38.13: World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War, by Max Brooks (2006 paperback)

I picked this up in SFO during a layover/delay, and it was the perfect travel companion: short chapters, lots of action, and good storytelling. And, of course, zombies.

20-22.13: We Find Ourselves, A Larger World, and Something to Fear (Walking Dead Volumes 15-17), by Robert Kirkman, Charlie Adlard, and Cliff Rathburn (v 15 and 16 ComiXology digital versions; v 17 2012 trade paperback)

Many folks are familiar with The Walking Dead television show that debuted on AMC in the fall of 2010 with a short 6-episode season that has been renewed for two longer seasons since then. A portion of those viewers may know that the show is actually based on this graphic novel series, but I'm guessing that even fewer of those people have actually read the comics. I'm on the other end of the spectrum: a long-time reader of the comics that has not yet watched the TV show. It's in my sights, and I've recently set our DVR to record episodes that play, but I am still resistant of watching the TV show. Like most book-to-movie leaps, it has the danger of being disappointing: characters who aren't the way I imagined, changed plot lines, and too much focus on different elements. 

And, quite frankly, I'm pretty happy with the way The Walking Dead comic series has developed. Sure, a lot of folks may dismiss it as just another of many things written about zombies, but it might be worth pointing out that the book really isn't about zombies: it's about humans managing to live in a world where zombies exist, and that's not a very easy thing to do. As a  result, the characters developed in this series are interesting, resourceful, violent, and loving. Sure, I can get all metaphorical about the idea that all of us face zombies of some sort at some point of our life--and many are unfortunate enough to face off against monstrous things for long periods of time. But, you, my readers, are intelligent humans and know this already. 

By this point in time, the series is well underway, and volume 17 passes the magical 100-issue mark. I have reviews of a couple earlier trades posted here and here, but I was already on to volume 13 by the time I started this blog. You're simply going to have to trust me on the fact that this series is worth the time and effort involved. Plus, you won't have to wait between issues and trades if you do start now: you have an entire 102 issues to enjoy. Unless you're afraid, of course.

18-19.13: Endangered Species and Unnatural Habitats (Sweet Tooth, Volumes 4 and 5), by Jeff Lemire (2012 trade paperbacks)

A little over a year ago, I wrote a relatively sheepish review of the previous two volumes of this comic, confessing that I was a bit embarrassed that it was in my repertoire. However, after catching up on the two most recent trades, I have a hard time understanding my own feelings at the time. This is, in truth, a beautifully conceived story, with a diverse array of well-developed characters and remarkable art. The themes of human endurance, childhood resilience, and reinventing oneself are thoughtfully explored. So what if there are hybrid animal-human children? They simply represent the parts of all of us that we hide from others.

Gus and his hybrid cohort don't have that luxury of hiding what is different about then, but as the series continues, it becomes apparent that that might be preferable. After all, it makes it pretty clear from the start just what kind of folks Gus and his friends--human and hybrid--are dealing with when they encounter new people. In Volume 4, the group of five human adults and three hybrid kids heads north to Alaska, rumored to be the origin of the sickness that is killing all humans and creating hybrid children. Along the way, they encounter potential allies and are tempted to give up their quest. In volume 5, Lemire explores the early history of the sickness and more recent history of several of the characters, furthering our connection to the plot and its people. Like most comics both written and drawn by the same person, there is a unity and continuity here that is hard to match in collaborative projects. The premise seems far-reaching and has lots of room to grow, and I, for one, will follow it until the end.      

16-17.13: Free States Rising and The Five Nations of New York (Volumes 11 and 12 of DMZ), by Brian Wood and Riccardo Burchielli (2012 trade paperbacks)

Before reading this review, take a minute to read my review of the previous two trades, available at this link. As I explain there, this comic is one I really love, even though a war comic--depicting a second American Civil War taking place in the years after 9/11--doesn't really seem to be my cup of tea. However, Wood's excellent storytelling and Burchielli's gritty and intense artwork create a compelling and thought-provoking alternate reality, in a genre appropriately labeled "poli-fi" by the author of volume 12's introduction.

