Showing posts with label Dystopias. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Dystopias. Show all posts

Monday, March 28, 2016

Ready Player One by Ernest Cline



 Ready Player One by Ernest Cline takes place mostly in a virtual reality simulation called the Oasis, while the outside world of 2045 is in a dystopic downward spiral. Five years before the book opens the co-creator of the Oasis, James Halliday, died and upon his death his Oasis avatar, Anorak, announces that he has hidden an Easter Egg inside the Oasis and whoever discovers it (after decoding riddles and completing challenges) will inherit his vast fortune. However, half a decade later and the score board remains unchanged, until Wade Owen Watts (a poor high school senior from Oklahoma, with a depressingly low level avatar) figures out where the first key is. Wade's avatar, Parzival, becomes an instant celebrity, and an instant target. A corrupt corporation is also after Halliday's Easter Egg, and with endless technology and resources Wade finds himself in both virtual world and real world peril. There's battles, sabotage, a love interest, an impressive virtual world, and pretty much all of the 80s, all in one page turning package.

I listened to the audio version of this book and it is one of the best audiobooks I have ever listened to! Wil Wheaton narrates it fantastically. I listen to audiobooks while driving, and there were multiple times I drove around the block or just sat in my parked car to find out what happened next. I know audiobooks aren't for everyone, but if you're ever going to try one this would be a great first.

eBook

Lisa

If you like this:
The Eye of Minds by James Dashner
Insignia by S.J. Kincaid

Friday, January 22, 2016

Allegiant Official Trailer "Tear Down the Wall"

Check out the newly released trailer!

#FourTris is ready. Are you? Go beyond the wall in this exclusive NEW #Allegiant trailer - in theaters 3/18! https://t.co/Yby9hItB0r

Thursday, October 2, 2014

Nooks

We now have two Nooks featuring Young Adult Fiction! 

YA Dystopian Nook
Divergent by Veronica Roth
Insurgent by Veronica Roth
Allegiant b y Veronica Roth
The Maze Runner by James Dashner
Legend by Marie Lu

YA Popular Fiction Nook
13 Reasons Why by Jay Asher
Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card
If I Stay by Gayle Forman
The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell

To check out: Pick up one of the cases from the Teen Corner and bring it to the check out desk where they will give you a Nook.

Monday, February 24, 2014

More Than This by Patrick Ness

More Than This by Patrick Ness opens with Seth drowning, fighting for his last breath. Then he dies. But then he wakes up. Seth doesn't wake up in the same place he died though. He wakes up in England, in a childhood home he's tried to forget, covered in a strange tape, and completely alone. Is he dead? Is this desolate, abandoned, run-down version of the town he was born in, hell?

The story of who Seth was when he was alive, and the mystery surrounding his family's sudden and hurried move to the States, and the mystery of where he is in the present are interwoven expertly, keeping the reader turning the pages even when present Seth is just acclimatizing to his strange surroundings.  The possibilities of Seth's present range from hell to a post-apocalyptic world, and as more is uncovered, more questions are raised. Once the book really starts gaining momentum it's hard to put down. Just as you think you have a grasp on what is going on it makes you question everything.

Lisa

Tuesday, October 22, 2013

Waiting for Allegiant

Allegiant by Veronica Roth (the third and final book in the Divergent series) is out today!
 

 If you can't wait for your hold to come in (you can reserve the book, audio book, or ebook) check out some of these titles to tide you over.

Enclave by Ann Aguirre
New York City has been decimated by war and plague, and most of civilization has migrated to underground enclaves, where life expectancy is no more than the early 20's. When Deuce turns 15, she takes on her role as a Huntress, and is paired with Fade, a Hunter who once lived Topside. When she and Fade discover that the neighboring enclave has been decimated by the tunnel monsters who seem to be growing more organized, the elders refuse to listen to warnings. And when Deuce and Fade are exiled from the enclave, the girl born in darkness must survive in daylight.


