I absolutely loved Divergent when I read it earlier this year. I have been itching to read Insurgent, which won the 2012 Goodreads Choice Award for BeI absolutely loved Divergent when I read it earlier this year. I have been itching to read Insurgent, which won the 2012 Goodreads Choice Award for Best Young Adult Fantasy and Best Goodreads Author.
It was great to re-immerse myself in Roth’s world of factions and factionless. The story resumes immediately from where Divergent ended, which was where we saw Tris and Tobias on the train to Amity with Marcus and Caleb. Everyone now has to deal with the fall-out from Amity’s mind-control simulation and new alliances are being formed between factions. I enjoyed this shift in stability, and there is much political unrest. Roth addresses one of the burning questions that I had when I read Divergent: Why don’t the factionless just get together and overthrow the other factions?
Although I didn’t love it as much as Divergent, I still really enjoyed Insurgent and can’t wait to read Allegiant when it comes out in October 2013.
This is another great narration by Emma Galvin. She portrays teenage Tris so well, without being overly dramatic. I love the attitude she brings to Tris' character! ...more
This historical fiction novel is based on the flood of 1889 in that struck Johnstown, Pennsylvania and killed moI read this book aloud to my children.
This historical fiction novel is based on the flood of 1889 in that struck Johnstown, Pennsylvania and killed more than 2,000 people. The author’s grandparents survived this tragedy, and this story was crafted with their memories of the events. The story’s protagonist is Megan Maxwell, who is 15 years old. Her father owns Johnstown’s finest department store, and her family is the wealthiest in town. However, when the South Fork Dam breaks and the floodwaters rise, this girl is no different than anyone else. Social classes are cast aside, and everyone helps everyone else. Despite the catastrophe, there is a feeling of hope and inspiration as families work together to rebuild the town. There is real teamwork here, with some people involved in search and rescue and others who have medical training tending to the wounded. The ones who still have roofs over their heads have thrown open their doors wide to the displaced victims. I love the general tone of triumph over disaster.
What a great survival story and an interesting piece of history! My children and I just loved it, and we could not put it down!! We would recommend it to everyone....more
I read this historical fiction classic aloud to my children. It takes place in 1864 during the pioneer days, and it won the 1936 Newbery Medal.
Caddie I read this historical fiction classic aloud to my children. It takes place in 1864 during the pioneer days, and it won the 1936 Newbery Medal.
Caddie is 11 years old, and she is a tomboy who feels more comfortable roughhousing with her brothers (Tom, age 13 and Warren, age 9) than cooking and sewing with her sisters. Interestingly, the adventurous children in the Woodlawn family were the red-headed ones, and the dark-haired ones were more proper. The family moved from Boston to Wisconsin, and both Caddie and her sister, Mary, were frail and weak. After little Mary died, Father begged Mother to let him try an experiment with Caddie because he was desperate not to lose another child. He wanted Caddie to be allowed to play in the sunshine because he believed it would restore her health. He didn't want her to be keep indoors being raised as a proper young lady. He was right. Caddie thrived, and she was the apple of her father's eye.
Across the Menomonie River, there lived a local Native American tribe. Caddie struck up a friendship with the Chief, whom the kids called Indian John, and the natives were fascinated with the red-haired children. They did not mind when the kids crossed the river to come for a visit.
A rumour runs rampant among the white settlers that the natives are planning a massacre, which was what happened two years before when the Minnesota Natives killed over one thousand white settlers. Because of this, most of the settlers are apprehensive about the natives. Father does not believe that the rumour is true because he trusts the honour of Indian John and his tribe. The settlers are afraid, and they band together so that they can be united in the event that a massacre does occur. Father assures his neighbours that there is nothing to fear, but he still invites them to stay at the Woodlawn farm. Caddie overhears some of the men discussing the situation, and they want to take the offensive position and attack the natives instead of waiting to see what will happen. She is horrified, and she feels she must go and warn Indian John before it is too late.
Wow, what a fantastic story! Caddie is such an excellent role model for young girls. She is courageous, thoughtful, and fiercely loyal to those she loves. She refuses to be swayed by the opinions of others, and she is not afraid to be the one in the crowd who is different. She stands up for what she believes in, even when she is in the minority. She has more character than many adults.
We loved this book, and I highly recommend it! We have already bought the companion story, Caddie Woodlawn's Family. ...more
This novella is told in epistolary fashion as a series of diary entries from Lindy’s perspective of what transpired during Beastly.
Lindy actually lostThis novella is told in epistolary fashion as a series of diary entries from Lindy’s perspective of what transpired during Beastly.
Lindy actually lost points from me during the first half of the book! She admitted in the diary early on that she had feelings for Adrian but kept them to herself because she knew the two of them could never have a “normal” life. Yet, she also revealed that she did not find Adrian to be beastly at all but thought that his face and, in particular, his eyes were quite beautiful. I did not get the impression from reading Beastly that she cared much of what other people would think, but this diary proves me wrong. I was disappointed that she seemed to shallow! However, by the end of the book, she realized that it had been a mistake to leave and wanted desperately to return to Adrian. So, I was happy about that! Maybe Kendra’s curse not only had an effect on Kyle but also on Lindy, because she no longer took stock in what other people thought by the end of the story.
Memorable quotes:
"I wish everyone could see him as I did, see how beautiful he was."
"The fact is, here, in this apartment, where I'm being held prisoner, I'm actually happier than I've been in a long time, and these people - this freakish boy, blind man, and their maid - are the closest I've had to a real family since my mother died."
"I'm happier here, happier than I've ever been. I feel safe for the first time in my life."
"Adrian loves me, and I know it. And I know it because I feel the same way about him. I love him."
"But do I love him enough to give up everything else?"
Although not as good as Beastly, I still really enjoyed this book and can’t wait to read the next book in the series, Bewitching, which was released last year!...more
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