Volume 11 opens with Wood taking us back to the events that led up to the civil war, filling in some details I had always wondered about. Journalist Matty Roth is reunited with some old friends in the second half of the trade, and rumors of peace and a truce are flourishing. In Volume 12, Matty actively works to see those rumors come to fruition, tying together many storylines we've encountered throughout the 72-issue run. Sadly enough, volume 12 also marks the conclusion of this series. It's always disappointing to see the end of a good comic, but I also appreciate authors who have a sense of story and know when theirs has run its course. I'll be watching out for Wood's next project, and I look forward to dinging out what unexpected places he draws me into next.

39.12: The Twelve (Book 2 of The Passage Trology), by Justin Cronin (2012 hardcover)

This book is the sequel to The Passage, which was published in 2010. I had originally planned to link to my entry for that book and tell you that it would fill in the early story, but as it turns out, I don't have an entry for that book. I must have started the blog after reading it--or simply forgot to write about it afterward. It happens.

So, if you want the details for the first book, you'll have to look elsewhere. Suffice it to say that I enjoyed The Passage enough that I was pretty excited to see The Twelve on the shelve of my local bookstore. It stars PostApocalyptic vampires, so what's not to like? As in most vampire books, there's a special twist here, and in this case a mutated strain of a bat virus infects the human poulation and turns them into horrific killing machines. Even better, the virus was purposely mutated by military scientists and tested on (Twelve) serial killers and likewise stellar citizens. Who could have foreseen that plan going awry? 

Based on this premise, the first book explores the world post-virus--cosisting of human enclaves huddled in highly reinforced walled cities shining bright lights out into the desolate surroundings. (Vampires hate light, if you were unaware of this fact.) A small group of people eventually leave one of these enclaves in search of the origin of the problem, and book one follows their journey. In book two, we go both back and forward in time to see more about how these situation developed, increase the cast of characters (necessary when folks keep getting killed off), and build hope that the human race will survive. The ending is appropriately ambiguous to allow for what will surely be the third novel in a trilogy. 

While the sequel wasn't quite as riveting as its predecessor, it's worth reading if you liked The Passage. And, I enjoyed it enough that I will keep my eyes peeled for volume three.  

35.12: The Kill Order, by James Dashner. (2012 hardcover)

This is a prequel to The Maze Runner series, so I'd really recommend that you start there before reading this one. I read books one and two in 2011 and book three earlier this year, and you can check out my reviews at this link and this link. Overall, this was a good addition to the series, and I look forward to what I assume will be a second prequel release--forming an eventual trilogy (pre-trilogy?) of its own--if things go according to the seemingly usual release schedule of TeenLit. 

27.12: The Wind Through the Keyhole (A Dark Tower book), by Stephen King (Published 2012, iBook edition)

If you follow this blog, you know that I'm a Stephen King fan. For more on this--and for reviews of King books I've read since January 2011--simply click on the King tag in the right-hand column of my blog and you can catch up with my King fandom. 

Now that you are caught up, I'll have to say that I may love Stephen King books, but it's his Dark Tower series that I love the most.  Interestingly, the seven novels that make up King's original Gunslinger tales are likely the least known of his books. He's much more popular for his horror novels, and, while I'm a fan of those books as well, the Dark Tower series is superior for those who like books about fantasy worlds, such as Tolkien's Lord of the Rings or Pulling's His Dark Materials series. Since the books were published between 1974 and 2004 (Yep, that's a 30-year span, but you're a lucky reader because you won't have to wait for the next book to come out as I did!), I haven't reviewed them here, so let me provide you with a summary borrowed by the Official Dark Tower website: "The Dark Tower series tells the story of Roland Deschain, Mid-World’s last gunslinger, who is traveling southeast across Mid-World’s post-apocalyptic landscape, searching for the powerful but elusive magical edifice known as The Dark Tower. Located in the fey region of End-World, amid a sea of singing red roses, the Dark Tower is the nexus point of the time-space continuum.  It is the heart of all worlds, but it is also under threat. Someone, or something, is using the evil technology of the Great Old Ones to destroy it." If that intrigues you, click this link to visit the site for more details about the books, their inspiration (Browning and Tolkien), etc.