Ship Breaker by Paolo Bacigalupi
In America's Gulf Coast region, where grounded oil tankers are being broken down for parts, Nailer, a teenage boy, works the light crew, scavenging for copper wiring just to make quota--and hopefully live to see another day. But when, by luck or chance, he discovers an exquisite clipper ship beached during a recent hurricane, Nailer faces the most important decision of his life: Strip the ship for all it's worth or rescue its lone survivor, a beautiful and wealthy girl who could lead him to a better life. . . .

The Testing  by Joelle Charbonneau
The Seven Stages War left much of the planet a charred wasteland. The future belongs to the next generation’s chosen few who must rebuild it. But to enter this elite group, candidates must first pass The Testing—their one chance at a college education and a rewarding career.  Cia Vale is honored to be chosen as a Testing candidate; eager to prove her worthiness as a University student and future leader of the United Commonwealth. But on the eve of her departure, her father’s advice hints at a darker side to her upcoming studies--trust no one. 

 The Maze Runner by James Dashner
When Thomas wakes up in the lift, the only thing he can remember is his first name. But he's not alone. When the lift's doors open, Thomas finds himself surrounded by kids who welcome him to the Glade--a large, open expanse surrounded by stone walls. . All they know is that every morning the stone doors to the maze that surrounds them have opened. Every night they've closed tight. And every thirty days a new boy has been delivered in the lift.  But the next day, a girl is sent up--the first girl to ever arrive in the Glade. And more surprising  is the message she delivers. 

Brain Jack by Brian Falkner
In a near-future New York City, fourteen-year-old computer genius Sam Wilson manages to hack into the AT&T network and sets off a chain of events that have a profound effect on human activity throughout the world.

The Always War by Margaret Peterson Haddix
For as long as Tessa can remember, her country has been at war. When  Gideon Thrall is awarded a medal for courage, it's a rare bright spot for everyone in Tessa's town -- until Gideon refuses the award and runs away. Tessa is bewildered, and can't help but follow Gideon to find out the truth. But Tessa is in for more than she bargained for. Before she knows it, she has stowed away on a rogue airplane and is headed for enemy territory. But all that pales when she discovers a shocking truth that rocks the foundation of everything she's ever believed--a truth that will change the world.

Epic by Conor Kostick
On New Earth, a world based on a video role-playing game, fourteen-year-old Erik persuades his friends to aid him in some unusual gambits in order to save Erik's father from exile and safeguard the futures of each of their families.


Human.4 by Mike Lancaster
Humanity, like computers, can be upgraded.  And old versions disappear. . . . At some unspecified point in the future, when technology is as advanced as possible and we are a race of super beings, some old audio tapes are discovered.  On the tapes is the story of fourteen-year-old  Kyle Straker.  Hypnotized, Kyle missed the upgrade of humanity to 1.0.  He isn't compatible with our new technology. And through the recording, he narrates what the upgrades really mean.  And it's absolutely terrifying.

Legend by Marie Lu
What was once the western United States is now home to the Republic, a nation perpetually at war with its neighbors. Born into an elite family, June is a prodigy being groomed for success in the Republic's highest military circles. Born into the slums, Day is the country's most wanted criminal. When June's brother, Metias, is murdered Day becomes the prime suspect. Caught in the ultimate game of cat and mouse, Day is in a race for his family's survival, while June seeks to avenge Metias's death.

Cinder by Marissa Meyer
Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth's fate hinges on one girl. . . . Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She's a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister's illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai's, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction.

 The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness
Todd Hewitt is the only boy in a town of men. Ever since the settlers were infected with the Noise germ, Todd can hear everything the men think, and they hear everything he thinks. Todd is just a month away from becoming a man, but in the midst of the cacophony, he knows that the town is hiding something from him -- something so awful Todd is forced to flee with only his dog, whose simple, loyal voice he hears too. With hostile men from the town in pursuit, the two stumble upon a strange and eerily silent creature: a girl.

