Xenocide by Orson Scott Card

Book Title: Xenocide
Author: Orson Scott Card
Book Series: Ender's Saga (book 3 of 9 total works)
Reading Level: Young Adult (YA) (but it felt like an adult book to me)
My Rating: 3/5 Stars
Content Rating: PG-13 for some language and mature themes
Tidbit: When humans feel threatened by the happenings on the faraway planet of Lusitania, they send a device to destroy the whole planet and all species on it.  Andrew "Ender Wiggins" and others on Lusitania must find a way to prevent this xenocide.

On the planet of Lusitania, a human colony has begun to build. They discovered a sentient species there, one with whom they also eventually discovered they could communicate and come to understand. This species is called the pequeninos, because they are small pig-like animals. The survival of the pequenino species depends on a virus the humans call the descolada. While it is vital for the pequeninos to live and reproduce, it's detrimental to humans. The only way the humans have survived being infected by the virus is by consuming food with antivirals in it daily. But the virus is smart and adapts quickly. It's only a matter of time before the virus can mutate faster than the humans can create a new antidote. As such, the humans in the Starways Congress have decided to destroy Lusitania to protect the rest of humanity from the descolada. A fleet has been dispatched with a device that will wipe out the planet and every living creature on it. Now those on Lusitania, humans and pequeninos alike with some help from the Buggers, the species which Ender almost annihilated 3000 years previously, must race against time to find a way to destroy the descolada without destroying the pequeninos AND prove that the Starways Congress has been responsible for it all.

This book is very philosophical. Which I should have known after reading book 2. That's not a bad thing. It just requires more thought than I was ready to give it. So many things to think about regarding relationships and science, and I think there are a lot of religious overtones as well. The author has a gift for creating a very complex story. The details are phenomenal. And there's some convoluted kind of stuff. Like I couldn't even begin to describe it all here because it's kind of crazy.

Now to decide if I should read the 4th in the series (according to publication date)... if I do, it won't be any time soon. My brain is tired.

Defy the Night by Brigid Kemmerer

 

Book: Defy the Night
Author: Brigid Kemmerer
Audiobook Performers: Christopher Ragland and Lexie McDougal
Series: Defy the Night (Book 1 of 2 currently announced/published)
Reading Level: Young Adult
My Rating: 4/5 Stars
Content Rating: PG-13 for some language, steamy scenes, violence
Tidbit: In the Kingdom of Kandala, a sickness rages.  Tessa, an apprentice apothecary, tries to help the poorer people get the medicine they need amidst political turmoil.
Quote: "I keep my eyes fixed ahead, on the flickering torches of the arch, watching how embers fall in tiny bursts, defying the night before burning out in the water below."

Tessa is an apothecary's apprentice in The Wilds. Though officially she makes tinctures and salves for skin conditions and other such minor maladies; in her off time, she and her friend Wes are smuggling an elixir made from stolen moon flower petals to the less affluent people of Kandala so they can survive while a sickness rages. Ever since watching her parents die at the hand of the night patrol, she's loathed King Harriston and Prince Corrick, the King's Justice. 

Meanwhile, in the palace, King Harriston and Prince Corrick have problems of their own. With moon flowers not in abundant supply, they rely heavily on certain areas of the kingdom to provide the life-saving petals. Smugglers are starting to attack the supply trains, and the King and his Justice will have to make examples of any who are caught to send a message. 

This YA fantasy is well-done, and I enjoyed it. I generally love books with dual perspectives, and this one did not disappoint. I listened to the audio, which was read by two people. I'm not going to lie: when Christopher Ragland was reading the dialogue for Tessa, I kind of cringed and had a hard time taking it seriously. In that respect, I think I would have enjoyed the hard copy more. But the story itself was good and engaging. I'll definitely read the next one (the cover has been revealed for it, so I'm guessing it'll be out soon-ish). 

There is some language, a steam level below Twilight (and though the romance aspect definitely plays a part in the story, there's much more to the story than that), and some pretty descriptive violence for a YA (in my opinion), but far less than in the Ember in the Ashes series (which is a series I loved).

Pony -- R.J. Palacio

 

Book: Pony
Author: R.J. Palacio 
My star-rating: 4.25/5
Content Rating: PG-13 (mainly for violence and some more mature themes)

"The connections that bind us are astounding, as I've noted. The invisible threads weave in and around us, and tug at us in places and at times that we may not ever see, or that only make sense over time." 

