Divergent by Veronica Roth

Divergent by Veronica Roth

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Some books grab a hold of you in such a way that the moment you finish them you flip right back to the beginning to reread it again. Divergent is such a book! I started it last night, and was up until 2am finishing it!



This is a fantastic debut by Veronica Roth, which is set to be the first in a new series. One of the things that impressed me most was that each character stayed true to themselves as the story unfolded, which is difficult for a writer especially considering that several of the characters have major secrets that are revealed throughout the book that could have potentially changed the direction of any one of the characters. This is a novel I could easily picture as a movie adaptation.



A dystopian novel set in the remnants of Chicago, Divergent is a wondrously complicated tale of virtue, ethics, family and even a little romance. In an effort to stabilize the world, the community has been divided into five factions; Abnegation (the selfless), Amity (the peaceful), Candor (the honest), Dauntless (the brave), and Erudite (the intelligent). Children are raised in the faction of their parents, but when they are sixteen, they must choose a faction to train with and live with for the rest of their lives. An aptitude test is taken by each teenager to guide them to the faction for which they have a disposition. If they choose a faction other than their parents’, they are seen as betrayers.

Beatrice Prior has been raised Abnegation, but has never really felt she fit in with the faction. Her aptitude test provides inconclusive guidance as it indicates she has dispositions for more than faction and that she is Divergent which forces her to make a difficult choice; join a new faction and leave her family, or stay Abnegation and never be true to herself? She chooses to join the Dauntless (the brave), where she takes the name Tris and quickly realizes the faction initiation process is much more difficult than imagined. Her trainer, nicknamed Four, takes a special interest in Tris’ progress and pushes her to the edge.

As the initiation process goes forward, the initiates find that not all of them will be welcomed into Dauntless, but rather they only accept the top ranked. If they fail, they will be factionless and forced to live homeless performing the most menial jobs. The competition becomes fierce as the initiates fight for the few top spots, and Tris becomes the target of a brutal attack. Can Tris survive by drawing on the virtues of the other factions, and what will the Dauntless leaders do if they find out she is Divergent As Tris and Four grow closer they learn of a sinister plot that will lead Erudite and Dauntless to make war on the Abnegation. Can they stop it before Tris' family and the rest of the Abengation are killed?



After I finished the book I told my brother about the book, and he asked me which faction I would choose? I had a hard time answering, which is the point of the book that as individuals we need all five virtues. The question is an interesting one though…If you could only choose one which one would it be?





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Wither by Lauren DeStefano

Wither by Lauren DeStefano

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Lauren DeStefano’s debut novel Wither is a stunning opening to her Chemical Garden Trilogy.

Set in the future, genetic engineers attempted to perfect the human race, which has left the newer generation plagued with a virus that kills women at 20 years old and men at 25 years old. As a result, young women are frequently kidnapped and forcibly married off to wealthy young men to ensure the survival of the human race by having babies before they die. Sixteen-year-old Rhine is kidnapped from Manhattan where she lives alone with her twin brother Rowan, and taken to a mansion in Florida where she will be forced to marry Linden Ashby, the wealthy son of a prominent doctor. When she arrives at the mansion she find that, Linden’s first wife and true love, Rose has recently turned 20 years old and is dying from the virus. Rhine, along with two other young women Jenna and Cecily, has been chosen to be Rose’s replacements. Despite the tragic and awful circumstances Rhine and Rose develop a friendship and Rose asks Rhine to take care of Linden when she dies. After Rose’s death, Rhine begins to uncover the truth behind the medical research her father-in-law is conducting in the basement of the house. When she discovers the terrifying truth she realizes her only hope is to find a way to escape with the help of one of the house attendants, Gabriel. Will their escape plan succeed, and if so will Rhine be reunited with her brother?

Before I read it, I was cautious about the book’s premise and honestly wasn’t really sold on the idea. What I found is a wonderful read that deals with loss, survival, love, and ultimately hope. The narrative is wonderfully descriptive and well written. The characters are touchingly realistic in their flaws and struggles. By the end, you are trying to escape the Ashby mansion with Rhine and Gabriel, and hoping that Linden and Cecily ultimately try to escape as well.

The second book in the trilogy, Fever, is due out in February 2012 and I’ll be at the store waiting for it’s release!





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Cloaked by Alex Flinn

Cloaked by Alex Flinn

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


I've read some of Flinn's realistic fiction, but this is the first of her books that I've read that draws on fairy tales. I wasn't quite sure what to expect as the book includes references to about half a dozen fairy tales, and pulls them into one story.



Johnny is a likeable hero; a seventeen year old boy who works at his mother's shoe repair shop in South Beach and spends time hanging out with his best friend Meg . When a famous princess comes to visit, he's shocked that she pays him any attention and is completely bewildered when she asks for his help in tracking down her brother who's been turned into a frog and kidnapped. Strangely enough, his mother convinces him to help the princess. He finds that there is magic around him in many different forms. The princess tells him that she will marry him if he's able to save her brother. He is torn between the beautiful princess, who can give him money and power, and Meg, who he slowly realizes he's in love with. Will he be able to find the prince and who will he chose in the end?



The premise was an interesting one, although the story seemed a bit disjointed at times. Fans of fairy tales and teen romance will probably enjoy this one, but I think Flinn's other books are stronger.



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Matched by Ally Condie

Matched by Ally Condie

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I should preface my review by saying that I listened to the audiobook which is positively wonderful!



It opens with Cassia preparing for her matching ceremony where she will learn who the Society (government)has chosen for her to marry when she turns 21. When she finds that she has been matched with her best friend Xander she couldn't be happier. Her happiness is short-lived when she looks at the microchip the Society officials give her that holds information on her match. The face of another boy she knows, Ky, flashes across her computer screen. Confused as to what this means for her match, she chooses not to tell anyone.



As time goes on, Cassia comes to find that the Society is playing games with people's lives and that not everything is what it seems. She spends the summer getting to know Ky better and realizes that she wants to be able to make life choices for herself. The problem is that the Society literally controls everything. As she and Ky fall in love they begin a desperate search to find a way to be together.



The basic premise of Matched is not a new one. In some ways it's a more mature version of The Giver with romance. Condie's use of language is wonderful, and she reaches amazing depth in each of her characters. I won't spoil the ending of this first volume of the series, but I will say it's going to be a long wait until the fall when Crossed is released in order to finally learn what happens to Cassia, Ky, and Zander!



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