Teen Title Talks: Divergent by Veronica Roth

 ★★★★★

Divergent is the first book in a trilogy of stories set in a post-apocalyptic city that is divided into five groups of people, known as Factions. The factions are determined by one's personality traits, and include the Abnegation, who are selfless, the Amity, known for their devotion to peace, the Erudite, the pursuers of knowledge, the Candor, honest men and women, and the Dauntless, bold and strong. Those who do not fit into a faction are known as "Factionless", and are given the odd jobs no other faction wants. One is born into their faction and belongs to it until they are sixteen years old, when they finish schooling and take the test to give them guidance as to what faction they belong to. Beatrice Prior, the main character, is one such teenager. However, when Tris is given the test, she does not fit into any one of the five factions- she fits into three. This kind of multi-dimensional personality is known as "Divergent", and is looked upon as a horrible evil and danger to society. Urged to keep her results secret, Tris chooses to join the Dauntless, and trains to become a protector of the city. There she meets Tobias, also known as Four, who trains her and who she later falls in love with. But not all is easy going for Tris in her new life. Hostility and fierce competition drive her and the other initiates apart, and in the shadows, the Erudite are planning an attack, one that could put them ahead of all the other factions- unless Tobias and Tris are able to do something about it.

When I first started reading Divergent, I simply could not put the book down! The classic battle between individuality and conformity is made even more haunting by the physical dangers associated with rebellion. Tris is a character that everyone can relate to on some level- she isn't perfect or selfless, she has fears and is a people-pleaser. The romance between Tris and Tobias is truly one that everyone roots for, as he becomes her solace in the dark and undecided world she is currently living in. I would recommend this book to teens looking for an alternate reality that doesn't go to far into fantasy but is still exciting and new.

Review by Meagan H: Mechanicsville Library

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Teen Title Talks: The Thief by Megan Whalen Turner

 ★★★★

Eugenides is about as sneaky, tricky, and thieving of a boy as you could ever come across. Up until now he has been held in the prison of Sounis, one of the three kingdoms of the Peninsula. Despite being crowded close together, these three nations only hold a fragile peace, and political schemes run ramped. Unfortunately for Eugenides (or Gen, as he is often called) he is about to get roped into one of these schemes. The advisor of Sounis, also known as the magus, frees Gen from prison and takes him on a journey to steal a precious stone known as Hamiathe's Gift. Accompanying them are the two apprentices of the magus, Ambiades and Sophos, and a soldier named Pol. Hamiathe's Gift itself holds no real monetary value, rather it is of very ritual importance for Sounis' neighboring kingdom, Eddis. The king and magus of Sounis hope to rescue this stone from deep in an ancient temple where it has been held for years in order to have certain political advantages over Eddis. That's where Gen comes in- no one has yet been skilled enough to gain access into the temple and reach the stone, yet Gen's infamous thieving abilities may be the key. The magus believes his plan is foolproof, but there are other factors at play- the third country, Attolia, will surely capture them if they find the party trespassing on their land, and Gen himself has his own motives and goals that he keeps silent from the others...

This book, though relatively unheard of, is fantastically written. It is really everything one could hope for in a novel labeled "Fantasy". The character's quick wit and sarcasm keep you laughing, while hidden plots and deceit keep you turning page after page. While the plot of the story is intricate and captivating, it is really the characters themselves one becomes drawn to. Every one of them has more hidden under the surface than you would first think. One has to keep reading till the end, where Megan Turner pulls off a plot twist like nothing you've ever read. I recommend this book to any teen looking to dive into another reality with scenes, characters and action that will seem almost as real to you as your own.

Review by: Meagan H: Mechanicsville Library

Check out our catalog at www.pamunkeylibrary.org if you are interested in checking out this book!

Interested in submitting a book review for service hours? Please visit tinyurl.com/prlteentitletalks for more information!