Frankly, while this book claims to be a stand-alone volume, a supplement that would fall somewhere between volumes four and five in the series timeline, I wouldn't recommend it if you aren't familiar with the Gunslinger and his ka-tet--Eddie, Susannah, and Jake--and their billy-bumbler companion named Oy. While King goes to some pains to explain these characters (and the entire series premise) in a foreword, it seems to me that the world within the pages of this book would be much paler and shallow without the knowledge of the kingdom of Gilead and its demise that are explored in the earlier books. If you're looking for a great new world of adventure, I'd certainly start by reading the first four books in the Dark Tower series and adding this as volume 4.5. 

Now! Read them now! (Really, I highly recommend the series and am a bit jealous that you have the chance to encounter them for the first time.)

One caution: While I compared the Gunslinger books to Tolkien and Pullman--both with series read by younger audiences--King's books are for more mature readers. While they are by no means overly graphic, they do contain references to sex, drugs, and violence, and the characters swear just about as much as do a good number of humans you know. I'd say that these books are most appropriate for the teens and mature 'tweens of parents who understand that kids can read literature with adult themes and benefit accordingly.

26.12: Insurgent (Book 2 of Divergent series), by Veronica Roth (2012 hardcover)

In May of 2011, I recommended Divergent to those enjoying The Hunger Games. After reading Roth's second book in this series, Insurgent, I am not convinced that it is as good as HG, but it is still a decent TeenLit selection that will keep me looking for future releases.

To learn more about the premise of the Divergent series, check out my review of the first book. As with any series in general, but with TeenLit in particular, it's pretty important that you read these things in order. In fact, if you haven't read Divergent and plan to check it out, I'd suggest that you stop reading here so as not to encounter any spoilers.

If you're still reading, that means you've already read the first book, don't plan to read either, or simply are one of those (weird) people who reads the last page of a book first. Either way, I'm letting you know that Tris joined the Dauntless faction--something I withheld in my review of Divergent. As a member of this group, she fought a battle with Erudite, the faction that led a war on the other factions by controlling the minds of people in the remaining four groups and forcing them to engage in violence against each other. Some of the Dauntless actually joined the Erudite in this endeavor, and in the second book they are referred to as the Dauntless traitors. By the time the second book opens, there is a calm in the fighting, as Tris and other Divergent Dauntless (including the beloved Four/Tobias) were not affected by the simulation and managed to interrupt the mind-control activity.

In Insurgent, Tris and her fellow Dauntless leave their headquarters and spend time with both the Candor and Abnegation--in addition to making contact with the factionless outsiders of society. Ultimately Tris must decide whether she will remain faithful to her chosen faction or seek the truth regardless of the consequences. You may have a decent guess, but you'll have to read the book to find out whether or not you are right.

(PS: As with my reflection on the Delirium/Pandemonium series in my previous posting, I am also pondering what the third title in this series may be: Divergent, Insurgent, Convergent?)

9.12: Crossed, by Ally Condie (2011 hardcover)

Fresh off the heels of complaining about the romance in my previous TeenLit read, I picked up this  teen romance. It seems a bad choice in retrospect, but I couldn't help myself; I read the first volume in the series some time ago and had been looking forward to the release of the second. In Entry 62, I discuss the first book, Matched, which I liked enough to call a teen version of 1984 or Brave New World. The Society (Yes, with a capital ess) depicted in Matched was interesting, allowing the romance to mellow in the background as readers were exposed to additional infringements on freedom taking place behind the calm, white-washed surface of Society.