When 12 year old Silas Bird watches his father ride off into the night, a captive of armed men, he doesn't fully realize he's about to leave his childhood behind. But he senses his father needs him, so he determines face his fears and go after his father, though doing so is a direct violation of what what his father has told him to do. So Silas sets off, with a white-faced horse he names Pony, and Mittenwool, a ghost only Silas can see, to rescue his father. What he finds along the way will teach him about his past and the connections which bind us to each other.

I really liked this story! I found it very engaging and beautifully written. The end definitely got my emotions swelling. The characters are rich, and I loved the spiritual aspect of the book that came with Silas's unique abilities. The book takes place in 1860 in the frontier regions, and that setting is so perfect for this novel.

There were some more gruesome and violent events and depictions in the book and some more mature themes, so I'd probably recommend this for 13 and up, based on my own readers.

Hatchet by Gary Paulsen

 Book Title: Hatchet
Author: Gary Paulsen
Book Series: Brian's Saga (book 1)
Reading Level: middle-grade to Young Adult
My Content Rating: PG (recommend for more mature readers)
My Star Rating: 4/5 stars
Tidbit: Coming of age survival story geared toward upper-middle grade and younger YA readers.

I've seen this book around a lot over the years. Since my very first job was in the Children's Room of a public library, and then I continued in the library world for years after that, I probably shelved it a time or two. But until now, I'd never read it. I didn't even know what it was about, but it won a Newbery Honor award, so I figured it had to have some value to it.

Turns out it's a survival story.  And it was quite a ride! Brian Robeson is on his way to spend the summer with his dad for the first time following his parents' divorce. Brian is still trying to come to terms with all that has happened, including the secret he knows led to the divorce.  In the middle of the flight, which he alone shared with the pilot, somewhere over Canada, the pilot has a heart attack, and the plane goes down. Miraculously, Brian survives the crash, but can be survive in the wild alone until help arrives? 

I'm not going to lie, this book felt pretty stressful for me. I listened to it on audio, and the added musical aspects certainly added to the suspense and anxiety of the book for me. The reader, Peter Coyote, did a great job, and there were times I thought he reminded me of Tom Hanks (who I listened to reading The Dutch House by Anne Patchett last month, and I'll eventually get around to reviewing here).  Hatchet is a well-crafted novel, and I was very interested to know how it would end. It was also to awesome to watch the character growth. 

I don't feel like there are any major content concerns (though the secret is mature in nature). I would recommend for older middle-grade and YA. But that's based on my own readers. This book would freak my kids out at their current ages.

Deenie -- Judy Blume

Middle school is an awkward time for most teenage girls. But Deenie isn't a typical teenage girl. She is gorgeous. In fact, her mom wants her to be a model and fully believes Deenie has the face to make it happen. These things make Deenie very sure of superiority when it comes to physical attributes, and Deenie isn't particularly kind to her peers who are different. She steers clear of a classmate with what she calls the "creeping crud" and avoids her neighbor who is handicapped. She knows she'd just die if she was like them.

...Until she discovers that she has scoliosis. And that the only way to help her spine is to wear a brace. Mortified, Deenie tries to find a way to escape the hideousness of it all. But there is no other way. And so Deenie must look inside herself to find strength, and look into the hearts of others to find their true beauty. And she may just end up not being a model after all...


***This was on my to-read list because it's one of those well-known pre-teen/teen novels, but I'd never read it. I can totally see the appeal to a 5th to 8th grade girl. Some of the things written are things I can imagine having written in my journal at that age. It was a tolerable read for me as an adult, too, although there were some aspects of the novel with which I don't agree.

The Family Romanov: Murder, Rebellion, and the Fall of Imperial Russia -- Candace Fleming

The Romanov family ruled in Russia for 300 years. But in the early 20th Century, their reign ended with the abdication of Tsar Nicholas II, a man ill-suited (and uninterested) in being the Emperor of Russia; but who initially accepted his responsibility as heir to the throne willingly. Living the lavish lifestyle of royalty, the Romanov family was quite detached from the conditions of the people of Russia -- and they didn't even seem to care. And so was set in motion a series of events that would bring down Imperial Russia and result in the murders of the Tsar and his family and creating a mystery that lasted almost a century.


