Catching Fire, by Suzanne Collins, is the second book in The Hunger Games Trilogy.
It’s a year after the first Hunger Games, and this is the 75 anniversary of the games.
Tributes are selected from past winning tributes of the Games.
Not only do Katniss and Peeta still have to pretend they’re in love, but they must also survive the Games again.
However, some tributes become allies while the districts rebel against the capital.
Katniss is the symbol of the rebellion, the Mockingjay. The capital responded by destroying District 12,
But Katniss, Gale, and her family escaped to District 13, the home of the underground rebellion.
100 Hunger Games Quotes With Page Numbers
50 Mockingjay Quotes With Page Numbers
Catching Fire Quotes With Page Numbers Part I: “The Spark”
“You’ve got to go through it to get to the end of it.”
~Suzanne Collins, Catching Fire, Greasy Sae, Chapter 1, Page 12
“Look, if you wanted to be babied you should have asked Peeta.”
~Suzanne Collins, Catching Fire, Katniss Everdeen, Chapter 1, Page 14
“It must be very fragile, if a handful of berries can bring it down.”
~Suzanne Collins, Catching Fire, Katniss Everdeen, Chapter 2, Page 22
“I had to do that. At least once.”
~Suzanne Collins, Catching Fire, Gale, Chapter 2, Page 27
“Aim higher in case you fall short.”
~Suzanne Collins, Catching Fire, President Snow, Chapter 2, Page 29
“My time in the arena made me realize how I needed to stop punishing [my mother] for something she couldn’t help, specifically the crushing depression she fell into after my father’s death. Because sometimes things happen to people and they’re not equipped to deal with them.”
~Suzanne Collins, Catching Fire, Katniss Everdeen, Chapter 3, Pages 31, 32
“Now he’s [Cinna] arranging things around my living room: Clothing, fabrics, and sketchbooks with designs he’s drawn. I pick one up and examine one of the dresses I supposedly created.
You know, I think I show a lot of promise,” I say.
Get dressed, you worthless thing.”
~Suzanne Collins, Catching Fire, Katniss and Cinna, Chapter 3, Page 39
“If I feel ragged, my prep team seems in worse condition, knocking back coffee and sharing brightly colored little pills. As far as I can tell, they never get up before noon unless there’s some sort of national emergency, like my leg hair.”
~Suzanne Collins, Catching Fire, Katniss Everdeen, Chapter 4, Page 48
“Not like this…He wanted it to be real.”
~Suzanne Collins, Catching Fire, Haymitch, Chapter 5, Page 73
“That if desperate times call for desperate measures, then I’m free to act as desperately as I wish.”
~Suzanne Collins, Catching Fire, Katniss Everdeen, Chapter 6, Page 75
“Oh, the fun we two have together.”
~Suzanne Collins, Catching Fire, Katniss Everdeen, Chapter 6, Page 76
“Peeta, how come I never know when you’re having a nightmare?” I say.
“I don’t know. I don’t think I cry out or thrash around or anything. I just come to, paralyzed with terror,” he says.
“You should wake me,” I say, thinking about how I can interrupt his sleep two or three times on a bad night. About how long it can take to calm me down.
“It’s not necessary. My nightmares are usually about losing you,” he says. “I’m okay once I realize you’re here.”
~Suzanne Collins, Catching Fire, Katniss and Peeta, Chapter 6, Pages 85, 86
“My nightmares are usually about losing you. I’m okay once I realize you’re here.”
~Suzanne Collins, Catching Fire, Peeta, Chapter 6, Page 86
“But Mockingjays were never a weapon,” said Madge. “They’re just songbirds. Right?”
“Yeah, I guess so,” I said, But it’s not true. A mockingbird is just a songbird. A mockingjay is a creature the capitol never intended to exist. They hadn’t counted on the highly controlled jabberjay having the brains to adapt to the wild, to thrive in a new form. They hadn’t anticipated its will to live.”
~Suzanne Collins, Catching Fire, Madge and Katniss, Chapter 7, Page 92
“He tilts his forehead down to rest against mine and pulls me closer. His skin, his whole being radiates heat from being so near the fire, and I close my eyes, soaking in his warmth. I breathe in the smell of snow-dampened leather and smoke and apples, the smell of all those wintry days we shared before the Games. I don’t try to move away. Why should I anyway? His voice drops to a whisper. “I love you.” That’s why.”
