Divergent by Veronica Roth

Title: Divergent
Author: Veronica Roth
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Publication Date: May 3, 2011
Pages: 487
Format: Hardcover from my school library
Challenge: Debut Author

Summary from Good Reads:

In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago, 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 to determine who her friends really are—and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes infuriating 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 a growing conflict that threatens to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves . . . or it might destroy her.

Debut author Veronica Roth bursts onto the literary scene with the first book in the Divergent series—dystopian thrillers filled with electrifying decisions, heartbreaking betrayals, stunning consequences, and unexpected romance

My Thoughts:

I absolutely LOVED this book. I had read a lot of good reviews of Divergent on other blogs so I was already expecting to like it but it exceeded my expectations.  This disutopian thriller has it all-- action, suspense, mystery, romance and more.  I was really impressed that this is Veronica Roth's first novel and that she is only 22 years old.  I predict, as other bloggers have, that Divergent will be as popular or more than The Hunger Games.  I don't usually put a star rating on my reviews but this one gets a 5 of 5.  I can't wait to booktalk this one to my students.  If you haven't read it yet you HAVE to read this book asap!

Check out the book trailer and author interview below:





http://veronicarothbooks.blogspot.com/

The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter

Title: The Goddess Test
Author: Aimee Carter
Series: Goddess Test
Challenge: 2011 Debut Author Challenge

Summary from Good Reads:

It's always been just Kate and her mom—and her mother is dying. Her last wish? To move back to her childhood home. So Kate's going to start at a new school with no friends, no other family and the fear her mother won't live past the fall.

Then she meets Henry. Dark. Tortured. And mesmerizing. He claims to be Hades, god of the Underworld—and if she accepts his bargain, he'll keep her mother alive while Kate tries to pass seven tests.  Kate is sure he's crazy—until she sees him bring a girl back from the dead. Now saving her mother seems crazily possible. If she succeeds, she'll become Henry's future bride, and a goddess.

My thoughts:
I really enjoyed this book and want to thank NetGalley and Harlequin for letting me read the egalley.  This was the very first book I read on my new Nook Color, and I loved both the Nook Color and The Goddess Test!  The premise of the book is very cool-- it is a modern story about the Greek gods and goddess with a special focus on the  Hades-Persephone story.  The main character, Kate, is a very likeable and realistic high school character.  The story, obviously a fantasy, is pretty far fetched but very entertaining and full of cool plot twists.  I know that this book will circulate very well in my library.  I will enjoy book talking it and look forward to book two in the trilogy, Goddess Interrupted.

Waterfall by Lisa Bergren

Title: Waterfall

Author: Lisa Bergren

Series: River of Time #1
Format: Paperback copy from author

Summary from Good Reads:
Lisa Tawn Bergren's new YA series, River of Time, is romantic, historical fiction in which the plucky heroine doesn't have to fear a vampire's bite but must still fight for her life.

In Waterfall, American teenager Gabi Betarrini accidently finds herself in Fourteenth-Century Italy . . . Knights. Swords. Horses. Armor. And Italian hotties. Most American teens want an Italian vacation, but the Betarrini sisters have spent every summer of their lives there with their archaeologist parents. Stuck on yet another hot, dusty dig, they are bored out of their minds... until they place their hands atop handprints in an ancient tomb and find themselves catapulted into the Fourteenth Century and in the middle of a fierce battle between knights bent on killing one another.

My thoughts:

I really LOVED this book.  I received a copy of Waterfall from the author (thank you!) and I think it is the start to an action packed, exciting, and suspenseful series.  I also really liked that I can call this a "clean read" too with no bad language, etc.  The characters are very realistic and Gabi's voice is very contempory and funny- especially in light of the 14th century setting.  The budding romance between Gabi and Marcello is awesome and the search for Gabi's mother and sister,  and the tension and danger between rival factions in 14th century Italy create a fast paced and exciting story.  I highly recommend Waterfall and can't wait to read Cascade, the next book in the series, which I plan to purchase on my new Nook Color!  This is a series I expect to be a big hit with the students at my high school.