***I didn't know anything about Russian history before reading this. I learned A LOT. Most notably that the cartoon "Anastasia" was very historically inaccurate. (Haha.) I was appalled by a lot of what I learned. Initially, I felt sorry for Nicholas, who was never taught how to rule by his iron-fisted father; and who was ridiculed by that same father for being "too weak." But as I continued reading and learned of how he behaved with future events (particularly with regards to Rasputin, who was a completely distasteful person), my sympathy for him waned. Not that I agree with how things played out: the murders of the entire family. But I could definitely understand why the Russian people revolted as they did and can't help but wonder how different things would have been if Nicholas would have been a wiser ruler. Overall a good read and an opportunity for me to learn more about some world history to which I was quite oblivious.

The Adoration of Jenna Fox --

When 17-year old Jenna Fox awakens from her 18-month coma, her memory is broken. She can't remember so much of her past, and it disturbs her. What she knows is that she no longer lives in Boston, but now resides with her mother, grandmother, and sometimes her father, in California. She knows she doesn't have friends now. She knows she was in an accident, but she cannot speak of it. And with the help of the videos of Jenna's pre-accident life, which her parents encourage her to watch, Jenna comes to know how very adored she was.

And her memories start to return. Memories she shouldn't be able to remember -- like the time she almost drowned as a toddler, or when she was baptized as an infant. As more memories surface, Jenna starts to realize she is a different Jenna than she was before. Different in ways that aren't legal. Different in ways that may even be highly unethical. But she's still Jenna Fox, right?

Burdened with her newly discovered secrets and all the new questions those secrets raise, Jenna tries to figure out who she is now. A monster? A human? A soul? And what will she do if someone finds out her secret?


***This was an interesting read, particularly in light of today's focus on genetically modified foods and what technology can allow us to do medically. Definitely had me thinking about things. I can't say it was a page-turner, but definitely a worthwhile read.

Saving CeeCee Honeycutt -- Beth Hoffman

At the tender of age of 12, Cecelia Rose Honeycutt has already experienced more life than some adults. She has no friends in her town in Ohio; and, in fact, is either pitied or teased by the majority of the town. This is through no fault of her own. It is because her mother has lost her mind, and the whole town knows it. While her mother parades around town in a variety of ill-fitting pageant and prom dresses mentally living in 1951, Cecelia (better known as Cee Cee) hangs her head in embarrassment and horror. And because Cee Cee's father is never around -- he's a traveling salesman who checked out on the family situation long ago -- it falls to Cee Cee to care for her mother when she has an episode.

Sad, frustrated, and alone, Cee Cee wishes many times her life was different. And then one day, it is. Because one day, in a tragic accident, Cee Cee's mother dies. In swoops Cee Cee's great-aunt Tootie, whom Cee Cee met only once, as an infant. With the permission of Cee Cee's father, Aunt Tootie takes Cee Cee to live with her in Savannah and Cee Cee's life changes forever. In Savannah, Cee Cee meets strong woman of many varieties and backgrounds. She learns and grows; and, perhaps most importantly, she is allowed to be a child. She experiences love and kindness and even a few shockingly hilarious situations. And through this new environment, she is able to work through her struggles with the past and the demons she battles within.


***This was a cute read. There were a few areas I felt were unrealistic, and I am a bit disappointed that nearly every male character who actually played a part in the novel is portrayed in a negative light (with the exception of Aunt Tootie's husband, but he isn't actually in the novel, as he has passed away). I'm not saying women aren't great... But men aren't all jerks, yet that's how they all come across in this novel, at least in my opinion.

The People of Sparks -- Jeanne DuPrau

Once Lina and Doon find a way out of the dying City of Ember, they are able to get a message back to their people, the Emberites. With instructions on how to leave the city and hope in their hearts, the Emberites pack up some food and a few belongings and trek out of their underground city. They meet up with Lina and Doon, and as a group of over 400, travel a road in hopes they will find a safe haven.

What they find is the city called Sparks, a small city of just over 300 which is just barely starting to prosper. Hesitantly, the leaders of Sparks agree to take in the Emberites temporarily. The townspeople are to teach the Emberites how to do a variety of tasks and provide them with food; but in 6 months, the Emberites will be turned out to make their own town, for the people of Sparks fear their humble supplies cannot sustain everyone permanently.

