Review of Allegiant by Veronica Roth

Katherine Tegen Books

Allegiant
by Veronica Roth
1 Scribble

I must preface this negative review with the disclaimer that I was blown away when I read Divergent, the first in the Divergent trilogy.  Insurgent, the second novel in the Divergent trilogy, was pleasing, although I was disappointed that Tris cried a bit too much and too easily for such a tough gal. That being said, I am sorely disappointed with this third novel in the series. As I surmised after reading book two, could it be that editors and publishers are rushing Ms. Roth to publish, thus damaging her ability to produce work equal to or better than Divergent?

My first complaint is that characterization is vastly different in this installment. First off, there seem to be many, many characters, most of them minor, and most of them I could care less about. I started to lose track of them all and just shrugged it off, because even halfway through plodding along, I was not emotionally invested in any of them. Secondly, I was a little jolted by the dual-narration. Changing perspectives is a great way to enrich a novel and reveal more about characters in the story, but alternating points of view between Tris and Four simply didn’t work for me. Yes, I learned more about Four, but what I learned was disheartening. It seems Four isn’t the self-assured, tough-guy-who-masks his weaknesses with a razor-sharp edge. He’s actually sort of a dark, brooding weenie. Before he didn’t trust anyone, except Tris, and now it seems that he doesn’t trust Tris, the girl he supposedly loves more than life itself. Instead, he trusts others, as evidenced by the fact that he’s quick to lie to Tris and join an uprising without her knowledge.  Sorry, but the Four I know would never do this. Tris is different in this novel too. It’s like she is the most self-righteous harpy I’ve ever read, and then mid-stride she totally loses her moral compass and decides murder is okay if the reason is good enough. Ends justify the means? What?  In fact, despite all the face-smashery between Tris and Four, the two don’t even seem to really like each other much even though they are in love. Do they love each other out of habit?

The themes in the novel are all worthy, but not at all subtle. Of course, the violation of civil rights via genetic engineering is blaring, the prejudice against genetically damaged individuals is there, the nature-versus-nurture aspect is touched upon and of course everyone is living in a sad, fishbowl of a society with virtually no freedoms. Did I hit every theme on the dystopian blueprint? If I missed mentioning one, it’s in the novel—no worries. And while I appreciate this attempt at getting the reader to contemplate societies’ ills, the themes don’t creep into the consciousness via story rather they jump up and smack the reader full on in the forehead and scream “pay attention!”
I’m not going to delve into plot a great deal. The bottom line is that even though the big teaser at the end of book two is illuminated and an explanation given in this installment, the reader may not care a whole lot. The story and action is just all over the place. I’m not even sure if I’d call that subplottting—I sort of dragged myself kicking and screaming to the book each night the week it came out. I have waited this long to write my review, because the only thing more painful than reading the book is writing this review.  I know there were “subplots” but I don’t remember them all—in fact, I tried to forget them.

This brings me to the ending. At first blush, I felt the human sacrifice (and I won’t say more, even though I’m guessing the grand finale ending is out there already) that took place at the end was refreshing—go Roth! Take risks; be true to what might really happen; shock the reader. But then I realized the plan to save Chicago is lame and the results even worse.  The human sacrifice gets completely cancelled out by the lameness of the plan, and the fact that later, Four is able to change the minds of the two worst villains in literature, Evelyn and Marcus, with a bit of fluffy rhetoric. In light of that monumental and highly unforgiveable misrepresentation of the most evil characters in dystopian literature—why was the sacrifice made? Why was the series ever written?

My only hope is that before the movie comes out, heavy, vicious editing takes place. Perhaps even a reimagining of the original.