Starters by Lissa Price
In the future, teens rent their bodies to seniors who want to be young again. One girl discovers her renter plans to do more than party--her body will commit murder, if her mind can't stop it.


Unwind by Neal Shusterman
In a society where unwanted teens are salvaged for their body parts, three runaways fight the system that would "unwind" them. Brought together by chance, and kept together by desperation, these three unlikely companions make a harrowing cross-country journey, knowing their lives hang in the balance. If they can survive until their eighteenth birthday, they can't be harmed -- but when every piece of them, from their hands to their hearts, are wanted by a world gone mad, eighteen seems far, far away.


Variant by Robison Wells
After years in foster homes, seventeen-year-old Benson Fisher applies to New Mexico's Maxfield Academy in hopes of securing a brighter future, but instead he finds that the school is a prison and no one is what he or she seems.

Uglies (Uglies, #1)Uglies by Scott Westerfeld
In Tally's world, your sixteenth birthday brings an operation that turns you from a repellent ugly into a stunningly attractive pretty and catapults you into a high-tech paradise where your only job is to have a really great time. In just a few weeks Tally will be there. But Tally's new friend Shay isn't sure she wants to be pretty. When Shay runs away, Tally learns about a whole new side of the pretty world -- and it isn't very pretty. The authorities offer Tally the worst choice she can imagine: find her friend and turn her in, or never turn pretty at all.

Sunday, December 30, 2012

YA Series 2013

Here's a sneak peek of what's happening in some popular series next year!

Out in January:
Prodigy (Legend Trilogy #2) by Marie Lu
June and Day arrive in Vegas just as the unthinkable happens: the Elector Primo dies and his son Anden takes his place. With the Republic edging closer to chaos, the two join a group of Patriot rebels eager to help Day rescue his brother and offer passage to the Colonies. They have only one request: June and Day must assassinate the new Elector. But as June realizes this Elector is nothing like his father, she's haunted by the choice ahead.

Out in February:
Scarlet (Lunar Chronicles #2) by Marissa Meyer
Cinder is trying to break out of prison--if she succeeds, she'll become the Commonwealth's most wanted fugitive. Halfway around the world, Scarlet Benoit's grandmother is missing. It turns out there that Scarlet never knew about the grave danger she has lived in her whole life. When Scarlet encounters Wolf, a street fighter who may have information about her grandmother's whereabouts, she has no choice but to trust him. As Scarlet and Wolf unravel one mystery, they find another when they cross paths with Cinder. Together, they must attempt to stay one step ahead of the Lunar Queen.

Sever (Chemical Garden Trilogy #3) by Lauren Destefano
With the clock ticking until the virus takes its toll, Rhine is desperate for answers. After enduring Vaughn's worst, Rhine finds an unlikely ally in his brother, Reed. She takes refuge in his dilapidated house, though the people she left behind refuse to stay in the past. While Gabriel haunts Rhine's memories, Cecily is determined to be at Rhine's side, even if Linden's feelings are still caught between them.
The Indigo Spell (Bloodlines #3) by Richelle Mead In the aftermath of a forbidden moment that rocked Sydney to her core, she is struggling to draw the line between her Alchemist teachings and what her heart is urging her to do. Then she meets alluring, rebellious Marcus Finch--a former Alchemist who escaped against all odds and is now on the run. Marcus wants to teach Sydney the secrets he claims the Alchemists are hiding from her. But as he pushes her to rebel, Sydney finds that breaking free is harder than she thought.

Out in March: 
Requiem (Delirium Trilogy #3) by Lauren Oliver
After rescuing Julian from a death sentence, Lena and her friends fled to the Wilds. But the Wilds are no longer a safe haven--pockets of rebellion have opened throughout the country and the government cannot deny the existence of Invalids. Regulators now infiltrate the borderlands to stamp out the rebels, and as Lena navigates the increasingly dangerous terrain, her best friend, Hana, lives a safe, loveless life in Portland as the fiancee of the young mayor. Both girls live side by side in a world that divides them until, at last, their stories converge.

