Divergent

Genre: Sci-Fi, Action, Young Adult, Dystopian Society
Author: Veronica Roth
Title: Divergent

First Impressions:
Oh- another Hunger Games. People living in a society that decides how they will live our their lives. A world surviving from a long ago post apocalyptic war. Instead of districts- like HG- there are factions. But despite the similarities, Divergent stood on its own plot. 

Main Characters:
Tris Prior is the main character- a young girl of 16 deciding where she wants to fit in. The story opens with her on the day of her evaluation. Through a "simulation" she is presented in different fields that will help categorize her in the faction she belongs. The four factions are Amity, Candor, Abnegation (where Tris currently resides) and Dauntless. Apart from these are the factionless- people who failed initiation or decided to abandon their faction. They are pretty much the representation of the current day homeless and indigent. Four becomes the trainer assigned to the group of potential initiates when Tris decides to join the Dauntless faction. Eric is one of the Dauntless leaders whom has a subtle rivalry with Four. Among these are others such as Christina, Will, and Al, all initiates from different factions whom become Tris' friends.

In a Nutshell:
It's hard to step into Young Adult Dystopian territory without thinking of a few other movies and books. Personally, it reminded me of The Giver and Hunger Games. Tris, unlike Katniss, isn't a butt-kicking, independent powerhouse right out the gate. Instead, she evolves, she makes human mistakes, and gradually blossoms. I particularly liked the fact she shows moments of weakness- which is a reality for anyone. The conflict arises when Tris realizes something is stirring and her life may be in danger. Unlike most people, whom easily fall into a category, Tris displays multiple and conflicting passions, which make her a Divergent- an obvious target in a society that prides itself in uniformity. Before you know it, betrayal, ugly competition and even death hang in the air and at every bend. 

Nina's Take:
I gotta say, there was something that kept me turning page after page of this book. I could tell where the romance was headed- the love story was pretty standard young adult cheese factory. But, the determination in Tris to survive, and her grappling inner conflict for identity were charming. Who hasn't been on that roller coaster at the age of 16? I enjoyed it, although in some parts I felt the story dragged a little. One thing that did annoy me was the overuse of the word "bile" by Roth. Every chapter, the word kept popping up three or four times. Other than that, the climax and resolution of the story were at expectation. I wasn't blown away- I suspected two of three surprises in the book. But then again, what was I expecting from a Young Adult trilogy? Will I read the other two? Well, I'll definitely read Insurgent. We'll have to wait and see after that. 

My rating is 3.8 out of 5

The Hunger Games

Genre: Sci-Fi, Action, Young Adult
Author: Suzanne Collins
Title: The Hunger Games

First Impressions:
The funky names and the odd setting of the story threw me off at first, but I chugged on and read past the slow exposition and uphill plot. The common terms in this book, such as tasserie, Panem, tribute, take a bit of reading and comprehension to understand exactly what they mean in the layout of the story. Suzanne is the kind of author that ends every chapter cliffhangingly.

Main Characters:
Katniss is the Xena style warrior for the young adult crowd, a child without a father, and with a seriously depressed mother and vulnerable, sweet little innocent thing of little sister, whose name is Primrose. Gale is Katniss' best friend and hunter partner, and Peeta is the boy from the district whom has done favors for her in the past but whom she's not really close to; until they are cast in the hunger games together to kill each other.

In a Nutshell:
Combine Lord of The Flies, the Gladiator, and as I've heard many others say, Battle Royale, and you've got yourself the Hunger Games. Like LOTF, Hunger Games features kids whom not by their choice are placed somewhere away from family and friends and then turn viciously on each other. Unlike LOTF, the Hunger Games is an annual sport, and many districts train for the young ones for it all their lives. Like Gladiator, it's either win and kill, or lose and be killed. Unlike Gladiator, it's 24 tributes (one boy and one girl from each district), and there can only be one sole winner.

The plot gets thick when Peeta reveals he has feelings for Katniss, and then the two fake (or do they?) a romantic relationship, never seen before between two people out to kill each other. This grabs the audience's attention enough to make things intriguing.

Nina's Take:
I'm probably going to get stoned for this, but I really didn't LOVE The Hunger Games. Maybe because I couldn't get past the unrealistic sudden surprises that "floated down from the sky" or the unnecessary gross gore and visual imagery of blood and yuck. But that's just me. It was action-packed, and there were teary moments, but it left me wanting in the end. I didn't want it to turn into a hormonally confused teenage girl's pseudo love-triangle; but I liked that it kept the romanticism suited for the age group (as suited as it can be in today's day and age.) However, it just failed to keep me motivated enough to finish it all in one sitting -as I usually do- and left some unanswered questions, but I guess that's what you sign up for when you read a trilogy. Am I reading the next two? Negative.

My rating is 3.5 out of 5