Review of A Million Suns: Across the Universe #2

Razorbill

A Million Suns: Across the Universe #2

by Beth Revis

5 Scribbles

The killer in book one has been captured, and Elder is beginning his leadership on board Godspeed in the aftermath of the discovery that Godspeed will never see the new planet. However, when Elder’s first command—discontinue the mind-control drug FIDIS and let the people function as free individuals—is executed, all hell breaks loose. Now Elder must try to manage the chaos and find out who is now killing people on Godspeed. And Amy? Amy discovers clues left for her by the killer in book one, clues that may help them land on their new home sooner than anticipated.  

Book two in the series focuses on two main conflicts. First, there is a new killer on the ship, and second, Godspeed is in turmoil. The plot examines life after a dictatorship and the problems that ensue. Elder struggles to keep ship functions running smoothly with a community of individuals unaccustomed to thought, let alone free speech, and Elder’s former friend Bardy does nothing to facilitate the transition. Flaws begin to surface on Godspeed, and the previously drawn utopian ship is revealed for the prison it was. With the ship falling apart, food production slowing, and a new murderer on the loose, Elder has little time to invest in his relationship with Amy, yet Revis skillfully allows Elder and Amy to grow as individuals while at the same time exploring their relationship with one another. Elder struggles with his feelings of inferiority as a leader, feelings that are well-earned. Truthfully, Elder is a very poor leader, and at times it’s difficult to empathize with him or even root for him, but it does allow the reader to wonder if they would do better in his situation. Amy, on the other hand, never loses faith in Elder, even when facing her own grief and a life she never imagined living aboard Godspeed. What I love about the developing relationship between these two is that it is slow to grow. Amy realizes that she doesn’t have to love Elder simply because he is the only guy around her age. All of this being said, it may sound like this book is a bit on the dull side. Not so! Revis, in the same riveting style of book one, manages to weave in two mysteries rather than one! And when both are solved, a tantalizing conclusion makes the reader (myself included) scour the library for book three. Truth be told, I’ve already read book three! I gobbled it immediately after I finished this one! This is one series I would totally love to see hit Hollywood. The special effects would be amazing, and the conflicts engaging enough to guarantee a following.

Review of The Elite by Kiera Cass

HarperCollins Children's
Books

The Elite
by Kiera Cass
3 Scribbles
To be released 4/23/2013
Spoiler alert!

Six girls remain in the competition for Prince Maxon, and America is one of the favorites. Yet, America is still struggling with her feelings for her first love, Apsen, and she isn’t sure she has what it takes to be princess, and eventually queen. Meanwhile, rebel attacks increase and it becomes apparent that the palace is full of secrets. The clock ticks as the The Selection draws closer to an end. Will America resolve her feelings before it’s too late…and will she be Maxon’s choice?
The best part about the second book is the inclusion of tidbits from Illéa’s past. Details about the kingdom start to leak via America’s relationship with Maxon, and the entire caste system is explained. It seems the current King prefers to keep his people in the dark; America discovers that the history put down on paper is far different from the oral history that has been passed down through Illéa’s people over generations. Suddenly, the dystopian elements that seemed to be “tossed in” in book one, make a bit more sense.  America’s character is more fully developed. The reader may be disgusted by the hypocrisy of America’s continued relationship with Apsen while she experiences extreme jealousy over Maxon, yet this imperfection is what pulls the reader headlong into the story. . Aspen is America’s “one constant.” He represents America’s link to the past, and her inability to move forward. Prince Maxon, however, clearly has a hold on her heart, but that hold brings with it America’s encroaching adulthood—adulthood she is not ready to embrace. Maxon too is more fully developed. The reader finds a reason for his behind-the-radar changes to the kingdom, and begins to understand a new and unexpected dynamic in the royal family. Still, the dystopian elements take a backseat to the romantic elements of the story, and because of this, readers who love reality TV and romantic novels will more likely enjoy this series than those who love dystopian works like Divergent and The Hunger Games. And…if you were hoping to discover the winner of the competition, hope some more. It seems the winner will not be revealed until book three. Sigh. I guess I’m still in!

