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Dystopia

Prodigy (Legend Book 2) by Marie Lu

by on Nov.12, 2014, under Adventure, Dystopia, Science Fiction, Student Reviews, War

prodigyReview by Taylor P.

Who would like this book? I would recommend this book to the people who read the first book Legend. There is a lot of references to Legend in this book. I believe everyone would like it.

The goods on this book: Prodigy starts off with Day, legendary outlaw, and June, miracle prodigy, on a train to Las Vegas. They are in search of Day’s brother Eden, who is being tested on near the border of the Republic and the Colonies. Day needs information, so he goes to the Patriots which are a force working to stop the Republic and bring back freedom. The Patriots agree to give him information if Day will assassinate the new Elector. The trials that Day and June face are crazy! Hope you like it like I did!!!

The details: 374 pages; 2013     Review by Taylor P.

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The Selection (Selection Book 1) by Kiera Cass

by on Oct.20, 2014, under Dystopia, Romance, Sam's Reviews, Teen Top 10

selectionWho would like this book? Readers 12 and up who like the idea of a competition between girls for the heart of the prince in a kingdom set in a dystopian future would love this book.

The goods on this book: America Singer has grown up to be an independent thinker even though she has been raised in a caste-driven kingdom which is the future remains of a destroyed United States. In this kingdom, people are trapped in the caste of their birth and their lives are determined by the definition of each caste. America and her family, as “fives,” have struggles but are not as destitute as sixes through the eights. Her star-crossed love for Aspen, a “six,” is doomed because of his lower caste, and he encourages her to enter the contest for “the Selection” in which girls become contestants for the heart of Prince Maxon. Of course, America enters against her will and wins a place among the first group vying to become the future queen. America finds that her honesty and stubborn, independent spirit set her apart from the other girls. If the reader is able to set aside many unanswered questions about the kingdom and the wider world to be able to focus on the drama of the girls competing for the attentions of the prince, then this book is very fun. Though the book fails to build a future world, it succeeds in creating the tension of a love triangle and the drama of romantic competition. For those who like this book, you might be happy to find an even more satisfying one with a similar theme in Shannon Hale’s The Princess Academy.

The details: 327 pages; 2012    Review by Samrarian

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Legend by Marie Lu

by on Oct.15, 2014, under Battle of the Books 2014-2015, Dystopia, Science Fiction, Student Reviews, Teen Top 10, YRCA

legendReview by Taylor P.

Who would like this book? This book is good for all action lovers out there. From romance to action, from thriller to heart breaker – this book is good from top to bottom.

The goods on this book: The book starts off in the future Los Angeles. A character named Day, a rebel to the government, finds out his family has the virus, a sickness that tore apart what was once America. Day tries to get the antidote in a hospital facility but barely escapes and is empty handed. He is framed for killing a Captain. The Captain’s younger sister June goes undercover and tries to find Day and turn him in, but she soon finds out he is not what she expects. I hope you like this wonderful book as much as I did. Have fun reading!

The details: 305 pages, 2011     Review by Taylor P.

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The Giver by Lois Lowry

by on Sep.28, 2014, under Dystopia, Newbery, Science Fiction, Student Reviews

giverReview by Lee T.

Who would like this book? I think the targeted audience is people ages from ten to fourteen.

The goods on this book: The Giver is set in a town in the future were everyone but a person named “the Receiver” is oblivious to the past. The government controls everything people know and even see. Jonas, the main character, is selected to be the new Reciever. He knows nothing about the past, but he has to learn about it. Also the government took away the peoples’ abilty to see color. When Jonas see color, he thinks he is going insane. Every thing Jonas knows is nothing compared to what he is about to learn.

The details: 180 pages; 1993     Review by Lee T.

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Legend by Marie Lu

by on May.23, 2014, under Battle of the Books 2014-2015, Dystopia, Science Fiction, Student Reviews

legendReview by Felix H.

Who would like this book? Boys and girls above 10 years old. It contains controversial material.

The goods on this book: In Los Angeles, California a conspiracy is brewing and the Republic is fighting to snuff it out. A boy named Day, who has amazing agility and intelligence and scored a perfect 1500 out of 1500 in his job-deciding trial is used as a test subject by the republic and left to die. June, a 15 year old girl who also scored 1500, is trained by the republic to become their perfect patriot. But when these two meet, they realize there is something more behind the republic’s facade of perfection and harmony. The main characters are: Day, June, Metias, Thomas and commander Jameson. The conflict is that the republic wants Day to be put down for rebellion.
My opinion of this book is that this book would be perfect for anyone that loves a good dystopian story. I rate it a 10/10.

The details: 305 pages; 2011    Review by Felix H.

