The Hunger Games: Why is Lucy Gray Baird chosen as a tribute?

Lucy Gray Baird is chosen as a tribute in the 10th Annual Hunger Games because she is a member of the traveling music group, The Covey, and she catches the attention of the boy whom the Mayor's daughter likes. Lucy Gray is forced into District 12 due to the war and is known for her charisma and musical talents. When her name is drawn during the reaping ceremony, she slips a snake down the back of the Mayor's daughter out of jealousy. This act of defiance and her unique personality make her a captivating and intriguing tribute.Despite being from the poorest district, Lucy Gray quickly becomes a sensation in the Capitol, especially after she and Coriolanus Snow, who is assigned as her mentor, come up with a scheme involving Lucy's singing to gain popularity. Snow, who sees the mentorship as an opportunity to restore his family's wealth, begins sneaking food from the Academy to give to Lucy, creating a sense of trust between them. Other tributes notice this and start quietly feeding their own tributes.As the Games approach, Lucy and Snow continue to impress the Capitol with Lucy's performances. However, their plans are disrupted when bombs explode during the tour of the arena, killing several tributes and mentors. Despite this setback, Lucy decides to stay and help an injured Snow rather than escape. The games begin, and most tributes die quickly from starvation, sickness, and weakness. Lucy, knowing that other remaining tributes are physically stronger than her, chooses to hide in dark spots across the arena.In an unexpected turn of events, Snow, motivated by his growing empathy towards the Districts, convinces a District sympathizer named Sejanus to leave the arena and make a bigger impact with his beliefs if he remains alive. Snow is forced to kill a tribute in self-defense, marking his first act of violence. Back in the Capitol, Snow drops a cloth with Lucy's scent into a tank of genetically modified snakes, allowing the snakes to grow accustomed to her scent.When the snakes are released into the arena, Lucy is left unharmed while the other tributes are attacked. She is eventually pronounced the winner of the Games. However, Snow's involvement in aiding Lucy is discovered by the Game Makers, and he is forced to become a Peacekeeper in District 12 instead of receiving the retribution and recognition he desired.Snow and Lucy reunite in District 12, where Snow, now understanding Lucy better and feeling empathy towards the Districts, confronts his growing feelings for her. Snow discovers that Sejanus is plotting to help District residents escape, and he secretly records evidence to expose the plot. However, their plan is discovered, resulting in the deaths of Spruce and Sejanus. In the aftermath, Lucy decides to leave for the North, and Snow, swayed towards betrayal, contemplates shooting her but is uncertain if he hit her.Snow eventually discards the guns and returns to District 12. He is transported back to the Capitol, where he accepts his position to train as an officer and is praised by Dr. Gaul for his role in exposing Sejanus's plot. The novel's epilogue reveals that Snow kills Dean Highbottom, starts his signature poisoning of enemies, and becomes a Game Maker, implementing his own ideas into the games.The fate of Lucy Gray remains unknown. Whether she dies in the forest or escapes Panem is left unanswered. While the book has been adapted into a film with Rachel Zegler portraying Lucy Gray and has been praised for its faithfulness to the novel, readers and viewers alike will have to wait to discover any major deviations from Suzanne Collins' original story.