Review of The Selection by Kiera Cass

HarperTeen

The Selection (Book One)
by Kiera Cass
3 Scribbles

Take American reality T.V. show The Bachelor, combine with a Hindu-styled caste system, sprinkle with just a touch of Power Ball Lottery—and violá—a modern young-adult romance is born.

America Singer is in love with Aspen, and even though his caste is below hers, she knows he is THE ONE. If only she could get Aspen to believe that he is good enough for her despite his lowly caste. So when Aspen asks her to enter her name into Illéa’s “Selection,” a contest created for the Prince of Illéa to select his bride and future queen from amongst the people, she doesn’t hesitate. America knows she won’t be chosen to compete when every girl from every caste in the nation is applying, and only thirty five girls will be selected. Then Aspen will know they were meant to be together. Not only is America not future queen material, but the chances of her falling in love with someone else even if she were chosen is non-existent. Until the unthinkable happens.

Although I am not a fan of reality TV per se, and I am particularly appalled by shows like The Bachelor, I do feel that there is a wide audience for this book. I loathe The Bachelor in particular, because I feel that it simplifies love and marriage, and it also degrades the value of women and people in general. That being said, it is a widely popular show among the American public and American teenagers.  That same audience will likely be attracted to this work. Put aside the fact that thirty five girls are all vying for the hand of one privileged boy and another theme comes through. The book is about first—and second— love. Who doesn’t remember their first love and the powerful feelings that come with him? America’s feelings for Aspen are pure, untainted by hurt and regret, and her idealistic and naïve view of love is highly relatable. It is true that one never forgets their first love, and America is no exception to that rule. Hardly ever is a book written about the guy that comes after THE FIRST, and this novel does just that. In simple prose, and dialogue that borders on elementary at times, the reader sees how second love develops, perhaps more slowly and tentatively than the first, but with far more reason and consideration. In this regard Cass’s novel is unique. Add to this the dreamy nature of the castle, the elaborate dresses, the pampering and admiration America receives, and it’s not hard to see why it’s hard to put this book down despite its flaws. I’d wager not one girl amongst us doesn’t secretly want to feel extra special and princes-like. Hopefully, the second installment in the series will feature more about the reason for Illéa’s caste system and rebel attacks on the castle; it would have added to the appeal of the book to elaborate on the “dystopian” setting, which at this point seems to have been tossed in for good measure and contributes little to the Selection as a whole. Despite the fact that this book isn’t a first pick for me, I will be reading the second installment—after all—I have to find out who wins.

Review of Pure by Julianna Baggott

Grand Central
Publishing-

Pure

by Julianna Baggot

4 Scribbles

Why would anyone want to leave a perfectly safe, protected environment like "The Dome" after a nuclear detonation, especially when those who survived outside The Dome are dangerous, hungry mutants? Partridge wants to leave, but only because he believes his mother may be alive and living somewhere amongst the "Wretches" outside, and he knows he has to find her. After his escape, he meets Pressia, running for her life from the deadly OSR, a militant organization that rules the new world. Unexpectedly, the two join forces, but neither can anticipate the truths nor the treachery their partnership will uncover.

What makes this novel unique might also be its only real weakness. The Wretches who live outside the dome all have experienced scars, deformities, mutations or fusions as a result of the nuclear detonation. This is science fiction and some stretching is required, but it’s hard to imagine people with birds, dogs, rocks, and even other people fused to their bodies; it’s even harder to imagine both humans and creatures still living after such a fusion. And yet, it is that very quirky detail that adds flavor to the work and sets this novel apart from a sea of post-apocalyptic works. The author makes the reader see these creatures and this scorched earth through incredibly descriptive language. Pressia survives with a doll head fused to her hand, her grandfather has a fan fused in his throat, Pressia’s nemesis-turned-friend, Bradwell ,survives with birds "nesting" in his back, and El Capitan, the vicious and emotionally broken OSR captain, lives with his brother Helmud fused to his back. Perhaps these deformities, and the deformities of every character outside the Dome, every character who is not "Pure," add a fascinating, morbid level of interest to the novel. Told in the alternating voices of Pressia and Partridge, the story contains plenty of fighting and bloody battles along the way to satisfy even the most hard-core zombie fans, while at the same time keeping characters realistically drawn with very human weaknesses and emotions. But what really cements the story and makes it enjoyable are the clues that Pressia and Partridge uncover on their journey, unexpected clues that reveal secrets about the past neither could have ever imagined—secrets and new evidence that those who think they are safe in the Dome may be even more at risk than the Wretches outside.

