If you are anxiously awaiting, or have already started reading Veronica Roth's Insurgent, the second book in the Divergent trilogy that hit bookshelves yesterday, then you may want to head over to Roth's blog by clicking here, or following the link below:
http://veronicarothbooks.blogspot.com/2012/04/but-i-read-divergent-year-ago-your.html
Last week, Veronica Roth posted that she made an "artistic decision" to not do a lot of recapping in Insurgent. So if you are like me and you read Divergent a year ago, you'll want to read Roth's post where she recaps all the important things you need to know from Divergent when reading Insurgent.
Also, click on the book covers below to find Divergent and Insurgent at the Library!
posted by Colleen, Teen Services Librarian
by Gabrielle Zevin
Anya Balanchine lives in New York City in 2083. In this future New York City, things like chocolate, coffee, and caffeine are illegal. Water is running out and clothes are being handed down through the generations because production of new clothing has ceased. This New York City is run by a government who outlaws many things that our commonplace today, but things like chocolate are still available if you know the right people. Anya is one of those people. She is the daughter of a black-market chocolate crime boss, and her family is what we would consider the mafia. Anya's father, however, was gunned down when she was a child and as far as she's concerned she wants no part in the family business. Anya will take the perks, though, that come along with being the prominent daughter in one of the most notorious chocolate mafia families. However, these perks come with a price when she gives her ex-boyfriend chocolate that almost kills him. Someone is lacing Anya’s family chocolate with poison and Anya takes the fall. When she finds out what is really happening, Anya has to take steps to make things right which means getting involved in the family business after all.
All These Things I’ve Done is an interesting read. This future NYC is a different kind of dystopian that we’ve been seeing in other books. Zevin has created a world where each thing that is illegal plays such an important role to Anya’s story, even though this world is close to our, this is what makes this novel so interesting. I really liked getting to know Anya’s world better, as much as I liked getting to know Anya herself. She is a really likable character who you want to see take on her enemies and win, but you also hope that she can stay out of the family business and just be a normal teen. The supporting characters in this book are just as important to the story, and you really get a sense of how vital family and friends are in this future world. If you are a fan of dystopian books, like The Hunger Games, but want a world that is not as violent or so different from our own world then pick up Gabrielle Zevin’s All These Things I’ve Done. It has all the things you could want out of a good read: action, crime, the mafia, a mystery, and even some romance thrown into the mix!
posted by Colleen, Teen Services Librarian
Join us tomorrow, March 23 at 4 p.m. for a book discussion of The Hunger Games!
The movie hits the theater on Friday, and we are going to celebrate by revisiting the book, The Hunger Games. Come discuss your thoughts on this first title in Suzanne Collins’ trilogy. What kind of people would dream up this type of entertainment? What do you think is the cruelest part of the Hunger Games? Could this ultimately be the direction reality TV is headed? What do you think? Enjoy some snacks while you discuss these ideas and more.
For teens in grades 6 - 12. Click here to register for the program!
posted by Colleen, Teen Services Librarian
Then click here to head over to EW's Shelf Life blog to read an interview where Ally Condie answers questions about the trilogy, including an update on a movie adaptation! Also, they reveal the cover for book 3:
posted by Colleen, Teen Services Librarian
Legend is a book that had a lot of hype surrounding it. So when I sat down to read I wondered if it would live up to all of the hype. Legend wasn’t legendary, but it was pretty good and it stands apart from other dystopian( books similar to The Hunger Games) novels that have come out in the past year. What makes Legend stand out? First - there's the font - it's gold- I thought that was really cool. I’ve read a LOT of books and none of them so far have had gold colored font. The chapters written from Day's perspective, the notorious teen criminal on the run from the Republic, are in gold. Then the chapters written by June, the genius future star of the Republic's security force, are in black. Another great element is the action in the book. Right from the beginning you're pulled into one of Day's daring missions to try and help his family. This mission goes terribly wrong when one of the Republic's security guards tries to stop Day and ends up losing his life. What makes matter worse is that it security guard was also June's brother. A brother, who was like a father to her, since their parents died a few years back. June is assigned to track down Day and bring him to justice for killing her brother. But once June and Day meet face to face it turns out perhaps avenging her brother's death isn't the real answer to her or the Republic's problems.
If you're interested in learning more about the author of Legend, Marie Lu, and her writing process check out Colleen's post here!
Reviewed by Renee, Teen Outreach Librarian
Last Updated On December 8, 2008
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