| This article contains information from both The Hunger Games book series and it's adaptive Film series |
- "I watch as Gale pulls out his knife and slices the bread. He could be my brother. Straight black hair, olive skin, we even have the same gray eyes. But we’re not related, at least not closely. Most of the families who work the mines resemble one another this way."
- —Katniss Everdeen's thoughts on Gale[src]
Gale Hawthorne was a young man from The Seam, the poorest sector of District 12. When he was thirteen, Gale lost his father in a mine explosion that also killed the father of his best friend and loyal hunting companion Katniss Everdeen. Gale and Katniss worked hard to provide food for their families by hunting illegally outside of District 12's fences, though Gale was forced to provide for both of their families after Katniss's sister Prim was reaped for the 74th Hunger Games and Katniss volunteered to take her place. When Katniss won the games and began to grow close to her district partner Peeta Mellark, Gale began to grow slightly resentful towards their relationship. After District 12 was fire-bombed by The Capitol, Gale joined the Mockingjay Rebellion.