Review of Unwholly by Neal Shusterman

Simon & Schuster BFYR

Unwhollyby Neal Shusterman
5 Scribbles

Everyone thought that “unwinding,” the practice of using every body part from a living teen for transplant, was a humane way to solve two problems at once. After all, The Unwind Accord ended The Heartland Wars that began years ago between the pro-life and pro-choice factions, thus saving thousands of lives and resolving the abortion conflict once and for all in the United States. At the same time, unwinding gave frustrated parents a way to deal with their troubled teens. However, the solution of unwinding isn’t nearly that simple. Now, rogue crooks capture teens (whether Unwinds or not) and sell them for parts on the black market, religious extremists tithe their children to the Harvest Camps, and thousands of AWOL Unwinds are hiding in the desert—but that’s not all. A top-secret, underground group has an even bigger plan now that unwinding is legal, and readers will be shocked when they find out just what that plan entails.

Following the action-packed, tension-filled style of book one in the trilogy, Shusterman hooks the reader and doesn’t let go until the last page. Key characters return in book two, although they are much changed. Connor has become a burdened, brooding young man with more responsibility than he ever wanted—and yet he is in a unique position to understand and guide the AWOL Unwinds under his guardianship. Lev too has grown, although he has begun to struggle spiritually, not fully understanding what his purpose in life might be.  Risa, now confined to a wheelchair, becomes more of an observer, slowly watching her relationship with Connor crumble under the weight of his leadership responsibilities. Despite the heavy character development, however, the introduction of new conflicts and players creates grand culture clashes and skirmishes the reader will scramble to keep up with.  Clever and ironic Public Service Announcements riddle the story, encouraging teens to accept and embrace the special, “divided state” and advertise that unwinding is “an adventure.” Other PSAs encourage adult unwinding, voluntary unwinding, and repealing the 17-year age restriction for Unwinds. All PSAs conclude that citizens should see “Unwinding. [As] not just good medicine, it’s the right idea.” Yet, even more disturbing than the repeated propaganda is the appearance of a new, brainwashed character, Miracolina, who wants more than anything to be unwound for God.  And finally, but perhaps most importantly, is the introduction of a new character so disturbing and chilling that Mary Shelley would be proud to claim him, a character named Camus, who wonders, —“If a human being has a soul, then where is his?”

This timely trilogy speaks to the ethical dilemmas of our generation and promises to become a staple in YA literature. Applause to the next installment in Shusterman’s disturbing vision for the future of our country.