Initially, things go along well enough. But in time, resentments rise and fear grows. And the people living in the City of Sparks -- all of them -- begin repeating history without really realizing it at first. Will they realize it in time to fix it and avoid the tragedies of the past?


***This is a cute series. It's written for young teens, even pre-teens, so a lot of it is "obvious." But I really like the way the author addresses these issues in a way that will make sense to those growing and learning at that age. The issues are important ones: hate, revenge, war, forgiveness, selflessness. I think the story was wonderfully written and it was a good read, even for an adult.

The Fault in Our Stars -- John Green

Dying of cancer sucks. That's pretty much how Hazel Grace Lancaster feels about it. But she is dying of cancer, and she'd just as soon live out the remainder of her life the way she wants to: at home, reading the same book over and over, and watching TV with her parents. Her mother, though, wants Hazel to "have a life." And so, to appease her ever-hovering and loving mother, Hazel agrees to attend a cancer support group at a local church. And that's where she meets Augustus Waters, a cancer survivor with a charismatic smile and intriguing personality. Hazel never thought she'd be particularly interested in romance, given her own situation. But Augustus Waters changes all that the day he stares at her through support group.

As Hazel and Augustus' relationship develops, even as Hazel tries to prevent it, for she sees herself as a grenade who will explode and destroy the people close to her, they experience moments of a lifetime. They create their own infinity in a finite number of days. And Hazel comes to learn the power of love and to realize we can avoid oblivion.


***I thought this was a powerful and beautiful novel. The author has an amazing way with words and expresses some very deep and beautiful things through the characters in this novel. My only regret is I watched the movie first. One of my favorite quotes: "Love is keeping the promise anyway."

Dear Enemy -- Jean Webster

In this sequel to Daddy-Long-Legs, Sallie McBride, college friend of Jerusha (Judy) Abbot, has been requested to become the new superintendent of the John Grier House, the orphanage in which Judy was raised. Though Sallie initially balks at the idea, she eventually decides to try out the position when her beau laughingly tells her she couldn't handle the position. Sallie is nothing if not up to a challenge!

And so Sallie McBride finds herself the superintendent of the orphanage, with charge over 113 children who range in age from babies to 16 years old. With the assistance of money provided by Judy and her husband Jervis (Daddy-Long-Legs), Sallie undertakes to make many improvements at the orphanage, using the stories Judy once shared as a basis for ways to make the home a happier and healthier place for the children who reside there. Also there to assist is Dr. Robin MacRae, the Scotch doctor who rubs her the wrong way from day one -- but whom Judy and Jervis feel sure she would take an instant liking to.

Sallie's intentions are for the position to be temporary. For she is a young woman with a politician beau in Washington, D.C. who is used to the finer things in life and a life of ease. But little by little she finds purpose in her position and the little children wiggle their ways into her heart, making it hard for her to consider leaving. And then there's the doctor...


***Another witty, cute book by Jean Webster. Loved this! Moments of chuckling, just as in Daddy-Long-Legs. Definitely worth the read and look forward to sharing it with my children in the years ahead!

Crazy in Love -- Dandi Daley Mackall

Mary Jane (aka Plain Jane... aka MJ) is a senior in high school. And she has a massive crush on Jackson House. But Jackson has a girlfriend, even though he HAS been flirting with Mary Jane. And his girlfriend just happens to be in Mary Jane's group of friends. So when rumors start flying about Mary Jane and Jackson... Well, things turn ugly. Her friends can't believe Mary Jane would betray a friend like that. But the truth is: nothing has happened! No matter, rumors fly fast. And soon Mary Jane's reputation is on the line.

As if high school life wasn't complicated enough. Mary Jane is already dealing with her best friend being away at college, her boss at the Twisted Pretzel being a big pain, and her "rents." And let's not even get started on how confused she is about love and everything else in the romance-world. While Mary Jane battles all the outside fiascoes of teenage life, there is a battle going on inside as well: the battle between Plain Jane and MJ, her two alter-egos with totally opposing viewpoints on sex and Jackson House. Because even IF Jackson did like Mary Jane, what would that mean? She'd promised to wait until she was married to have sex. She'd made a pact with her two best friends (both of whom are now away at college). She decides it's all a moot point anyway... Until things DO start changing with Jackson. And now Mary Jane must decide what she wants for her future and who she really is.