In Crossed, though, Society takes back stage as Cassia and Ky struggle to define themselves, find each other, and survive in the Outer Provinces and beyond. There are only limited glimpses of the world they are escaping and the world they are fleeing to (likely not as ideal as Cassia believes), and during the remaining time were are stuck with the two young lovers, yearning, and long meaningful glances. The end of the book, however, left me with hope for the future of the franchise, as it is clear we are going to get dumped back into Society and unSociety in the third book. Please, Condie, tip the scales back to social commentary and away from moony teens.

3.12: The Death Cure (Book 3 of the Maze Runner trilogy), by James Dashner (2011 hardcover)

I'm trying to buy fewer books this year, as I've noted in earlier postings, but after the terrible book I last read, it was easy to justify my purchase of The Death Cure when I stopped in Northtown Books after brunch on Sunday. And, I reasoned, if I already have the first two books in this trilogy, don't I have to own the final one?

As you can see, this is the beginning of a very slippery slope. And that's not even when you take into account the fact that I bought two other books--one also the continuation of a series I've started and the other by one of my favorite authors, William Gibson. My friend Diqui, the most dedicated client of the McIntyre Free Public Library, pointed out that she is happy I bought these books, seeing as she too has read the others and looks forward to borrowing them from me. So, yes, the next time you see Diqui, you can let her know that she is a book-purchasing enabler. Obviously, I love her.

Truthfully, I have no regrets about falling off the book-buying wagon. I thoroughly immersed myself in Dashner's final volume of the Maze Runner series (reviewed here in entries 60 and 61) and finished within a day--even with the first week of the semester interrupting. I filled you in on the premise of the series in the earlier entries, so I'll just say that this one does not fail to satisfy. There is plenty of action, amplified by mad scientists, the crazy near-dead masses, and political extremists. And, while I sometimes tire of those evil-scientist characters--Do we really need more anti-science models in today's political climate?--they do make for smart, despicable foes. If you haven't already read The Maze Runner and The Scorch Trials, you should start there. If you have already done so, what are you waiting for? Get out and get a copy of The Death Cure. Or stop by and borrow mine and make me feel better about my vice.

101-2.11: Sweet Tooth, Volume 2 "In Captivity" and Volume 3 "Animal Armies," by Jeff Lemire (trade paperbacks, issues 6-11 and 12-17, 2010/11)

 The other day when we were talking about the "value" of different leisure activities--watching TV, reading, playing Xbox, crafts, etc.--my husband Eddie made a disparaging comment about Sweet Tooth. I was a bit offended at first and asked him what he knew about it. He said he had picked up and flipped through one of my trades when it was sitting on the coffee table at my sister's house. It isn't real literature, he suggested, and I suppose he is right to some extent. It's not the type of thing I would likely read in public--unless that public involved a high number of comic readers--so even I must confess to a degree of speculation. The cover pictures themselves likely lead some of you to raise an eyebrow. A boy with antlers? A girl with a pig snout? Yet, here I am writing about the series on my blog, so I'm not THAT embarrassed.

While I wouldn't be willing to take a side defending Sweet Tooth as a great work of literature, it has some significant merits that put it solidly in the literature realm. The plot is interesting and engaging, the characters are complex, and it addresses societal issues in the guise of metaphor. You see, it's not just that these kids have animal features: some folks don't believe they exist; others know and fear them; and still others--the minority--know and love them. It's mainly the parents of the hybrids that fall into the later category, as the women gave birth to these humans with animal characteristics after a plague struck the U.S.--killing the majority of people and sending things into complete disarray in a short period of time. Unfortunately, that same plague usually kills the parents before too long, leaving the kids alone and defenseless against those fighting for survival. From the very start, the antlered Sweet Tooth--so called for his love of candy--is a sympathetic and endearing character; perhaps it's some built-in Bambi reaction, but I want him to make it. It's an up and down struggle, of course, in the world drawn in these books, and I'm sure the battle will continue throughout the series. Along the way, the premise allows for an exploration of bigotry and fear, what it means to be human, and good versus evil (and shades in between). And, Lemire's story and art are both strong enough for me to continue that exploration--despite a shade of embarrassment.