Review of Enclave by Ann Aguirre

Feiwel & Friends

Enclave
By Ann Aguirre
4 Scribbles
With all of the dystopian novels flooding the market, it must be challenging to come up with truly unique outcomes for a post-apocalyptic world. Yet, in this novel, distinctive and separate social structures develop in the ruins depending on whether one is born above or below ground. Cleary, this is exactly what would be highly likely to happen in a country whose infrastructure and population has been decimated, yet Aguirre, to my knowledge, is the first author to tap into this unique dystopian approach of factions who are unaware of one another and who evolve separately.  This means that for Deuce and Fade, the main characters in the novel, survival in their own “Enclave” where hunting is strength, starvation is a real possibility, and the life-expectancy has dropped to the low-twenties, is easy compared to the world they face outside the Enclave. In fact, one of the strengths of the novel is the constantly changing environment fraught with dangers from sunburns to “Freaks,” zombie- like creatures starved for flesh.  There are bloody fight-scenes in nearly every chapter, and not just with the Freaks, because in this future, chaos reigns! Thus, the story moves quickly, teasing the reader with action throughout.  Notably, characters die and are injured, something that would really happen in such a future, and sometimes decisions death are made without regard for the value of human life.  Make no mistake, in this novel, the rules of humanity have changed. In fact, that change is best represented by Deuce, the narrator, whose cold view of murder and disdain for “breeders” is crystal. It’s an unusual tactic for a protagonist to be so difficult to identify with. Yet, slowly, the reader may begin to see the huntress coldness in Deuce diminish and want to watch her grow morally. What is not so crystal about the novel is the cavalier attitude that is developed towards rape. Without revealing too much, suffice it to say that I doubt that any girl who knew a boy was a rapist, or who had been a potential victim of his would later cuddle up to said rapist when such a solid, empathetic guy like Fade is available.  In fact, the inclusion of a rapist in the latter half of the book diminishes not only Deuce’s character development, but the novel’s overall value as an addition to YA literature. Perhaps the author was trying to show how value systems in society degrade without structure and easy access to basic needs—but since this novel is a YA work, that message may be lost in the cavalier view that a rapist makes for a good love interest. It is for this point that I have to give this novel 4 out of 5, not the full 5 scribbles.

Review of Blood Zero Sky by J. Gates

HCI Books

Blood Zero Sky
by J. Gates
3+ Scribbles
To be released, October 1, 2012.
May Fields never doubts that The Company is good. Thousands of Company employees have risen from poverty’s clutches, millions have embraced Christ, and innovation continues to create newer and better products for humanity. Proudly, she is part of the mechanics of The Company that makes such prosperity happen. But why then, does May long for something more? May isn’t sure--that is until she is kidnapped by an organization that wants more—but does she want what they are offering?

The narrator of the novel and protagonist, May, is very difficult to identify with. She is jaded, empty— and in case the constant reminders in the text don’t help you to remember—homosexual. Yet, her vapid nature and her vacillating values are reflective of the culture that she lives in—she is less heroine and more caricature, and her homosexuality opens the door to addressing sexuality in the eyes of the Christian church; so, in a clumsy way, her character works, so long as the reader remains open to the idea that the plot of the novel is more theme-driven than character-driven. “God, science and company policy” are intertwined in this novel, which can be somewhat jolting, especially when the narrative touches on so many issues, albeit timely ones, relevant to readers.  Whereas individual problems with society have been addressed by numerous authors before, such as implanted net-links and consumerism (M.T. Anderson, Feed), the decline of literacy (Ray Bradbury, Fahrenheit 451), discrimination (Shine by Lauren Myracle for one), and Big Brother government (1984, George Orwell), no other novel has combined all of these issues with the corruptive nature of a prosperity-based theology and tossed in gay rights to boot; perhaps such all-encompassing commentary is a bit overwhelming.

However, there is much to be admired in this work. Without a doubt, Gates nails the dystopian genre, and uses current trends to predict the direction the globe might be heading. Standing apart, each issue seems slightly disturbing, but mixed together in an ever-simmering mixture of reality stew it doesn’t seem like much of a stretch to anticipate that our world pot might soon boil over. After all, aren’t larger corporations gobbling up smaller businesses? Aren’t some Christian religions now touting prosperity and blessings as the earthly benefit of being a follower? Don’t our youth (and adults) crave the next latest “thing” that is quickly trumped by the next, slightly-improved gadget?  Aren’t the same companies that finance us, also producing the gadgets that we slave to obtain? Aren’t politics and religion, slowly merging their lines into a muddled picture, with liberals being accused of secularism and conservatives holding the keys to the kingdom?” How much farther then until church and state become married?  Thus, is it really much of a stretch to see a world where The Company displaces government?  One where Company “bystanders” allow those who have acquired too much debt to be sent off to Company work camps? Or a world where “…experts agree that debtor-workers across the globe stand to benefit greatly from what’s being called the final consolidation” (and hasn't this sort of happened before)?