***I liked this book for a few reasons. I'd probably give it a little over 3 stars. The story, set in high school, was a little immature seeming most of the time. But that could be that my 34-year old self can't really relate to the high school angst anymore. But there were quite a few messages I appreciated in this book. Like how Mary Jane's best friend Alicia reasoned remaining abstinent until marriage: "Sometimes I feel like there's not so much of me to give, so I better save it for the man I want to marry. Like, I don't want to leave pieces of me all over the place... Plus, who wants to be married to this perfectly great guy but still be thinking about the super sex you had with some loser in high school?" I felt like there was a lot of depth in that. I also like that there wasn't a bunch of bad language in the book. That actually surprised me, and I liked it a lot!

The Maze Runner -- James Dashner

When Thomas wakes up alone in a lift, almost the only thing he can remember is his own name. Thirty minutes later, when the doors of the lift open, he is surrounded by a large group of boys -- teenagers -- none of whom he recognizes. And he soon learns he is in a place called The Glade: the only safe place in The Maze. The more Thomas learns, the more disturbing his reality is. The Maze seems to have no exit. And it harbors horrifying creatures which are only too happy to kill anyone out in The Maze at night.

But after only one day in his new "home," things start changing. And little by little, Thomas begins to have feelings of familiarity about certain aspects of The Maze. While he cannot remember the details of his past, he senses a deeper connection with The Maze and the only girl there, who has suddenly shown up with the frightening message: that after two years of sameness, things are going to change.

Soon Thomas earns the right to be a Maze Runner. He hopes to help the Gladers find a way to solve the maze and return them all to the life they used to know. But some don't want to go back. Some have had memories of what they left behind in their old lives, and they would rather stay in The Maze. Some even seem to have memories of Thomas; memories that cause distrust.

But time is running out. The Ending has been triggered. And, like it or not, all Gladers will have to make a choice.

This was a good read. I didn't want to stop reading. There were some "eh" parts, and sometimes it felt a little rushed -- as though everything happened too quickly. But the story kept me going and I wanted to know what would happen next.

If I Stay - Gayle Forman

On a snow-dusted morning, Mia and her family pile into the family car and head to visit relatives. But they never arrive there. Instead, Mia sees the horrors of a car accident that left her parents dead and her younger brother Teddy in a hospital. Mia can't believe she wasn't harmed in the accident that killed her parents... Until she finds her own body and realizes she was. And she is seeing everything from outside herself.

While in the hospital, Mia comes to realizes she is still here because she gets to choose if she stays. And so Mia spends the following 24 hours remembering, pondering, and deciding. Does she stay with the friends, boyfriend, and hopes of the future (Julliard, graduation, possibly marriage one day)? Or does she let go and join her family, for before long, she learns she's even lost her little brother.

Only Mia can choose. And the choice is not an easy one.


***So this was a quick read. I just didn't like it. I didn't care for a lot of the behaviors condoned in the novel and felt irritated by a lot of it. I don't plan on reading the sequel.

Allegiant -- Veronica Roth

Now that the factions have fallen and the truth about their society has been made known, a small group, including Tris and Tobias, seeks to fulfill the wishes of the originators of the experiment.  This group calls themselves the Allegiant.  And their plan is to defy the leadership of Evelyn Johnson and leave the city, hoping to help those on the outside as they have learned they were meant to do.

Though the plan is successful, and Tris, Tobias, and several others make it outside of the city, what they face turns their world upside down again.  They enter a world of "Genetically Pure" and "Genetically Damaged."  They learn about air travel and other modern things which had been hidden from them in the city.  And they find that they still don't know where the truth lies.  Being in the "real world" forces them to face new life-altering decisions -- and make decisions on behalf of those they left behind.


**Eh...  It was okay.  I mean, I committed to reading it when I continued the series.  But definitely not as fantastic a read.  Which is why it took so long for me to get through it.  I will say I liked some of the "morals" the main characters offer the reader toward the end of the book.  But there are also a lot of other subtle things I didn't like.  So, I'm glad I'm done with it and can move on to something else.  I may or may not read the new one:  FOUR.  Depends on how desperate I am for a book at the time.  But I feel no tie to it.