Clockwork Princess (Infernal Devices Trilogy #3) by Cassandra Clare
If the only way to save the world was to destroy what you loved most, would you do it? The clock is ticking and everyone must choose. Danger closes in around the Shadowhunters in the final installment of the Infernal Devices Trilogy.



Sadly, the last novel in the Divergent Trilogy won't be released until September but Reached -- the final Matched novel -- is already out!

Kimberly





Saturday, December 22, 2012

Books for Winter


Well, we've finally had our first snow and Winter is here! Read these books to help prepare yourself for the season.

After the Snow by S.D. Crockett
The oceans stopped working before Willo was born so the world of ice and snow is all he's ever known. He lives with his family deep in the wilderness, far from the government's controlling grasp. But, suddenly, Willo's survival skills are put to the test when he arrives home one day to find his family missing. It could be the government; it could be scavengers - all Willo knows is he has to find refuge and find his family. It is a journey that will take him into the city he's always avoided, with a girl who needs his help more than he knows.

Winter Town by Stephen Emond
Every winter, Evan looks forward to a visit from Lucy, a childhood pal who moved away after her parent's divorce. But when Lucy arrives this year, she's changed. The 'girl next door' has chopped, dyed-black hair, a nose stud and a scowl. But even though Lucy's changed, Evan and Lucy connect again. And this time, Evan falls in love. Lucy has secrets. She doesn't tell Evan about her mother's abusive boyfriend, her own violent boyfriend and the fights that got her kicked out of her house. She feels guilty and starts to resent Evan's picture perfect (boring) life. Lucy knows she must break his heart and move on.The next winter, after transferring to an art college against his father's wishes, Evan sees Lucy again. And this time, they know the timing is right.

Snow-Walker by Catherine Fisher
From the frozen mists beyond the edge of the world comes Gudrun to rule the people through fear and sorcery. But the enchantress has one weakness -- her son, Kari, banished as a child to Thrasirshall, the forbidding fortress in the desolate, snowbound north. No one has ever set eyes on Kari, but in secret everyone wonders: Are the rumors true? Was he born a monster? Now, two will discover the truth. Because of their fathers' treachery, Gudrun has exiled Jessa and Thorkil . . . to Thrasirshall. The cousins wonder if they can survive the impossible trek to the ruined castle. And if they do, what will they find at the end of their journey? A beast? Or the means to stop Gudrun?

The Devouring by Simon Holt
The Vours: Evil, demonic beings that inhabit human bodies on Sorry Night, the darkest hours of the winter solstice. When Reggie reads about the Vours in a mysterious old journal, she assumes they are just the musings of an anonymous lunatic. But when her little brother, Henry, begins to act strangely, it's clear that these creatures exist beyond a madwoman's imagination, and Reggie finds out what happens when fears come to life. To save the people she loves, Reggie must learn to survive in a world of nightmares. Can she devour her own fears before they devour her?

Winter's End by Jean-Claude Mourlevat
Milena, Bartolomeo, Helen, and Milos have left their prison-like boarding schools far behind, but their futures remain in peril. Fleeing across icy mountains from a terrifying pack of dog-men sent to hunt them down, they are determined to take up the fight against the despotic government that murdered their parents years before. Only three will make it safely to the secret headquarters of the resistance movement. The fourth is captured and forced to participate in a barbaric game for the amusement of the masses -- further proof of the government's horrible brutality. Will the power of one voice be enough to rouse a people against a generation of cruelty?

Trapped by Michael Northrop
The day the blizzard started, no one knew that it was going to keep snowing for a week. For those in its path, it would become not just a matter of keeping warm, but of staying alive. Scotty and his friends Pete and Jason are among the last seven kids at their high school waiting to get picked up that day, and they soon realize that no one is coming for them. Still, it doesn't seem so bad to spend the night at school, especially when distractingly hot Krista and Julie are sleeping just down the hall. But then the power goes out, then the heat. The pipes freeze, and the roof shudders. As the days add up, the snow piles higher, and the empty halls grow colder and darker, until the mounting pressure forces a devastating decision. . . .

