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 Day Before by Lisa Schroeder

Title: The Day Before
Author: Lisa Schroeder
Pages: 320
Publication Date: June 28, 2011
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Format: Ebook
Source: Simon and Schuster Galley Grab

Summary from Good Reads:
Amber’s life is spinning out of control. All she wants is to turn up the volume on her iPod until all of the demands of family and friends fade away. So she sneaks off to the beach to spend a day by herself.
Then Amber meets Cade. Their attraction is instant, and Amber can tell he’s also looking for an escape. Together they decide to share a perfect day: no pasts, no fears, no regrets.
The more time that Amber spends with Cade, the more she’s drawn to him. And the more she’s troubled by his darkness. Because Cade’s not just living in the now—he’s living each moment like it’s his last.

My Thoughts:

What a great FAST read this book was!  This free verse novel was excellent-- it grabbed my attention in the first few pages and held it until the end.  I really liked the suspenseful way Lisa Schroeder revealed Amber and Cade's different issues.  Amber's story in particular was very captivating.  This novel uses a minimum amount of words to make the reader feel and think a lot about life, love, family, and relationships.

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.

Cascade by Lisa Bergren

Title: Cascade

Author: Lisa Bergren

Series: The Rivers of Time Book #2

Format: Ebook on my Nook Color

Summary from Good Reads:

Mom touched my underdress—a gown made six hundred years before—and her eyes widened as she rubbed the raw silk between thumb and forefinger. She turned and touched Lia’s gown. “Where did you get these clothes?”          

Gabi knows she’s left her heart in the fourteenth century and she persuades Lia to help her to return, even though they know doing so will risk their very lives. When they arrive, weeks have passed and all of Siena longs to celebrate the heroines who turned the tide in the battle against Florence—while the Florentines will go to great lengths to see them dead.

But Marcello patiently awaits, and Gabi must decide if she’s willing to leave her family behind for good in order to give her heart to him forever

My Thoughts:

Cascade is the second book in the River of Times series by Lisa Bergren and it is every bit as good as the first in the series, Waterfall.  Cascade is even more action packed as Gabi and Lia return to the 14th century, this time with their mother in tow!  Marcello and his best friend and protector Luca are thrilled to see Gabi and Lia again, but there is little time to relax as Marcello's world erupts into warfare with the girls caught up in the middle of the politics.  Once again this is a clean read with plenty of romance and action.  I really enjoyed the fast pace, the realistic plot twists, and the new direction the story takes at the end.... which left me anxiously awaiting the release of Torrent, the third book in the series.  Highly recommended.

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. 

Getting Started with my new blog name

Over the past several months I have posted information to a blog under the name livelyreads.  I decided that I really like the name "The Lively Reader" and I was lucky enough to get a gmail and blogger address with this name.  So..... I am going to start posting all of my blog posts here now.  School is just finishing up for the summer so I am excited to tackle a fun pile of reading.  I have also read a LOT of books that I have not reviewed so I plan to get started on that.  So, welcome to The Lively Reader blog!