Insurgent by Veronica Roth

I love, love, love this series.  This series is a favorite for me.

This is a contiunuation of the book Divergent.  This sequel is every bit as good as the first book.  I couldn't keep my hands off the book.  I was going to read it slowly but I couldn't keep away from it long enough to do so.  I just LOVE this series.  I liked the Hunger Games series but I must say that this is just as good if not better.  I love the way it is written.  The characters are well written and I am very attached to them.



Tris has just had a tramatic experience in the last book of seeing many die.  In this continuation she finds that the Erudite faction is up to no good.  She had to figure out what that is and use her resources to do something about it.  She is physically, emotionally, and socially tested in everyway in this book.  I LOVE it!!!! 

I had to remember a few things before I picked up this book.



This book is about a Dystopian Society.  In this society there are 5 Different Factions:

1. Candor (the Honest)
2. Abnegation (the Selfless)
3. Dauntless (the Brave)
4. Amity (the Peaceful)
5. Erudite (the Intelligent)

I also had to remember some of the characters that I had forgotten since reading Divergent:  (if you haven't finished Divergent, I would recommend not reading the character descriptions because there could be spoilers for you but I think it will help me when I read the next book in the series to review these names.)

1.  Beatrice Prior (later shortens her name to Tris)
2.  Will (part of the Dauntless faction--she has a lot of guilt concerning him which is in residual of the last book.  They were very close in the last book)
3.  Tobias--you think that I'd remember him!  It starts out talking about him and I couldn't remember if he was the brother or what.  Tobias is the guy Beatrice was trained by.  He has another name that most know him by and that name is FOUR. 
4.  Caleb--her brother that had to choose which faction to go to at the same time she did in the last book.
5.  Marcus--Tobias' father.
6.  Peter--part of the dauntless.  Tris and Peter do not get along.
7.  Johanna Reyes, representative of Amity.
8.  Edith Prior--Tris' mom.
9.  Evelyn--Tobias' mom (factionless society leader)
10.  Tori--tattoo artist.
11.  Christina--Tris' great friend from Dauntless
12.  Lynn--another Dauntless
13.  Shauna--Dauntless.
14.  Hector--Dauntless.
15.  Uriah--Dauntless. (I like this character a lot.  Light hearted amidst much going on).
16.  Jeanine--Erudite Leader

This is a thick book but it goes quickly.  I would love to read both of these books again and I am anxious for the next in the series)

Divergent by Veronica Roth

This book was fun to read as I waited in line to see the Hunger Games at 3:15 am.  I had great seats to see the movie and the book kept me awake and totally thinking about the same type of society as The Hunger Games.  It is about a Dystopian Society just like the Hunger Games.

This society (a Dystopian Chicago) in this book is divided into 5 factions (it talks about this inside the cover.)

1. Candor (the honest)
2. Abnegation (the selfless)
3. Dauntless (the brave)
4. Amity (the peaceful)
5. Erudite (the intelligent)

Each year, all the sixteen year olds have to pick a faction.  They can either stay in their current faction or they can choose to change to another one.


Beatrice Prior is the main character and she has grown up in the Abnegation faction and the people around her are selfless.  She loves her family but has a big decision to make.


I really loved this book and noticed the next book in the series is going to be coming out in May.  I can't wait.  It is such a great book.  I couldn't put it down it was so wonderful.  It is intriguing and there is a little love thrown in there.  I am glad for a son who told me about this great read.

The Shadow Children Series by Margaret Peterson Haddix

All of these books are the continuing story from "Among the Hidden."  It is the series called "The Shadow Children" series.  "Among the Impostors" (Book 2)  is about Luke (Lee) as he is among other third children with his ID.

 "Among the Betrayed"  (Book 3) is Nina's story after she is betrayed.

"Among the Barons" (Book 4) is about Luke (Lee) again.  It's what happens when he lives with his baron family.