Just Like That by Marsha Qualey
Things change so suddenly. One day Hanna has a long-term boyfriend; then she realizes she doesn't have strong feelings for him and breaks things off. One day Hanna trusts her two best friends completely; the next, all of that trust is toppled. And then Hanna finds herself the bearer of a major secret: she was the last to see two teenagers before they died in an accident on the icy lake. She can't tell anyone, so when she finds herself drawn to Will, the kind of boy who'd increase any girl's pulse, she doesn't hold back. What she learns about him will astonish her. What she learns about herself--her friendships, her family, her life--will affect her more.

The Survivors by Will Weaver
Two years ago, the ash started falling like gray snow. The volcanoes had erupted. For Miles and his sister, Sarah, the real disaster started in the violent aftermath--when they were forced to leave their cushy suburban home and flee to the north woods for safety. Miles got them to a cabin, but now winter is setting in. All they have to get them through is the milk from Sarah's goat and Miles's memory of wilderness survival skills. When Sarah tries to regain some normalcy by attending the local school, she realizes she is no longer quite the person she used to be. Now she is Goat Girl, a Traveler, and it's hard to pretend she isn't. And when a horrific twist of fate robs Miles of his memory, he discovers the heart of his true identity. They knew the volcanoes would change the world. Now, in order to survive, they must change with it.

Kimberly

Sunday, September 30, 2012

Banned Books Week


We are celebrating Banned Books Week this week. The American government may not ban books from being printed, bought and sold but books are still frequently requested to be removed from schools and library shelves. During Banned Books Week, we celebrate the freedom to read whatever we want and discuss the dangers of restricting a community's access to books.

In 2011, there were 326 known attempts to remove materials from schools and libraries. The following books were among the top ten books challenged or removed from libraries last year.

 ttyl, tffn, l8r g8r (Internet Girl Series) by Lauren Myracle
Told entirely through instant messages, this series follows the friendship of Maddie, Zoe and Angela, three sixteen-year-old girls ,as they experience some typical pitfalls of adolescence: boys, queen-bee types, a flirty teacher, beer, crazy parents and more.
The Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins
The Capitol of Panem is harsh and cruel and keeps the twelve outlying districts in line by forcing them to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight-to-the-death on live TV. One boy and one girl are selected by lottery to play. Katniss Everdeen regards it as a death sentence when she is forced to participate in the Games. But Katniss has been close to dead before - and survival, for her, is second nature. Without really meaning to, she becomes a contender--and a symbol for rebellion. She will have to start making choices that weigh survival against humanity and life against love.

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
 Junior is a budding cartoonist growing up on the Spokane Indian Reservation. Determined to take his future into his own hands, Junior leaves his troubled school on the rez to attend an all-white farm town high school where the only other Indian is the school mascot. Based on the author's own experiences, this novel chronicles the contemporary adolescence of one Native American boy as he attempts to break away from the life he thought he was destined to live. 

Alice Series by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
The Alice Series follows Alice McKinley as she grows up from third grader  high school graduate in Silver Springs, Maryland. Alic lives with her older brother and father. Her mother died when she was five and Alice struggles growing up in an all-male household. The books follow Alice as she navigates her life, her adventures with her three best friends, her family, and her romantic entanglements 

Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
In 2540, most of the world has been unified into the World State. Through the most efficient scientific and psychological engineering, people are genetically designed to be passive and therefore consistently useful to the ruling class. John has grown up outside of the World State and when he is brought to London, he cannot accept the merits of a world based on consumerism without individuality, spirituality or personal freedom.
What My Mother Doesn't Know by Sonya Sones
Composed entirely in short poems in free-verse, Sophie describes her struggles of freshman year and her relationships with a series of  boys. She's openly dating sexy Dylan, chatting online with Chaz, and crushing on sweet, nerdy Murphy.
Gossip Girl (series) by Cecily Von Ziegesar
This series revolves around the lives and loves of privileged teenagers at the Constance Billard School for Girls, an elite private school in New York City's Upper East Side. The series primarily focuses on best friends Blair and Serena whose experiences are chronicled by an anonymous blogger known as "Gossip Girl."
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Scout lives with her brother Jem and her father Atticus in 1930s Alabama. The children and their friend Dill spend their summers exploring their small town but when Atticus defends a black man accused of rape, Scout discovers that her town is steeped in prejudice, violence and hypocrisy and she learns the power of quiet heroism.