Speaker For the Dead -- Orson Scott Card

For most of the human race, it has been 3000 years since the Bugger Wars. 3000 years since Ender Wiggin became notorious for the xenocide of the Buggers. But for Ender Wiggin and his sister Valentine, who have spent the intervening years between his worst nightmare and the present day traveling from planet to planet at speeds near the speed of light, it has only been a couple of decades. Everyone believes -- no, knows -- that Ender is dead. And Ender is happy to leave them in ignorant bliss. His name has become profane, and feeling the guilt of his actions and their result, Ender accepts the burden of his infamy as well-deserved. In time, he authors the story of the Buggers, revealing to the humans the real intentions of that alien species. And humans come to understand the horrors enacted by the human race. To prevent the same events from ever occurring again, the Starways Congress enacts laws governing interactions between humans and any other intelligent life they may find on distant planets. Strict rules which, when broken, are a sign of absolute rebellion.

And so it is that, when intelligent life is discovered on the planet of Lusitania, the humans colonizing the planet are allowed to send only their xenologer outside their colony gates, who studies the species -- a pig-like species many thousand of years behind humans technologically, without asking many questions and without sharing any human knowledge. When one of the xenologers dies at the hands of the piggies, the humans begin to fear. When a second one dies, the fear begins to turn to terror. And someone on Lusitania calls for a Speaker for the Dead -- to speak the death of the first killed xenologer. The nearest Speaker is none other than Ender Wiggin, the original speaker. His arrival on Lusitania (two weeks later for him, 22 years later for Lusitanians), stirs up secrets for humans and piggies alike. And soon, nothing will ever be the same.

**An excellent read. I was very enthralled.         

The Shade of the Moon -- Susan Beth Pfeffer

It has been 2 years since the Evans family left their home in Pennsylvania and headed for the enclave in Sexton, Tennessee. Much has changed in those 2 years for the family. Matt and his wife Syl moved out on their own and Matt became a courier. Miranda married Alex Morales and became pregnant. Jon moved in with his step-mother Lisa and his 3 year-old half brother, using Alex's slips to permit them entrance into the enclave where food was as plentiful as the privileges they enjoyed. Their father died on the journey to Sexton, and their mother lives in White Birch, just outside of Sexton, with Alex and Miranda, working at a school teaching "grub" children -- those not fortunate enough to be "useful" outside of doing grub work for the more fortunate "clavers."

Two years of living a life of privilege, even when most of his family isn't, gives Jon a sense of entitlement. He sees nothing wrong with the way he lives: the abundance when those around him hunger and live in ignorance; the ability to satiate all his physical desires anytime he desires. But then he meets Sarah, the girl who moved into the enclave with her father, the town's new doctor. While most of the clavers dislike her, Jon is drawn to her. And he is soon forced to choose between her and her ideals and his friends. His comforts and those of his step-mother and little brother are at stake.

But the more Jon hears what Sarah has to say, the more he sees what he ignored before. And when riots break out in White Birch and life changes drastically again for Jon and all his family members, Jon has to choose which side he is on for good -- and deal with the consequences.


*Wow... I was incredibly disappointed in this book. I loved the series... Until this book. The characters seemed shallow and not well thought-out anymore. The book was full of every horror imaginable (which, frankly, disgusted me). And many of the situations and dialogue seemed fake and forced. The author mentions at the end that she isn't sure if there will be a 5th book. Well, I hope there isn't. Because if it gets any worse than this, I don't think I would be willing to slog through it. Very disappointing.

Night -- Elie Wiesel

It is 1944 before the lives of the Jews living in Sighet, Transylvania feel the effect of Hitler's plan.  Until then, they'd lived their lives as though nothing was different; as though nothing ever would be.  They believed the war would end before they were impacted.

But they were wrong.

What begins as a sort of lock-down in their own community eventually becomes the horror of evacuation, separation, starvation, desperation, and for some, cremation.  Fifteen year-old Eliezer and his family are among them.  He loses touch with his mother and three sisters shortly after they arrive at Auschwitz, a concentration camp where he Elie witnesses horrors beyond imagination.  His one goal is to not lose his father.  So together they are herded from one camp to another.  They are beaten, abused, forced to watch others murdered, starved, worked to the brink of death and delusion.  Some lose their faith, others hold to it for dear life.  And in the end, none is spared the atrocities of knowing horrors no human should ever need to face.