"Among the Brave"(Book 5)  is Trey's story.  He has to find courage within.

"Among the Enemy" (Book 6) is Matthias' story.  It is his adventure working behind enemy lines.

"Among the Free" (Book 7) is back to Luke (Lee).  They are free but ARE THEY?  New conflicts arise.

So this series about the Shadow Children and the "Hunger Games" series makes me think of a Dystopia society.  That is a good word and it describes this kind of book.  (Thanks Ryan for the word).

Why do I like this kind of book?  I will tell you...I love to see the strength in people from deep down when they get in desperate situations.  When it seems all is lost they reach deep down inside themselves for their inner strength and come up with a solution.  They are heroes even though they aren't seeking to be heroes.  They are seeking for right and for Human rights.  They also have to rely on a higher power.  It's great to see God intervene in their lives.  God can do miracles and these Dystopia societies are an environment where the hand of the Lord can be seen.  

This book makes me ponder what I would do if I were in this type of society.  Would I allow my "animal" instincts to take over.  Would I care more to be fed or any of my needs above what I do for those around me and for my society?  I can't help but hope I'd be of strong character and have a prayer deep inside that if that ever did happen that I'd think of others instead of myself. 

I LOVED these books.

Among the Hidden by Margaret Peterson Haddix

I am intrigued already and I'd say that I HAVE to read more because it is the first in about a 7 or 8 book series.  Wow.  I find this book thought provoking and full of questions.  It asks the big questions.

This is a story about a boy named Luke.  Luke is the third child in a world where the law is that no one can have more than two.  He has to hide and remain hidden.  It certainly makes me wonder what it would be like if I had to stay inside always to not be seen.  The pages seeemed to go so fast for me.  I was held quickly and lastingly...and I'm still thinking about it.

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

After reading the first books I gathered all my strength to read this one.  I had tried to read all three real quick.  I had finished Catching Fire the same day I finished Hunger Games.  I picked up Mockingjay and it wasn't going the way I had planned so I put it down for a week.  I picked it up today and read the book in a day.

I like this series and even though it didn't go where I wanted it to go, it was a great story one that provokes thought of death, war, life coping skills and love.

This is the third and final book in the Hunger Games.  We are still following Katniss through trying and surprising adventures.

I highly recommend this series.

Hunger Games & Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

I went away for Labor day to Island Park to a cabin.  I had these visions of reading Hunger Games and Catching fire.   Well, I can't read in the car, it makes me sick.   The only time I could read is after we reached our destination.  Reading was harder than I thought with my kids and their cousins running too an fro and with our agenda of things we wanted to do and to talk with family.  It took me many days to get about 3/4 of the way through Hunger Games.  I'd have to stop at night and then I'd sit and think of the story and not sleep and not able to read.  Well, I got home yesterday and read the rest of Hunger Games and ALL of Catching Fire.  Wow!  I am really into these books and I plan to start "Mockingjay" today.  Mostly I am starting because I can't get the story out of my head and I can't seem to focus on anything else!!!  I need to get on with my life!

Hunger Games is a book about a girl named Katniss Everdeen, I remember her name because her childhood friend calls her Catnip.  Katniss lives in a district that mines coal.  Their are other districts that do other things but all are highly controlled by the Capital.  The Capital is what took over the ruins of North America.  Their Nation is the nation of Panem.  To keep the districts in line they have a boy and girl from each district go to a televised event called the "Hunger Games."  In this deadly game, only one will live through until the end.  The goal is to be the last one living.   It is kill or be killed.  This is a very intriguing story and one that doesn't lose my interest throughout.  I must admit after "The Hunger Game" ends I felt urgent about reading "Catching Fire" to find out more of the story.   But after "Catching Fire,"  I feel I am catching my breath a little better.   I don't know why that is so because from the ending  can tell there is much action ahead.  In fact, I think I'll go read it!

I recommend these books but also recommend putting aside enough time to read them....they are all encompassing, thought promoting books.