Kimberly

Monday, September 3, 2012

Hunger for Excitement @ Your Library!

It's National Library Card Sign-Up Month and the library has a lot of Hunger Games themed activities going on this month. We'll be showing the film, hosting a scavenger hunt, and there are plenty of chances to win prizes all month long! See our newsletter for more information.

And here are some new Hunger Games readalikes to keep you busy until the Catching Fire movie is released!

The Way We Fall by Megan Crewe
When Kaelyn lets her best friend leave for school without saying goodbye, she never dreams that she might not see him again. But then a strange virus begins to sweep through her small island community, infecting young and old alike. As the dead pile up, the government quarantines the island: no one can leave and no one can come back. Those still healthy must fight for the island's dwindling supplies or lose all chance of survival. As everything familiar comes crashing down, Kaelyn joins forces with a former rival and discovers a new love in the midst of heartbreak. When the virus starts to rob her of friends and family, she clings to the belief that there must be a way to save the people she holds dearest.

After the Snow by S.D. Crockett
The oceans stopped working before Willo was born so the world of ice and snow is all he's ever known. He lives with his family deep in the wilderness, far from the government's controlling grasp. But, suddenly, Willo's survival skills are put to the test when he arrives home one day to find his family missing. It could be the government; it could be scavengers - all Willo knows is he has to find refuge and find his family. It is a journey that will take him into the city he's always avoided, with a girl who needs his help more than he knows.

Legend by Marie Lu
What was once the western United States is now home to the Republic, a nation perpetually at war with its neighbors. Born into an elite family, June is a prodigy being groomed for success in the Republic's highest military circles. Born into the slums, Day is the country's most wanted criminal. But his motives may not be as malicious as they seem. From very different worlds, June and Day have no reason to cross paths--until the day June's brother, Metias, is murdered and Day becomes the prime suspect. Caught in the ultimate game of cat and mouse, Day is in a race for his family's survival, while June seeks to avenge Metias's death. But in a shocking turn of events, the two uncover the truth of what has really brought them together and the sinister lengths their country will go to keep its secrets. 

Ashfall by Mike Mullin
Alex is home alone when the Yellowstone supervolcano erupts. His town collapses into a nightmare of darkness, ash, and violence, forcing him to flee. Now Alex must journey from Cedar Falls, Iowa, to Illinois to find his parents and sister. Along the way, he struggles with a landscape transformed by more than a foot of ash. The disaster brings out the best and worst in people desperate for food, clean water, and shelter. When an escaped convict injures Alex, he searches for a sheltered place where he can wait--to heal or to die. Instead, he finds Darla. Together, they fight to achieve a nearly impossible goal: surviving the supervolcano.

And don't forget to read Divergent by Veronica Roth! You can also find more dystopian novels here.

Kimberly






Saturday, July 21, 2012

Read-a-thon!

We're having a Read-a-thon at the library on Saturday, July 28, at 1pm! Come and bring whatever book you're reading or we'll match you up with a great new book. We'll also have pizza and giveaways. Come hang out with your friends and other teens and discuss your favorite books or just enjoy some food and a good book.

I thought that I would share with you some of the books that I've enjoyed recently.

