The Great World of Books

Author: Veronica Roth Rating: 9/10 Age: 12+ Genre: Fiction, Family, Science Fiction Pages: 487 Published in: April 2011 Main Characters: Tris, Caleb, Four, Christina, Will, Al Synopsis:   The word “divergent” is defined as “differing from each other or from a standard .” This story begins with a 16 year old girl named Beatrice. In Chicago, society is divided into five factions, or groups, each dedicated to the personality of a person. These groups consist of the following: 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. Beatrice, her parents and her brother all belong to the Abnegation faction, and for her, the decision is between staying with her family or being who she really is—she can’t have both. So sh...

  Author: Jackson Pierce Rating: 10/10 Age: 12+ Genre: Fiction, mystery, Horror, Paranormal Fiction Pages: 336 Published in:  2011 Main Characters: Gretchen, Ansel, Samuel, Sophia Synopsis:   This book is a modern recreation of the famous fairy tale, Hansel and Gretel.  As a child, Gretchen's twin sister was taken by a witch in the woods. At least that’s what they convinced everyone. No matter how hard they tried, no one ever seemed to believe them. Ever since, Gretchen and her brother, Ansel, have felt the long branches of the witch's forest threatening to make them disappear too. Years later, when their selfish stepmother casts Gretchen and Ansel out, they find themselves in sleepy Live Oak somewhere in South Carolina. They're invited to stay with a girl similar to their age, Sophia Kelly, a beautiful candy maker who molds and sells sugary magic-covered treats that create confidence, brav...