Insurgent by Veronica Roth

Synopsis (from goodreads.com):

One choice can transform you--or it can destroy you. But every choice has consequences, and as unrest surges in the factions all around her, Tris Prior must continue trying to save those she loves--and herself--while grappling with haunting questions of grief and forgiveness, identity and loyalty, politics and love.

Tris's initiation day should have been marked by celebration and victory with her chosen faction; instead, the day ended with unspeakable horrors. 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 also by haunting 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.

"New York Times" bestselling author Veronica Roth's much-anticipated second book of the dystopian "Divergent" series is another intoxicating thrill ride of a story, rich with hallmark twists, heartbreaks, romance, and powerful insights about human nature.

Jillian’s Review:

As action (and violence) packed as the first book, Divergent. There’s also a good bit of romance without too much detail. I’m annoyed that Tris thinks she has to keep everything inside and secret when every readers knows as soon as the truth comes out it will destroy the relationships of those around her. It’s one of those books that a lot of problems could be solved or eliminated all together if the characters would just talk. Thankfully the truth does come out and not at the very end, so things are resolved throughout the rest of the read. I do like though, that Tris is kind of weak in this second book just because she feels more realistic. We finally find out what this weird society is all for but have to wait until book three, title unknown to be release in 2013, for an ending (hopefully!). I'm looking forward to it, thought I'm glad I get a break from the blood and guts for a while. Best for the older Young Adult reader as there is A LOT of violence…like Hunger Games.

MOCKINGJAY by Suzanne Collins

On the back cover:

"Katniss Everdeen, girl on fire, has survived, even though her home has been destroyed. Gale has escaped. Katniss's family is safe. Peeta has been  captured by the Capitol. District 13 really does exist. There are rebels. There are new leaders. A revolution is unfolding.

 It is by design that Katnss was rescued from the arena of the cruel and haunting Quarter Quell, and it is by design that she has long been part of the revolution without knowing it. District 13 has come out of the shadows and is plotting to overthrow the Capitol. Everyone, it seems, has had a hand in the carefully laid plans- except Katniss.

 The success of the rebellion hinges on Katniss's willingness to be a pawn, to accept responsibility for countless lives, and to change the course of the future of Panem. To do this, she must put aside her feelings of anger and distrust. She must become the rebel's Mockingjay- no matter what the personal cost."

Jennifer's Review:

I LOVED Hunger Games. I liked Catching Fire a lot. Mockingjay? It was such a disappointment. The beginning was going along like the first two but then it turned into, what seemed to me, just a book to get finished by the author. It was rushed and the very end had so little detail that I just sat there when I was done and thought, "WHAT??"

 I am grateful for an ending but am so disappointed in what little details were given.

I give Mockingjay 3 1/2 stars.

Divergent by Veronica Roth

Synopsis (from goodreads.com):

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.

Jillian’s Review:

This was like reading a cross between the Hunger Games and The Host (after the first 100 pages). Fast-paced, action packed, with enough romance to keep me turning the page without blushing from too much detail.

I loved how each character grew, which is essential for a YA novel. The way the society was broken down was a bit unbelievable, like Delirium, but there’s so much going on that it wasn’t blasting me in the face the whole time.

Intelligently written. Can't wait for the next one in the series.

Probably best for older teen because of the violence, which was on the level as Hunger Games.