Yet, despite a few quirks, this intricate weaving of apparent flaws becomes its own clever style of “propaganda”—one that might achieve the writer’s purpose—a “call to awareness” that all people should stand up and take notice of.

Review of Insurgent by Veronica Roth

Katherine Tegen Books

Insurgent

By Veronica Roth

4 Scribbles

Short of sounding like Annie Wilkes from Misery, I can honestly say that after reading Divergent, book one in the series, I became Roth’s number-one fan. For one thing, I think Roth is a plotting genius, moving characters from conflict to conflict rapidly and leaving readers salivating for the next scene and chapter. Insurgent is no different. In fact, the quick, action-packed pacing is amplified in this installment because the remaining Divergent faction (namely Tris, Tobias and followers) who were not a part of the traitorous uprising with Erudite have no home and are forced to run from faction to faction for survival. Meanwhile, they must also decide how to best defeat Erudite and their limitless supply of soldiers thanks to the simulation serums that Erudite leader, Janine, has developed. How does one fight a war with limited resources, troops, and while being on the run? It’s a story rich with political dilemmas, family conflicts, and even dissension among friends. And what’s fabulous is that book two picks up right where book one, Divergent, leaves off!

There are a few flaws to this second book, and I suspect that these flaws are due to the fact that Divergent was such an overwhelming hit (sure to equal if not trump The Hunger Games) that Roth was forced to write and edit too quickly. Roth even comments about these glaring errors in her own blog .
My number-one beef with book two, however, a beef that I hope she remedies in book three, is that the main character Tris, who was tough, stoic, a strong female character who belongs in Divergent in book one…Tris she cries all the time in book two. It is over-the-top, it is melodramatic, it is exhausting to read about. It is too much. It’s just not Tris-worthy.

That being said, the twist at the end put my mind in a tailspin, and I cannot wait for book three, but I will so that quality of book three will be as stellar as book one!

Review of Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver

HarperCollins

Pandemonium

By Lauren Oliver

5 Scribbles

Book two of the Delirium series introduces a girl who is no longer naive; Lena is tough, resilient, and stoic in the face of what she has lost. And yet Lena is slightly-broken—never having dreamed she would face her idealistic "Wilds" without Alex—the boy who infected her with the delirium. In alternating chapters entitled "Now," and "Then," the reader experiences Lena’s growth from a newly-born Invalid mourning her lost love and struggling to recover and thrive in the Wilds to a full-on member of the Resistance. Charged with her mission, to shadow the youth leader of the "Delirium Free America" organization, she moves to Manhattan and assumes a false identity. Will she survive the experience? The more fully engrained she becomes in her new life, the more she begins to wonder if the Resistance isn’t much different from the world she left. Will she be forced to evaluate her own moral code? Is it ever acceptable to sacrifice the needs of the individual in order to prosper and protect the whole? With action that builds momentum and urgency in each page, the reader is compelled to see if Lena will complete the mission she has been given by the Resistance, if she will abandon her new Invalid family, and if she will ever recover from the loss of Alex and find love again. Readers engrossed in will be equally pleased with book two and applaud the bittersweet irony of the Oliver’s clever ending. Book three, Requiem, cannot arrive soon enough!

Review of The House of the Scorpion by Nancy Farmer

Atheneum Books for Young Readers

House of the Scorpion

by Nancy Farmer

5 Scribbles

Where has this book been all my life? I hardly feel qualified to review it. Released in 2004, and winning the National Book Award, The Printz Award, the Locus Award, and a Newberry Honor Award ( and many, many others that we have no room to list here) the accolades speak for themselves, but if you want my two cents worth, here it is!

