Divergent by Veronica Roth

Divergent

By Veronica Roth

Published by HarperCollins Children's Books, 2011

496 pages (hardcover)

In Beatrice Prior’s dystopian Chicago world, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue—Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is—she can’t have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.

During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles alongside her fellow initiates to live out the choice they have made. Together they must undergo extreme physical tests of endurance and intense psychological simulations, some with devastating consequences. As initiation transforms them all, Tris must determine who her friends really are—and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes exasperating boy fits into the life she's chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers unrest and growing conflict that threaten to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves . . . or it might destroy her.  (from barnesandnoble.com)

In the past year I have picked up quite a few books set in a dystopian society where a big event is coming up for the main character that will set the course for the rest of his/her life. Some of those books I read, but wasn’t thrilled with the book and some of the books I couldn’t get past the first few badly-written chapters. I had heard great things about Divergent but I wasn’t too excited for yet another dystopian society book.

Then I started reading Divergent. Wow! The dystopian society was set up well and I really wasn’t confused about how things worked. Also, the story was great. I was hooked by the writing, the choices Tris had to make, and the results of her decisions. There were plot twists, a little romance, friends who became dangerous, friends who might be more than friends, enemies who were not as dangerous as they seemed, enemies that were way more dangerous then they seemed, and relatives who had to decide if faction or family was more important.

Divergent is the first in a series of books and I am excited about the next book. Although the book may seem a bit long, it was such an engaging and interesting story that it was a quick and enjoyable read.

TOP TEN TUESDAY: The Top Ten Books I Want To Reread

Top 10 Tuesday is hosted at The Broke and the Bookish. Today’s topic is the Top Ten Books I Want To Reread.

Westing Game by Ellen Raskin

I love books and movies where you have to figure out how everyone is connected and what people’s secrets are. I read this book every few years and each time I notice new secrets and connections.

Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

I reread this book this summer and I picked up on a lot of things I had missed before. It is such a good book.

The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

The movie comes out in just over a year. I definitely need to reread The Hobbit before then.

Revolution by Jennifer DonnellyThere are a lot of historical references and people that I want to know more about. Also, this book is just amazing.

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

This is my favorite Jane Austen book. I’ll reread the book and then watch the BBC movie version. Sounds like a good day to me!

The Giver by Lois Lowry

A favorite from growing up. It really made me think about memories and how knowledge of the past can affect us.

Sideways Stories from Wayside School by Louis Sachar

This book is fun and clever and makes school seem like an adventure.

Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson

Not only is this a book I think most teenagers should read, but also educators. Besides being well written, it is compelling and an insightful look into the lives of teenagers. AND it is an interesting story.

Matilda by Roald Dahl

I wish I had magical powers to get revenge on really mean people J

Divergent by Veronica Roth

 I just finished this book and I already want to read it again. It is THAT good. And I want the sequel to come out NOW.

Banned Books Week

Banned Books Week: Celebrating the Freedom to Read!

September 25th - October 1st is Banned Books Week. This is an annual event celebrating the freedom to read and the importance of the First Amendment. It highlights the benefits of free and open access to information while drawing attention to the harms of censorship by spotlighting actual or attempted bannings of books across the United States.

Intellectual freedom- the freedom to access information and express ideas, even if the information and ideas might be considered unorthodox or unpopular- provides the foundation for Banned Books Week.

Banned Books Week is the only national celebration of the freedom to read and it was launched in 1982 in response to a sudden surge in the number of challenges to books in schools, bookstores, and libraries. More than a thousand books have been challenged since 1982. The challenges have occurred in every state and in hundreds of communities. (from the ALA Banned Books Week info page)

For more information about banned books, check out the American Library Association's page About Banned & Challenged Books.

TEACHER REVIEW - Revolution By Jennifer Donnelly

Revolution

By Jennifer Donnelly

Published by Random House Children's Books, 2010

496 pages (hardcover)

BROOKLYN: Andi Alpers is on the edge. She’s angry at her father for leaving, angry at her mother for not being able to cope, and heartbroken by the loss of her younger brother, Truman. Rage and grief are destroying her. And she’s about to be expelled from Brooklyn Heights’ most prestigious private school when her father intervenes. Now Andi must accompany him to Paris for winter break.

PARIS: Alexandrine Paradis lived over two centuries ago. She dreamed of making her mark on the Paris stage, but a fateful encounter with a doomed prince of France cast her in a tragic role she didn’t want—and couldn’t escape.