86: Julian Comstock: A Story of 22nd-Century America, by Robert Charles Wilson (2009 hardcover)

I chose this book based on Amazon's recommendation and the fact that both Cory Doctorow and Stephen King provided blurbs for the jacket.  King said, "Robert Charles Wilson is a hell of a storyteller," and since I think King is quite the storyteller himself, I thought this was pretty high praise.  The book turned out compelling enough to keep me going through 400+ pages of small font (My perspective has been skewed by all the TeenLit I read these days.), but it's a hard book to describe in many ways.

Mainly the problem of describing the novel arises in assigning it a genre. Wilson is considered a SciFi author, and I suppose that loosely fits things--but very loosely. The story is set in a futuristic 22nd-Century America, but one that looks much more like things did in the 18th century. There are scattered pockets of technology, but on the whole it's much more of a feudal society, with landowners and serfs, a mixed civil and religious political structure with military leanings. There's a constant war that is being waged to maintain the American borders--and a corresponding flag of 13 stripes and 60 stars. It's low tech enough to keep it out of the Steampunk genre, yet there's a flavor of something futuristic at the same time--in a collapse type of way common to Post-Apocalyptic novels, but well after any horror has dissipated.

With all that aside, the novel is primarily a story of friendship--between a lower-born aspiring author (the book's narrator) and the aristocratic son of the slain US President. The two travel across country, engage in numerous battle scenes, make critiques of high society and religion, and comment on socialism and totalitarianism. All in all there is a bit of something in here for everyone, and while I think that it's a more male-oriented plot, there is enough drama and interest to pull most readers along.

83: Revolver, by Matt Kindt (2010 paperback)

In college, my roommate loved it when our digital clock read 11:11--whether morning or night.  It's only one of many small details of this graphic novel that make me enjoy it, but it's a good example of the mundane things that end up being more significant as Revolver continues. In this instance, 11:11 is the time when Sam crosses back and forth from his typical life--a boring job, a girlfriend he adores, and furniture shopping--to another, parallel life--featuring a post apocalyptic version of the same people and places. Or does he?  With an intelligent story line, weird coincidences, and modern psychobabble, it's hard to know which of Sam's lives is real.  Or if either is. 

62: Matched, by Ally Condie (2010 hardcover)

One of the blurbs on the back jacket of the book calls Matched a "dystopian love story," and I suppose that is as good a descriptor as any.  The dystopian part of the description makes it rise above the level of typical teen romance, though, exploring what happens when a society attempts to control every aspect of the lives of its members--from birth (who can bear children, when, and how many), through marriage (if and to whom), and death (by midnight on your 80th birthday). In doing so, Condie encourages her readers to weigh the importance of freedom versus chaos and raises the question of when it's necessary to question authority.

The story kicks off with 17-year-old Cassia riding the train to the city with her parents, her childhood friend and his parents, and many other well-dressed 17-year-olds and their families. As the story unfolds, we learn that the same thing is happening throughout the country, where young men and women are heading to their city hall for a banquet during which they will be introduced to their "match"--the person they will court and then marry at age 21. Characteristics and aptitudes have been entered into a database so that the match chosen for them will be the best possible, ensuring the genetic health of their offspring and a compatible lifestyle for the couple. Cassia has never before questioned the arrangement and looks forward to the unveiling of her match over large TV screens, a system to make matches possible across large geographic areas.  

