty. It's all filmed and at the end one of the 'lucky' girls or boys are paired to the prince or princess. The remaining 23 are given highly placed jobs. The remaining are matched to another remaining of the opposite sex and married. Then you will become a mayor/mayoress, the prince/princesses personal assistants, ladies or sirs. You are showered with riches and live a perfect life. Except from the lack of choice. I'd hate it. But the reaping will be next week and today we find out whether or not me and Clara are eligible for the reaping. Sometimes there are age preferences but usually it's 12-18 meaning I'd be eligible. Once though, there was a reaping with age eligible of 5-30. It depends on what's wanted.
In the reaping a Capitol representative arrives in each district and reaps 2 names for each gender out of all those who are eligible. Beforehand though, you have your picture taken, a blood sample and classify some information about yourself. When the names are called it shows their picture so the peacekeepers, the army, basically, and you're taken to the stage. You're given half an hour to say goodbye to your loved ones and then you go to the Capitol. Most of it's strictly classified but I do know that you're given a stylist, a prep team consisting of 3 people and a mentor to help coach you privately. There's a tribute parade where they show off the chosen to Panem in stupid costumes, then 4 days later they're given a score on how well they do, whatever they practice at the Palace, then they're interviewed with Ceaser Flickerman, a TV host. After that it's announced on who the Prince has chosen, the pairings and jobs. there's a ball and then it's all forgotten.