Two girls, two centuries apart. One never knowing the other. But when Andi finds Alexandrine’s diary, she recognizes something in her words and is moved to the point of obsession. There’s comfort and distraction for Andi in the journal’s antique pages—until, on a midnight journey through the catacombs of Paris, Alexandrine’s words transcend paper and time, and the past becomes suddenly, terrifyingly present. (from goodreads.com)

Revolution is not just your run of the mill historical fiction book.  At its heart, it is about the inner turmoil and anguish the main character, Andi, goes through after the death of her brother.  What makes this books so interesting though, is that Donnelly is able to weave together a story that shows the parallels of the French Revolution with the chaos and frustration one goes through in growing up.  As a reader, you connect with the characters, not because the historical events are fascinating (and they are), but because you can relate to the feelings and emotions of Andi, the 21st century narrator, as well as Alex, the 18th century, underground heroine (of sorts).  As in political revolutions, both Andi & Alex, struggle to reconcile ideas & emotions…and learn what is right versus what is wrong. –By Ms. Ackerman

Mrs. Ruud’s thoughts: This book was amazing. I was hooked from the start and couldn’t put it down. One of the things that made this book memorable, to me, was that this book motivated me to do research about the historical events in the book. I LOVE history, but I hardly do research about a book while I am reading it. I couldn’t get enough of this book or all the information I found about the French Royal Family during the French Revolution. Not to give anything away (hopefully), but I kept hoping as I scoured the Internet for information, that the fate of the King’s son would have a good ending. That there would be something positive that someone really did centuries ago that would make this historical fiction novel have an uplifting ending. I’ll tell you this- the ending is not what I hoped for, but the author did have a good ending that tied the events of the past and present together in a way that made me want to start the book all over again just so I could enjoy every last word one more time.

UMS Reads

What Is UMS Reads?

UMS Reads is a way to get students to think about what they read by figuring out what they like about certain books and what they don’t like about certain books. UMS Reads is completely voluntary, but since students need to be reading anyways, this is a great way to write about what was read and to be rewarded for reading!

How does UMS Reads work?

• Read a book (fiction or nonfiction)
• Pick up and fill out a UMS Reads Review form from the UMS Library or an ELA teacher
• Turn the UMS Reads Review from into your grade level basket in the UMS Library
• At the end of each month Mrs. Ruud will draw names from the baskets.
• Grand Prize Winner: A book & a pizza certificate
• 1^st Place Winners (1 per grade level + 1 staff member): A treat & a pizza certificate
• 2^nd Place Winners: A pizza certificate

The winners are chosen randomly and the more times you enter, the better chance you have of being a winner each month.

Also, some reviews will be used on this blog!

STUDENT REVIEW - Go Big or Go Home by Will Hobbs

Go Big or Go Home

By Will Hobbs

Published by HarperCollins Publishers, 2009

202 pages (paperback)

Last October Will Hobbs came to talk to all the students about his books. Let me tell you, the places Will Hobbs has been and the things he has heard are amazing. He writes adventure books that often take place in wild and remote areas. He has been to most of the settings he describes and it was cool to see pictures of those actual places during his presentation. Books by Will Hobbs became popular among students after his visit, particularly because it provided a cheap, adventurous vacation for anyone who picked one up.

Brady Steele's love for all things extreme is given a boost when a fireball crashes through the roof of his house. It turns out that Brady's space rock is one of the rarest meteorites ever found. In fact, a professor from a nearby museum wants to study it in search of extraterrestrial bacteria, hoping to discover the first proof of life beyond Earth.

During a wild week of extreme bicycling, fishing, and caving, Brady discovers he's able to do strange and wonderful feats that shouldn't be possible. At the same time, he's developing some frightening symptoms. Could he be infected with long-dormant microbes from space? Is his meteorite a prize...or a menace? (from barnesandnoble.com)

This book is good because it’s kinda mysterious. It’s mysterious because you don’t know what’s going to happen next. This book needs more scary and mysterious things. Yes, [I would recommend this book to middle schoolers] because its about taking adventures. –Ramon I.

Yes, [this book was good]. I love the big imagination. It is so awesome because I also have a big imagination. –Diamond C.

The lively boom in the book [was good]. Nothing [could be improved]. It is good as it is. Yes, [I would recommend this book to middle schoolers]. –Aaron M.

New Books for UMS Tigers!

A shipment of new books just came in! Be one of the first to check out these great fiction and nonfiction books. We have everything from witches and bullies to summer loves and middle school blues. 

Most of the new books are on the display cart at the front of the library (by the big window). Another shipment should also be coming soon too!