The novel The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins takes place in a highly controlled society made up of twelve districts that are ruled by an all-powerful Capitol. As punishment for an uprising against the Capitol years before, every district must select a boy and a girl between 12-18 to compete in an annual televised battle to the death. The novel's main character, Katniss Everdeen, must compete in the Hunger Games when her younger sister is selected in the lottery and Katniss volunteers to take her place. Katniss must travel to the Capitol with her fellow competitor from her district, meet her mentor, prepare for the games, and ultimately attempt to survive the brutal contest. What is the central conflict and how does it drive the plot's action?