As they must to make a story, things eventually go wrong with Cassia's match, and she begins to question the very basis of her world. In the process, a fascinating social experiment is revealed, wherein people's education, meal preparation, occupation, and leisure time is standardized and scheduled. And, when things aren't going just as you'd hoped, you can always take the blue, green, or red pill that you are required to carry with you at all times. 

In many ways, the storyline borrows elements of 1984 and Brave New World: there is a war in the borderlands and technology is highly advanced. Unlike those novels, though, Condie has clearly set Matched up for a sequel--or even more likely in the teen world, as the first installment in a trilogy--and I am looking forward to seeing where it leads. 

60-61: The Maze Runner and The Scorch Trials (Books 1 and 2 of the Maze Runner trilogy), by James Dashner (2009 paperback and 2010 hardcover)

I came across this trilogy in postings on the Centurions of 2011 Facebook page regarding the monthly books members have read.  Time and time again, folks commented on these books being among their favorite for the month.  With such regular recommendations, a few tantalizing details, and the promise of a maze, how could I resist trying another post-apocalyptic TeenLit series?

I'll have to say that when reading the first third of The Maze Runner, I was less than enthralled. The main character is a whiny, self-centered 16-year-old boy named Thomas, and I felt no kinship with him. Had I been trapped in the center (the Glade) of the maze with him and his 50 or so teen male cohorts, I would have wanted to smack him--and pretty much every one of them--upside the head and told him to get over himself.  Sure your memory has been wiped, sure you are trapped in a prison for unknown crimes, and sure horrific creatures lurk in the corridors waiting to kill you, but...sheesh.  Enough of the moping and discourteous behavior, Thomas.  Snap out of it!

And, of course, he does snap out of it. After all, as in all teen post-apocalyptic tales, these young folks must rise to the occasion.  Or be eaten by monsters.

By the middle of the first volume, enthrallment kicked in, and I rushed right on to The Scorch Trials, where the girls finally show up.  Rather than the surreal, obviously fabricated maze, the two teen teams now enter the real world--alternating between cities filled with insane, zombie-like Cranks, a nightmare landscape with relentless sun beating down on a desert wasteland, and torrential wind and lightening storms destroying anything alive on said wasteland.  It's a world devastated by sun flairs and an extremely contagious fatal disease. And monsters, but different monsters.

I read these first volumes in two days, and despite how busy I am preparing for this Saturday's pig roast and the looming first day of the semester, I'm going to get to Northtown Books as soon as possible to pick up the trilogy's conclusion, The Death Cure. 

53: Glow (Sky Chasers, Volume 1), by Amy Kathleen Ryan (2011 advance reader paperback; release 9.27.2011)

My friend Marsha Mielke loaned me this book, saying that she'd be interested to hear what I thought about the religious aspect of it. I'm an atheist, and while she doesn't share my views, we have easy conversations about religion and belief.  The thing is, that while some atheists find religious themes unattractive or uncomfortable, I actually don't mind them when they are used effectively.  Thirteen years of Catholic school steeped me in the stories of that religion, so there is almost a comfort in recognizing the symbols and myths that play themselves out over the course of human history. While I don't believe in a god and the attendant behaviors, I have no problem with the fact that many people do--unless they are using their religion to oppress, condemn, or judge others.

That's the thing that makes the story of Glow interesting: a religious theme is used to explore societal issues, human survival, and treatment of others. The setting is aboard two spacecraft hurtling through space on a decades-long journey to a replacement planet in order to start Earth culture over again. (I'm sure they'll do it right this time.) These, of course, are huge crafts, with gardens, farms, labs, living quarters--basically very Next Generation-ish. What we come to learn over the course of time is that the two crafts started off with one difference; crew members on one were religious/ Christian, and the crew on the other were non-believers and members of other religions, with a few Christians mixed in.  As the story unfolds, Waverly and Kieran, teens in the first generation born in space aboard the mixed belief ship, must face the problems caused by another difference that developed after the ships--traveling light years apart--left Earth.  While their ship managed to develop a cure to the infertility that plagued the crafts, the Christian ship never did. Nor were they willing to share their cure with their Christian counterparts. (Yeah, sort of makes the outlook on successfully avoiding the problems that caused this migration in the first place look a bit bleak, huh?)