Jasper Jones by Craig Silvey
Charlie Bucktin is startled one summer night by an urgent knock on his bedroom window. His visitor is Jasper Jones, an outcast in their small mining town, and he has come to ask for Charlie's help. Terribly afraid but desperate to impress, Charlie follows him into the night. Jasper takes him to his secret glade, where Charlie witnesses Jasper's horrible discovery. With his secret like a brick in his belly, Charlie is pushed and pulled by a town closing in on itself in fear and suspicion. He locks horns with his tempestuous mother, falls nervously in love, and battles to keep a lid on his zealous best friend. Jasper Jones is a 2012 Printz Honor Book and  it's one of the best books I've read so far this year and features some unforgettable characters--especially Charlie's best friend, Jeffrey Lu.

The Académie by Susanne Dunlap
I love French history so this book instantly intrigued me. Eliza Monroe-daughter of the future president of the United States-is devastated when her mother decides to send her to boarding school outside of Paris. But the American teen is quickly reconciled to the idea when she discovers who her fellow pupils will be: Hortense de Beauharnais, daughter of Josephine Bonaparte, and Caroline Bonaparte, youngest sister of the famous French general. It doesn't take long for Eliza to figure out that the two French girls are mortal enemies-and that she's about to get caught in the middle of their schemes. Loosely drawn from history, The Académie provides a scintillating glimpse into the lives, loves, and hopes of three young women during one of the most volatile periods in French history. 

Insurgent by Veronica Roth
I loved Divergent and couldn't wait to read the sequel! As unrest surges in the factions all around her, Tris Prior must continue trying to save those she loves as well as herself. War now looms as conflict between the factions and their ideologies grows. And in times of war, sides must be chosen, secrets will emerge, and choices will become even more irrevocable and even more powerful. Transformed by her own decisions but haunted by grief and guilt, radical new discoveries, and shifting relationships, Tris must fully embrace her Divergence, even if she does not know what she may lose by doing so. Now that I've finished Insurgent, I'm dying to read the last book in the trilogy!

Chi's Sweet Home by Kanata Konami
This is my favorite manga series! Chi is a mischievous newborn kitten who, while on a leisurely stroll with her family, finds herself lost. Overcome with loneliness she breaks into tears in a large urban park but is suddenly rescued by a young boy named Yohei and his mother. The kitty is then quickly and quietly whisked away into the warm and inviting Yamada family apartment...where pets are strictly not permitted. This is such a cute and silly manga series and it's a favorite of several Anime & Manga Club members. Chi is just so adorable and reminds me of my own cat!

I am also currently in the middle of two excellent books:

The Miseducation of Cameron Post by Emily M. Danforth
I've had trouble putting this one down! When Cameron Post's parents die suddenly in a car crash, her shocking first thought is relief. Relief they'll never know that, hours earlier, she had been kissing a girl. But that relief doesn't last, and Cam is soon forced to move in with her conservative Aunt Ruth and her well-intentioned but hopelessly old-fashioned grandmother. She knows that from this point on, her life will forever be different. Then Coley Taylor moves to town. Beautiful, pickup-driving Coley is a perfect cowgirl with the perfect boyfriend to match. She and Cam forge an unexpected and intense friendship--one that seems to leave room for something more to emerge. But just as that starts to seem like a real possibility, ultrareligious Aunt Ruth takes drastic action to "fix" her niece, bringing Cam face-to-face with the cost of denying her true self--even if she's not exactly sure who that is. 

Legend by Marie Lu
Yes, it's another novel about a dystopian America but the story and characters are so addicting! What was once the western United States is now home to the Republic, a nation perpetually at war with its neighbors. Born into an elite family in one of the Republic's wealthiest districts, June is a prodigy being groomed for success in the Republic's highest military circles. Born into the slums, Day is the country's most wanted criminal--but his motives may not be as malicious as they seem. From very different worlds, June and Day have no reason to cross paths--until the day June's brother, Metias, is murdered and Day becomes the prime suspect. Caught in the ultimate game of cat and mouse, Day is in a race for his family's survival, while June seeks to avenge Metias's death. But in a shocking turn of events, the two uncover the truth of what has really brought them together, and the sinister lengths their country will go to keep its secrets.

So what are you currently reading?

Kimberly