** Though incredibly hard to read, considering the subject matter, this is a good book.  I felt horrified by some of what is shared.  Though I have long known of some of the torture and abuse which occurred at the concentration camps, there were some things in this book that shocked me; for I had never even considered the possibility of some of the atrocities that actually happened.  Call me naive, I guess.  I just cannot understand what kind of a mind could think to perform some of the hideous acts described.  It was eye-opening on so many levels.  And though there are images I will probably never be able to forget (conjured by my own mind as I read), I am glad I had the opportunity to see things from the perspective Mr. Wiesel.

Insurgent -- Veronica Roth

Seeking safety with the Amity faction, Tris, Tobias, Peter, Caleb, Susan, and Marcus know the time they have there will be short. But before they make their plans to leave and head back into the city, their presence is discovered by the Erudite and the traitor-Dauntless; causing them to flee and seek refuge with the factionless.

There, Tris realizes that being factionless isn't as bad as she was led to believe; for the Factionless are strong in number and unity. And the Factionless leader has big plans for taking down the Erudite and the current factioned society. She seeks out Tobias and invites him to join her cause, telling him to become important to the loyal Dauntless so they will follow him.

Deciding they will need the help of the Candor, Tris and Tobias go to Candor headquarters and are subjected to their truth serum. Their deepest secrets and regrets are revealed, and before long, everyone knows Tris is Divergent. And so is Tobias. The Candor grant the loyal Divergent safety once they know Tris and Tobias were not involved in the simulation massacre of Abnegation. But their safety is short-lived. Because the Erudite and traitor-Dauntless launch an attack on Candor headquarters, injecting many there with a simulation serum which Jeanine can control anytime and for as long as she'd like -- a serum never before known among them. When Jeanine causes some to leap to their deaths with the threat of more if the Divergent don't give themselves up, Tris surrenders herself to Jeanine and her torture. Fully expecting her own demise, Tris learns as much as she can while imprisoned by Jeanine. But what Tris starts to learn is that there is information nobody could ever have imagined. Information that could change their entire world. Information Jeanine will kill over. And once she learns all she can from Tris about the Divergent, Tris will be Jeanine's next target.

*I definitely got sucked into this book and enjoyed it more than the first one. One complaint I have with both is all the childish drama. Tris and Tobias and their over-the-top arguments, etc. I realize it's written from the perspective of teenagers -- and is written for teens as the main audience. But I just get annoyed with how Tris makes huge mountains out of molehills a lot of the time. Otherwise, I enjoy the story and am looking forward to #3.

The City of Ember -- Jeanne DuPrau

In the city of Ember, the lights are starting to go out... a lot. Nobody knows how to fix the generator permanently... the generator which powers the entire city. And nobody knows what to do about all the supply shortages which are happening either. Perhaps, in most cities, this wouldn't be a problem. But Ember isn't like most cities. Because when the lights go out in Ember, there is NO light at all -- everything is pitch black. There is no fire, no flashlights. And there's nowhere to go, for as the citizens have been told for centuries: there is no place BUT Ember.

Most of the citizens are content to accept that Ember is the only city in existence. They are willing to pretend nothing is wrong, though somewhere inside they know the now-frequent blackouts are not good. Some of the citizens know things are bad -- and they are seeking to make their lives comfortable until the end. But there are some who are unwilling to accept the impending doom of their city. Lina Mayfleet and Doon Harrow are two of those citizens. And though they are only twelve years old, they begin the search for a solution and a way out of Ember.

Lina feels there must be a city somewhere else, for she has dreamed of it. Doon feels there must be a way to fix the generator permanently, if only he understood electricity. But when Lina happens upon a partially-destroyed (thanks to her toddler-sister Poppy) sheet of paper with instructions that seem to be vitally important, she turns to Doon as one who can work with her to solve the mystery of the instructions -- and maybe find a way out of the City of Ember and into a different world.


**I picked this book up to read to fill the space between the last book I finished and the one I was waiting for at the library. I ended up liking this book. I think it's a great read for early teens (12/13), both boys and girls. There is adventure and suspense. I was eager to see how it ended, and I'm now planning to read the next in the series!