Enter violent attacks, religious fervor, teen angst...

The book is pretty good, even if it doesn't compare to the Hunger Games series (a required reference on the jacket cover every TeenLit SciF Post Apocalyptic series). The romance playing second fiddle to the societal structures and issues explored. The religious theme doesn't fully present itself until the last third of the book, and it doesn't come down too specifically on either side of the aisle.  In the closing Acknowledgements, Ryan explains that "The theories of Sacvan Bercovitch, Ph.D., described in his remarkable book The Puritan Origins of the American Self shaped the major themes in Glow." I have to confess that I won't be racing out to explore those theories in the original, but I will patiently wait for them to make their way into the sequel.

48: The Walking Dead (Volume 13): Too Far Gone, by Robert Kirkman, Charlie Adlard, and Cliff Rathburn (2010 trade paperback, issues 73-78)

Humans versus zombies.

If you've made it past that bit and are still interested, I suppose I'll tell you a bit more. The premise is pretty standard--something caused some humans to become zombies, and they spread the disease by attacking other humans and eating pieces of them. You've seen it in every zombie book, film, or show. However, this series has been successful, I think, because of the interesting characters developed on the human side. The zombies rarely make an appearance--only enough to unsettle the survivors and complicate their lives.  To survive, the diverse crew of once-strangers must make difficult decisions, trust one another, and seek out ever-dwindling resources.

It's a long, stumbling road to the thirteenth trade, but well worth the journey of you are up for it. I didn't have the chance to watch it, but there was a TV series based on the series that was released last season and got pretty good reviews. Anyone watch it and/or know if it's been picked up for a second season?

26: Divergent, by Veronica Roth (2011 hardcover)

If you enjoyed Collins's Hunger Games teen series, you'll enjoy Roth's Divergent as well.  I haven't decided yet whether it's quite as good--I'll wait until the second book in the trilogy is released to make that decision--but I can tell you that I read through the fast-paced post-apocalyptic story over the course of two busy days, fitting some reading time whenever I could and staying up late to finish.

The protagonist of Divergent is a 16-year-old girl, coming of age in a society that has rebuilt itself after a devastating war by having people commit to one of five factions which live their lives based on characteristics opposite of those they believe led to war in the first place.  At 16, children must pick one of these factions, in which they will live out their lives: Candor, Abnegation, Dauntless, Erudite, and Amity.  While raised by their parents within one of these factions, each new adult has the opportunity to join whichever group he/she desires, guided by the results of a virtual-action personality test.  While Beatrice has been raised in Abnegation, leading a life of political and humanitarian service (selfless people will do the best for others, it's believed), she has always struggled to conform to Abnegation expectations.  When she takes her test, she discovers why: she is one of a small percentage of people who identify with more than one faction in testing--in her case Candor, Abnegation, and Dauntless--making her one of the Divergent.  She is told she must keep this a secret, as Divergence is dangerous.   

I don't want to add a spoiler here, so I won't tell you which of the three factions Beatrice chooses.  However, suffice it to say that dividing people into five personality/behavior types started out as a good social experiment, but the system has degenerated over time.   Mistrust and corruption have led to divisiveness, and faction charters and constitutions have been distorted.  As divergent, Beatrice--or Tris, as she becomes known--is exactly the type of person that may be able to do something about this.  And, in TeenLit fashion, she wont have to do it alone, as long as the dark, sexy Four is at her side.

All in all, it's a promising first novel by Roth, and I'm looking forward to the second in the series.  And, if you loved Hunger Games as much as I did, it's at least a good read to kill some time before Collins releases some new work.