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The Giver by Lois Lowry

by on May.13, 2014, under Dystopia, Newbery, Science Fiction, Student Reviews, YRCA

giverReview by Nick Y.

Who would like this book? I recommend this book for children 9 or older. The theme is pretty dark and the community in which Jonas lives in is very creepy, although it may sound normal at first.

The goods on this book: Jonas is becoming a Twelve, the year you get assigned your job. A Twelve is when you become an adult, and the time for promotion is soon. On the promotion Jonas is assigned the job as Receiver of Memory: What could this mean? Jonas didn’t understand. The job assigner explained to Jonas that this job is at the highest respect, although it is a very painful job. A very painful one indeed. What is the Receiver of Memory? Who is The Giver? Read the book to find out!

The details: 180 pages; 1993      Review by Nick Y.

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The Death Cure by James Dashner

by on May.01, 2014, under Dystopia, Science Fiction, Student Reviews, Thriller

deathcureReview by Felix H.

Who would like this book? Boys and girls, 12 and above, and anyone who likes action and dystopian stories set in the future would like this book. People who don’t mind a little bit of unpleasantness – violence, obscenities, disturbing scenes.

The goods on this book: After they have survived the Scorch Trials, Thomas and his felllow companions must face the question: do they truly want their memories back? Can they trust WICKED? Is there really even a cure for the flare? Janson, one of the head directors has promised Thomas that there is just one more variable, one that just might truly break Thomas. To be truthful, I was extremely caught off guard by the ending and I think you will be, too. (I won’t give anything away though, just giving you the bait.) The main characters are Thomas, Newt, Teresa, Brenda, Minho and Janson.

The details: 325 pages; 2011   Review by Felix H.

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The Maze Runner by James Dashner

by on Apr.14, 2014, under Dystopia, Science Fiction, Student Reviews, Teen Top 10, YRCA

mazeReview by Felix H.

Who would like this book? Girls and boys both, I believe would thoroughly enjoy reading this story. This book can be for young adults and perhaps children 10+. This is a fiction/dystopian novella.

The goods on this book: Maze Runner is a dystopian science fiction story taking place in the near future (about 20 years later), as the book title might reveal. There is a small colony of children living inside a giant moving maze. Thomas, the main character who awakens with no recollection of his former life, slowly discovers that he might be the final piece to a puzzle years in the making. The characters are: Thomas, Teresa, Newt, Chuck, Alby and Gally. The moral lesson of this story is that bravery and courage alone can make a hero out of anyone. I love the detail and emotion of this book, and it makes me feel like I am trying to find a way out of the maze with Thomas and his friends.

The details: 374 pages; 2009   Review by Felix H.

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The Scorch Trials (Maze Runner Book 2) by James Dashner

by on Apr.14, 2014, under Dystopia, Science Fiction, Student Reviews

scorchReview by Felix H.

Who would like this book? Males and females, 10 and up,  would both find an interest in this dystopian science fiction novella. This is for people that are into Hunger Game-like-stories.

The goods on this book: After surviving the maze trials in the Glade, the surviving gladers including Thomas are put through an even more deadly trial that may destroy them physically and furthermore mentally. They are dropped in a sun-scorched desert that is in New Mexico and are told they have contracted a deadly disease known as the Flare. The only cure is on the other side of where they begin, approximately 200 miles away. Teresa, from the maze trial, is taken by WICKED, and Thomas is left wondering if this is another test of his psyche or if Teresa really is in danger. Personally, I think this was all so overwhelming that I felt I could only read so much at a time. This was a great book and overall I think that the Maze Runner series is worthy of being on my top ten list of the best book series.

The details: 361 pages; 2010  Review by Felix H.

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Divergent by Veronica Roth

by on Apr.14, 2014, under Dystopia, Romance, Science Fiction, Student Reviews, Teen Top 10, YRCA

divergentReview by Makena B.

Who would like tho book? I think males and females would enjoy this book, but I think kids that are older than 12 should read this book.

The goods on this book:  Divergent by Veronica Roth takes place in future day Chicago. They started these different compounds to eliminate war, but you really can never eliminate something, can you? When someone turns sixteen, they have to take a test that will decide your friends, define your beliefs, and that determines your loyalties-forever. It’s made up of five different compounds; each of them are different and stand for different things. The test will place you in one of them if you’re lucky, but you have the over-all choice of what compound you want to be in. Sometimes you get more than one choice, which usually means that you are divergent. The people who run the whole thing hate these type of people because they can control the tests that they give them. If they ever catch someone that is divergent, they will kill them, and this is what is happening to Tris in the book. She is divergent, and she is trying to hide it but it’s very difficult. Her friends don’t know about her, but if they did they might turn her in or worse. She finds out a lot about who her family really is and who her true friends are.

The details: 487 pages; 2011     Review by Makena B.

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