~Suzanne Collins, Catching Fire, Katniss and Gale, Chapter 7, Pages 96, 97
“Gale is mine. I am his. Anything else is unthinkable.”
~Suzanne Collins, Catching Fire, Katniss, Chapter 8, Page 117
“At some point, you have to stop running and turn around and face whoever wants you dead.The hard thing is finding the courage to do it.”
~Suzanne Collins, Catching Fire, Katniss Everdeen, Chapter 8, Page 118
“I’m so sorry,” I whisper. I lean forward and kiss him.
His eyelashes flutter and he looks at me through a haze of opiates. “Hey, Catnip.”
“Hey, Gale,” I say.
“Thought you’d be gone by now,” He says.
My choices are simple. I can die like a quarry in the woods or I can die here beside Gale. “I’m not going anywhere. I’m going to stay right here and cause all kinds of trouble.”
“Me, too,” Gale says. He just manages a smile before the drugs pull him back under.”
~Suzanne Collins, Catching Fire, Katniss and Gale, Chapter 8, Pages 118, 119
“I really can’t think about kissing when I’ve got a rebellion to incite. ”
~Suzanne Collins, Catching Fire, Katniss Everdeen, Chapter 9, Pages 125, 126
Catching Fire Part II Quotes: “The Quell”
“Fine. Somebody else can arrange to get the stupid goat knocked up.”
~Suzanne Collins, Catching Fire, Katniss Everdeen, Chapter 11, Page 156
“You could live a hundred lifetimes and not deserve him.”
~Suzanne Collins, Catching Fire, Haymitch, Chapter 13, Page 178
“As the alcohol overcomes my mind, I hear the glass bottle shatter on the floor. This seems appropriate since I have obviously lost my grip on everything.”
~Suzanne Collins, Catching Fire, Katniss Everdeen, Chapter 13, Page 179
“I swear if you cry, I’ll kill you here and now.’
Cinna just smiles. ‘Had a damp morning?’
‘You could wring me out.’ I reply”
~Suzanne Collins, Catching Fire, Katniss and Cinna, Chapter 15, Page 205
“I turn and put my lips close to Peeta’s and drop my eyelids in imitation… “He offered me sugar and wanted to know all my secrets,” I say in my best seductive voice.”
~Suzanne Collins, Catching Fire, Katniss Everdeen, Chapter 15, Page 211
“We star-crossed lovers of District 12, who suffered so much and enjoyed so little the rewards of our victory, do not seek our fans’ favor, grace them with our smiles, or catch their kisses. We are unforgiving.
And I love it. Getting to be myself at last.”
~Suzanne Collins, Catching Fire, Katniss Everdeen, Chapter 15, Page 212
“What about you?”
“Not a clue. I keep wishing I could bake a cake or something.”
~Suzanne Collins, Catching Fire, Peeta, Chapter 16, Page 234
“I guess this is a bad time to mention I hung a dummy and painted Seneca Crane’s name on it…”
~Suzanne Collins, Catching Fire, Katniss Everdeen, Chapter 17, Page 241
“I just want to spend every possible minute of the rest of my life with you.”
~Suzanne Collins, Catching Fire, Peeta, Chapter 17, Page 244
“So I only say, “So what should we do with our last few days?”
“I just want to spend every possible minute of the rest of my life with you,” Peeta replies.”
~Suzanne Collins, Catching Fire, Katniss and Peeta, Chapter 17, Page 244
“I wish I could freeze this moment, right here, right now and live in it forever.”
~Suzanne Collins, Catching Fire, Peeta, Chapter 17, Page 245
“By late afternoon, I lie with my head in Peeta’s lap making a crown of flowers while he fiddles with my hair claiming he is practicing knots. After a while his hands go still.
“What?” I ask.
“I wish I could freeze this moment, right here, right now, and live in it forever,” he says.
Usually this sort of comment, the kind that hints his undying love for me, makes me feel guilty and awful. But I’m so relaxed and beyond worrying about a future I’ll never have, I just let the word slip out.“Okay,” I say.
