'The Hunger Games': a quick guide for the uninitiated

Once Katniss arrives at the Capitol, she and Peeta both are assigned beauty prep teams who will work to bring them up to the Capitol's standards of physical attractiveness. (By doing so, they will also increase the odds that sponsors will give them gifts of food and medicine during the Games. Sponsors are always more generous to tributes depending on their degree of beauty.) Katniss finds many members of her prep team annoying, but bonds with the head stylist, a Capitol resident named Cinna. He creates Katniss' outfit of black cloth covered in fake flames, which gives her the nickname "girl on fire," and encourages Katniss by telling her that he thinks she'll be the winner of the Games, providing crucial morale for her before she enters the arena.