Katniss is a hero because she has no desire to be a hero. “I never wanted any of this, I never wanted to be in the Games,” she says during the film. “I just wanted to save my sister and keep Peeta alive.” Her mission isn’t one of power, wealth, or fame; it’s of love. With a film industry still reluctant to give us a strong, female superhero (at least one with her own movie), Katniss is one of the better heroines in recent young adult memory. She’s not perfect, but she thinks for herself (certainly the opposite of a damsel in distress). She can’t stand to see her loved ones hurting and sacrifices to keep them safe. Katniss carries the scars of violence in a way that seems to embody an individual who is broken for others.
This gets at the heart of why, despite the flaws and the downward spiral of the book series, I still enjoy Katniss’ story. I really enjoyed this read and thought you all might as well.