I can hear the smile in his voice. “Then you’ll allow it?”
“I’ll allow it.”
~Suzanne Collins, Catching Fire, Katniss and Peeta, Chapter 17, Pages 245, 246
“Because I can count on my fingers the number of sunsets I have left, and I don’t want to miss any of them.”
~Suzanne Collins, Catching Fire, Katniss, Chapter 17, Page 246
“And to us, we’re more married than any piece of paper or big party could make us.”
~Suzanne Collins, Catching Fire, Peeta, Chapter 18, Page 255
“But I have to confess, I’m glad you two had at least a few months of happiness together.”
I’m not glad,” says Peeta. “I wish we had waited until the whole thing was done officially.”
This takes even Caesar aback. “Surely even a brief time is better than no time?”
Maybe I’d think that, too, Caesar,” says Peeta bitterly, “If it weren’t for the baby.”
~Suzanne Collins, Catching Fire, Caesar and Peeta, Chapter 18, Page 256
“Remember, girl on fire,” he says, “I’m still betting on you.”
~Suzanne Collins, Catching Fire, Haymitch, Chapter 18, Page 262
“I can only form one clear thought.
This is no place for a girl on fire.”
~Suzanne Collins, Catching Fire, Katniss Everdeen, Chapter 18, Page 263
Catching Fire, Part III: “The Enemy” Quotes
“What’s going on down there, Katniss? Have they all joined hands? Taken a vow of nonviolence? Tossed the weapons in the sea in defiance of the Capitol?’ Finnick asks.
No,’ I say.
No,’ Finnick repeats. ‘Because whatever happened in the past is in the past. And no one in this arena was a victor by chance.’ He eyes Peeta for a moment. ‘Except maybe Peeta.”
~Suzanne Collins, Catching Fire, Finnick and Katniss, Chapter 19, Pages 276, 277
“I pull an arrow, whip the notch into place, and am about to let it fly when I’m stopped by the sight of Finnick kissing Peeta. And it’s so bizarre, even for Finnick.”
~Suzanne Collins, Catching Fire, Katniss Everdeen, Chapter 20, Page 280
“The idea of being strong for someone else having never entered their heads, I find myself in the position of having to console them. Since I’m the person going in to be slaughtered, this is somewhat annoying.”
~Suzanne Collins, Catching Fire, Katniss Everdeen, Chapter 20, Page 284
“I always channel my emotions into my work. That way, I don’t hurt anyone but myself.”
~Suzanne Collins, Catching Fire, Cinna, Chapter 20, Page 285
“Whose is it, do you think?” I say finally.
“No telling,” says Finnick. “Why don’t we let Peeta claim it, since he died today?”
~Suzanne Collins, Catching Fire, Katniss and Finnick, Chapter 20, Page 292
“I go into the saltwater and wash off the blood, trying to decide which I hate more, pain or itching. Fed up, I stomp back onto the beach, turn my face upward and snap, “Hey, Haymitch, if you’re not too drunk, we could use a little something for our skin.”
It’s almost funny how quickly the parachute appears above me. I reach up and the tube lands squarely in my open hand.
“About time” I say, but I can’t keep the scowl on my face. Haymitch. What I wouldn’t give for five minutes of conversation with him.”
~Suzanne Collins, Catching Fire, Katniss Everdeen, Chapter 22, Page 315
“I’m going to wake Peeta,” I say.
“No, wait,” says Finnick. “Let’s do it together. Put our faces right in front of his.”
Well, there’s so little opportunity for fun left in my life, I agree. We position ourselves on either side of Peeta, lean over until our faces are inches frim his nose, and give him a shake. “Peeta. Peeta, wake up,” I say in a soft, singsong voice.His eyelids flutter open and then he jumps like we’ve stabbed him. “Aa!”
Finnick and I fall back in the sand, laughing our heads off. Every time we try to stop, we look at Peeta’s attempt to maintain a disdainful expression and it sets us off again.”
~Suzanne Collins, Catching Fire, Katniss, Finnick, and Peeta, Chapter 22, Pages 316, 317
“Remembering from last year how Haymitch’s gifts are often timed to send a message, I make a note to myself. Be friends with Finnick. You’ll get food.”