The geography is a little different in Matteo’s world. Mexico is now Aztlán, the United States is still the United States, but carved out in the middle is a new country named Opium. Opium is the brain child of a man called "El Patron," the dictator of Opium who now controls the growth and export of opium to its neighbors. Geography isn’t the only thing different in this future—Matt is not a regular boy, he’s a clone. Clones are no better than animals in this world, and because of this, once he is discovered, Matt is hated and abused by nearly all who meet him with the exception of El Patron, who dotes on Matt and protects him at the huge Alacrán mansion. What Matt doesn’t know is that El Patron, who is 140+ years old, has a hidden motive for his actions. And it doesn’t take long for Matt to realize that his life is no more valuable to El Patron than the brain-dead "eejits" who harvest the poppies. Farmer’s dystopian novel, ahead of the curve of so many of the sci-fi dystopian works now flooding the market, is written in such simple prose that younger and older readers will enjoy it. Her incorporation of themes that are still timely eight years after publication—medical ethics, immigration, homelessness, and government— are seamlessly written into the story in a way that forces the reader to understand how current technologies, while useful in solving many problems, may not be ethical in practice. Best of all are her amazingly drawn characters. Celia, Matt’s beloved nanny and surrogate mother, comes to life with her pet names, sweet whispers of affection, and fattening comfort food. No reader will leave this book without wishing Celia would wrap them in her arms and murmur, "mijo," or "mi vida." Tough, but wise and fair, Tam Lin is another character whose Irish lilt jumps off the page, and makes the reader stand up straighter. Best of all, the villains in the book are not exaggerated, their behavior is chilling, but not unbelievable in the world of the future or the world today. The action in the book is non-stop and the conclusion is bittersweet. My only disappointment is that Farmer is only now writing another installment.

Review of Crossed by Ally Condie

Dutton Juvenile

Crossed

by Allie Condie

3 + Scribbles

The tone of Crossed, the second book in the Matched trilogy, is heavily influenced by the raw setting of a barren, abandoned land, where both Ky and Cassia find themselves. The author resists the urge to build tension by forcing the protagonists to circle around one another, instead allowing them to meet towards the beginning of the action, and then ironically moving them towards differing goals. Told in the alternating voices of Ky and Cassia, it quickly becomes clear that Ky has secrets, and these secrets may prevent him from a future with Cassia. Xander, who appears little in the novel, but is spotlighted throughout via secret messages hidden on tiny slips of paper, also has secrets. The reader cannot help but notice that what was obvious in book one, that Ky and Cassia are meant to be together, becomes less of a certainty in this installment. In the second half of the novel the prose leans towards the poetic, and at times slows the action tremendously; less devoted readers might struggle to stick with the story. However, new characters will hold the attention of devoted fans and add depth to the trilogy. Finally, a surprise ending encourages the reader to question if Cassia understands that the Rising she has always dreamed of may not be the utopia she hopes for.

Review of Divergent by Veronica Roth

Katherine Tegen Books

Divergent
by Veronica Roth
5 Scribbles!

