The Hunger Games Prequel Introduced Katniss’ Grandmother – Theory Explained

One Hunger Games fan theory suggests that Suzanne Collins’ prequel novel, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, introduced Katniss Everdeen’s grandmother. The novel takes place decades before the events of The Hunger Games trilogy, following future President Coriolanus Snow’s involvement in the tenth Hunger Games as a mentor to the District 12 tribute. Although the Everdeen family is never mentioned in the book, several fun Easter eggs in the story have led to fan speculation that Katniss may be related to one of its characters.

Coriolanus’ tribute, Lucy Gray Baird, stole hearts in the Capitol with her beautiful singing, just like another future Hunger Games character. Lucy Gray’s people, the Covey, used to travel throughout Panem performing before they were forced to settle down in District 12. The book’s description of their home has many parallels to where Katniss used to live in her home District, but that’s far from the only similarity. The Covey’s survival skills and talents make it possible that one of them is Katniss’ ancestor.

A popular Hunger Games theory connects Katniss to Lucy Gray’s cousin, Maude Ivory Baird. Maude Ivory was about eight or nine years old during The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, and would perform in the Hob with other Covey members. Little is known about her since the novel focused more on Lucy Gray, but she did remark about her cousin’s impressive memory: “One hearing’s all my cousin Maude Ivory needs. That child never forgets anything with a tune.” Katniss shared a similar ability to pick up songs quickly and repeatedly sang tunes that the Covey had performed, most notably “The Hanging Tree,” which Katniss learned from her father. Both Katniss and the Covey also have strong associations with Mockingjays — the Covey liked to sing with the birds, and Katniss’ dad used to enjoy singing back and forth with them as well. The Covey’s tendency to bend the rules, by sneaking out to relax by the lake or to hunt, could also connect them to Katniss. So, could Maude Ivory be her grandmother?

Maude is the likeliest Covey in relation to Katniss because of her singing talent. The only other notable Covey who could sing was Lucy Gray, whose fate was unknown at the end of The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. Unlike Lucy, who fled District 12 and was presumed dead, Maude Ivory stayed behind. When she grew up, it’s possible that she fell in love and gave birth to a son who would one day be Katniss’ father. The Hunger Games prequel novel does not reveal how well-known the Covey’s knowledge of music and hunting was throughout the rest of District 12, or if those skills pertained to them alone. If the latter is true, Katniss’ ancestry can likely be traced back to the group.

Suzanne Collins has never confirmed the theory labeling Maude Ivory Baird as Katniss’ grandmother, but it’s possible that the upcoming film adaptation of The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes will dive deeper into this idea, perhaps retroactively confirming the theory. Audiences will naturally want to seek out connections between the prequel story and the original trilogy, even if they remain mere speculation. Yet, there’s a strong basis supporting this theory of Katniss’ family tree.

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