~Suzanne Collins, Catching Fire, Katniss Everdeen, Chapter 22, Page 317
“Tick, tock.”
~Suzanne Collins, Catching Fire, Chapter 22, Page 320
“I don’t care if you are knocked up. I can still rip your throat out”
~Suzanne Collins, Catching Fire, Johanna, Chapter 23, Page 328
“So that’s who Finnick loves, I think. Not his string of fancy lovers in the Capitol. But a poor, mad girl back home. ”
~Suzanne Collins, Catching Fire, Katniss Everdeen, Chapter 24, Page 348
“I don’t want you forgetting how different our circumstances are. If you die, and I live, there’s no life for me at all back in District Twelve. You’re my whole life.” Peeta says. “I would never be happy again. It’s different for you. I’m not saying it wouldn’t be hard. But there are other people who’d make your life worth living.”
“No one really needs me,” he says, and there’s no self-pity in his voice. It’s true his family doesn’t need him. They will mourn him, as will a handful of friends. But they will get on… I realize only one person will be damaged beyond repair if Peeta dies. Me.
“I do,” I say. “I need you.”
~Suzanne Collins, Catching Fire, Peeta and Katniss, Chapter 24, Page 351
“I realize only one person will be damaged beyond repair if Peeta dies. Me.”
~Suzanne Collins, Catching Fire, Katniss Everdeen, Chapter 24, Page 352
“Beetee is still messing round the tree, doing I don’t know what. At one point he snaps off a sliver of bark, joins us, and throws it against the force field. It bounces back and lands on the ground, glowing. In a few moments it returns to its original color. “Well, that explains a lot,” says Beetee. I look at Peeta and can’t help biting my lip to keep from laughing since it explains absolutely nothing to anyone but Beetee. ”
~Suzanne Collins, Catching Fire, Katniss and Beetee, Chapter 25, Page 363
“Really, the combination of the scabs and the ointment looks hideous. I can’t help enjoying his distress.
“Poor Finnick. Is this the first time in your life you haven’t looked pretty?” I say.
“It must be. The sensation’s completely new. How have you managed it all these years?” he asks.
“Just avoid mirrors. You’ll forget about it,” I say.
“Not if I keep looking at you,” he says.”
~Suzanne Collins, Catching Fire, Katniss and Finick, Chapter 26, Page 376
“So it’s you and a syringe against the Capitol? See, this is why no one lets you make the plans.”
~Suzanne Collins, Catching Fire, Haymitch, Chapter 27, Page 384
“We had to save you because you’re the mockingjay, Katniss,” says Plutarch. “While you live, the revolution lives.”
~Suzanne Collins, Catching Fire, Plutarch, Chapter 27, Page 386
“The bird, the pin, the song, the berries, the watch, the cracker, the dress that burst into flames. I am the mockingjay. The one that survived despite the Capitol’s plans. The symbol of the rebellion.”
~Suzanne Collins, Catching Fire, Katniss Everdeen, Chapter 27, Pages 386, 387
“Katniss,” Gale says softly.
I recognize that voice. It’s the same one he uses to approach wounded animals before he delivers a deathblow. I instinctively raise my hand to block his words but he catches it and holds on tightly.
Don’t,” I whisper.
But Gale is not one to keep secrets from me.
Katniss, There is no District Twelve.”
~Suzanne Collins, Catching Fire, Gale and Katniss, Chapter 27, Page 391
Catching Fire Summary
Catching Fire is the second installment in Suzanne Collins’s Hunger Games trilogy. The book picks up months after the end of The Hunger Games, with Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark returning home to District 12 as victors of the 74th Hunger Games.
However, their victory has caused a spark of hope amongst the districts, and President Snow sees them as a threat to his oppressive regime. He orders the creation of the 75th Hunger Games, commonly known as the Quarter Quell, which forces Katniss and Peeta back into the arena.
Katniss must now face her fears while fighting against the Capitol’s cruel agenda. Alongside Peeta, she must find allies and survive the harsh conditions of the arena.
Meanwhile, a rebellion is brewing in the districts, and Katniss’s actions have become symbols of hope in the face of tyranny. As they fight to stay alive, their courage will unite or divide Panem into revolution or oppression.