Most of us look forward to turning sixteen so that we can get a driver’s license. Not so in Beatrice’s world—the world of the future. In this world, sixteen-year-olds choose one of five factions to pledge to. Beatrice’s family is a part of the Abnegation, or a selfless faction of people. The other factions include the "Erudite" scholars, the "Dauntless" warriors, the "Amity" peacemakers, and the "Candor," or brutally honest people. After a rigorous "hazing" of sorts, these freshly pledged teens will be accepted into their chosen faction and forever turn their backs on the past. Will Beatrice choose to be a part of her family’s faction, or will she risk breaking the hearts of her parents by "de-pledging" from Abnigation? Worse, will she be accepted by the faction she chooses or be rejected and end up homeless, poor, starving and factionless? Not only is Divergent a fresh spin on the recently overworked dystopian novel, but the action plows forward with super-sonic speed. It is impossible not to identify with Beatrice, aka, Tris, who has the same concerns that all teens, and indeed all humans have. Beatrice often wonders how others see her, if she fits in, if she is strong enough, smart enough, and if she can measure up to the standards that others set for her. It is her character that draws the reader in—from her plain appearance to her truly believable personality. While she is often kind and generous (like when she takes the place of a friend who is in a frightening situation), she isn’t forgiving of those who wrong her just because she was brought up to be selfless. It is just those realistic qualities that make the reader fall in love with Beatrice and embrace her as a friend. Couple the strong characters with the dizzying action that plays out on every page, and you have a work of sci-fi that rivals the recent smash trilogy The Hunger Games. I have no doubt that this gem is destined to end up on the big screen. My only regret is that Insurgent, book two, is not out yet (released May 2012). Sigh—how can I possibly wait this long?

The Author

Veronica Roth is a mere 22 years old—and while I shouldn’t marvel that her first book should be such a hit because that discounts all of those young and amazing authors out there—I am marveling. Her work rivals some of my favorite sci-fi authors like Suzanne Collins, Scott Westerfeld, and James Dashner. I am so glad Ms. Roth has a long writing career ahead. I, for one, plan on following it.

Review of Delirium by Lauren Oliver



Harper Collins

Delirium

by Lauren Oliver

5 Scribbles

In the United States of the future, our government has found that love—not hate, not intolerance or violence, not money—no, love, a.k.a amor deliria nervosa, is the cause of all evil. Without love there is no war, no suffering, no grieving, no longing or pain. How many of us have loved another and felt the glorious torture of rejection, or of that intense need for another fulfilled, or the sting of love lost to another person, some circumstance, or even lost to death? If only there existed a cure to prevent such tragedy from being a part of life. Fortunately, for Lena and the citizens of the future, the cure for love has been found; however, Lena must wait to safely receive the cure until she turns eighteen, just like everyone else.

Lena’s character, tender, naive, flawed, and real, brings home the desire of most teens to be happy and to "fit in." Lena looks forward to the day when she will receive the cure and not have to worry about being an "invalid" like her mother who was driven to suicide by the deliria. Then, mere months before her procedure, she meets a cured who seems different from the other cureds she has known. Alex—funny, sincere, interesting, and harmless because he is cured—captures her interest. As Lena learns more about him, and her cure date looms closer, she realizes that her understanding of the system and the world that she lives in is far from accurate. Her future, once settled and safe, now looms uncertainly before her.

One of the most unique works of science fiction today, Delirium feels frighteningly real. Readers will marvel at the simple, yet heretofore unrevealed, idea that love—a concept human beings have previously embraced as one of the great joys of life—love is the cause of all that is wrong on the planet.



Review of Ashes by Ilsa J. Bick

Edgmont USA

Ashes
by Ilsa J. Bick
4 Scribbles
The novel is a successful marriage of recent apocalyptic-style novels like Life as We Knew It with Night of the Living Dead. Alex has run away from a terminal brain tumor to the wilderness where she plans to scatter the ashes of her beloved parents before she joins them in death. Skilled at hiking and survival, she embarks on a journey alone. She isn’t alone for long, however, when she encounters other travelers, a sudden excruciating burst of sound, and tragic events that change the entire course of her life. These events, however ironically, may have given her a new chance at prolonged living—that is if she can survive the present. The novel’s plot plows forward through increasing treacherous shortages of food and water, along with dangerous creatures that seem part human, part zombie the likes of which Alex and her new companions never imagined. What begins as a survival story cleverly mutates into a story about new families, new societies, and the sometimes twisted behaviors of those who believe they can form a utopia. Flawed, sometimes irritating characters you hate to love, overwhelming challenges on every corner, and a twist that will leave you begging for a book two, it’s a novel the reader will devour, even if it’s not an entirely new concept.