History Book

Title: Divergent
Author: Veronica Roth

Synopsis:In a future Chicago, 16-year-old Beatrice Prior must choose among five predetermined factions to define her identity for the rest of her life, a decision made more difficult when she discovers that she is an anomaly who does not fit into any one group, and that the society she lives in is not perfect after all.

Review: Holy hell do I ever love this book! The character development, the setting, the pace - it’s all perfect. In this novel emerges another strong heroine: Tris Prior. She’s not built to be a reckless fighting machine; she’s just a sixteen year old girl who has no idea what she’s getting herself into, yet she refuses to admit defeat even in the toughest situations. There’s also Four, the male protagonist who makes me want to cry because I will never be able to find a boy like him in real life. He doesn’t show her any sympathy because she is small and frail. Rather, he pushes her to the limits of her endurance because he knows she is strong-willed and both physically and mentally capable. That’s how he always holds her: tightly, knowing that she wouldn’t break. Although I love reading about Tris and Four’s relationship, you should know that this is not a romantic novel in any way. The most interesting part of the novel, in my opinion at least, is the different functions of each faction, what their purpose is, and how their purpose is achieved. I loved reading about the quirks of each faction: what they do for fun, how they celebrate, what type of food they eat, etc. The entire novel is refreshing and action packed. The events unfold in a way that grab your attention and demand you to keep your eyes glued to the pages. 

Title: Insurgent
Author: Veronica Roth

Synopsis: One choice can transform you—or it can destroy you. But every choice has consequences, and as unrest surges in the factions all around her, Tris Prior must continue trying to save those she loves—and herself—while grappling with haunting questions of grief and forgiveness, identity and loyalty, politics and love.

Review: Insurgent picks up right where Divergent left off with just as much action and suspense. The conspiracies, and the conspiracies within conspiracies drive you to dwell further and further into the book in order to find out who can be trusted, who can’t, who has good intentions, who wants to destroy everything that is good, and who is an outright liar. The pacing for this book is very well thought out. Although it is a whopping 500 pages long, it really doesn’t seem like it. The pages practically turn themselves. In every chapter, you learn more and more about Tris’s crumbling world. I also really like how real the characters and their relationships are. For a good portion of the book, Tris is overcome with grief and guilt because of her actions in Divergent. Her emotions lead her to a downward spiral in which she decides she no longer wants to live because she can’t bear to have the constant reminder of death crushing down on her. Because of this, she enters a rocky stage with Four, who is trying desperately to protect her from herself. They argue, they lie, they kiss, they talk, and then they argue some more. Their love for each other is unmistakable, but still, every relationship has its ups and downs. They both have strong personalities. They both want to protect each other. Very often, they clash, and they struggle, and this all makes their relationship all the more realistic and believable. All in all, Insurgent is a brilliant sequel to Divergent. 

Stargirl and Love, Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli.

Jerry Spinelli has captured magic in a single word (or should I say person): Stargirl. These two books possess a certain kind of charm that drew me in and never really let me go. I was, similarly to Leo, fascinated by this girl who was so outwardly different in a sea of people who were awash with the determination to conform to the norm. She played the ukulele in the cafetaria, she sang happy birthday to strangers, she dressed differently, and she was named Stargirl. Throughout the course of both novels, I feel in love. As I turned the last page of each book, I found myself tearing up, even though the novels weren’t sad. Jerry Spinelli’s writing is elegant, charming, and captivating. I wish I picked this book up the countless times I walked past it in my elementary, middle, and high school libraries.