New books to read over Spring Break

	Divergent: Official Illustrated Movie Companion by Kate Egan Veronica Roth's #1 New York Times bestselling novel Divergent is now a major motion picture starring Shailene Woodley, Theo James, and Kate Winslet! With never-before-seen photos; personal interviews with the directors, actors, and writers; and exclusive extras, this lush, oversize volume is a true behind-the-scenes look at the filming of Divergent.
	Panic by Lauren Oliver In the poor town of Carp, New York, a group of teens enters a high-stakes game that involves a series of secretive, possibly deadly challenges throughout the summer, with the winner receiving more than $50,000--enough money to start a new life.
	The Glass Casket by McCormick Templeman After the brutal murder of her cousin, everything changes for sixteen-year-old Rowan, who must not only seek the evil forces responsible before they destroy her family and village, but also set aside her studies when she becomes betrothed to her best friend, Tom. Sequel to The Little Woods.
	Grasshopper Jungle by Andrew Smith Austin Szerba narrates the end of humanity as he and his best friend Robby accidentally unleash an army of giant, unstoppable bugs and uncover the secrets of a decades-old experiment gone terribly wrong.
	The Tyrant's Daughter by J.C. Carleson Exiled to the United States after her father, a Middle Eastern dictator, is killed in a coup, fifteen-year-old Laila must cope with a completely new way of life, the truth of her father's regime, and her mother and brother's ways of adjusting.
	The Winner's Curse by Marie Rutkoski An aristocratic girl who is a member of a warmongering and enslaving empire purchases a slave, an act that sets in motion a rebellion that might overthrow her world as well as her heart.
	Better Off Friends by Elizabeth Eulberg Macallan and Levi are best friends from the first day they meet in seventh grade, but over the years their close friendship keeps interfering with their dating life because everyone else regards them as a couple.
	Forever by Karen Ann Hopkins Now that Rose is pregnant by her love, Amish boy Noah, she hopes that nothing can tear them apart, but in order to achieve their "happily-ever-after," they must handle the repercussions of past mistakes. Third in a series, following Temptation and Belonging.
	This Star Won't Go Out: The Life and Words of Esther Grace Earl by Esther Earl A memoir told through the journals, letters, and stories of young cancer patient Esther Earl.
	Beyond Magenta: Transgender Teens Speak Out by Susan Kuklin Takes an honest look at the life, love, and struggles of transgender teens. Author and photographer Susan Kuklin met and interviewed six transgender or gender-neutral young adults and used her considerable skills to represent them thoughtfully and respectfully before, during, and after their personal acknowledgment of gender preference.
	Bright Before Sunrise by Tiffany Schmidt Jonah and Brighton are about to have the most awkwardly awful night of their lives. For Jonah, every aspect of his new life reminds him of what he has had to give up. All he wants is to be left alone. Brighton is popular, pretty, and always there to help anyone, but has no idea of what she wants for herself.
	Cruel Beauty by Rosamund Hodge Betrothed to the demon who rules her country and trained all her life to kill him, seventeen-year-old Nyx Triskelion must now fulfill her destiny and move to the castle to be his wife.
	Evertrue by Brodi Ashton Nikki and Jack take on the underworld to free themselves of the Everneath's power. Third in the series, following Everneath and Everbound.
	The In-Between by Barbara Stewart Fourteen-year-old Elanor Moss's suicide attempt leads her family toward a new start in New York, but tragedy strikes before they arrive and while grieving and recovering Ellie meets Madeline Torus, a mysterious girl who becomes more than a best friend--and worst enemy.
	Perfect Lies by Kiersten White Sisters Anie and Fia have had their abilites manipulated by the Keane Foundation for too long--and now they're ready to fight back against the twisted organization that has been using them as pawns. Sequel to Mind Games.
	Third Strike by Heather Brewer Joss is given a mission to eradicate vampires in his home town of Santa Carla, where he will need to protect his family including cousin Henry, who still carries a grudge. Third book in The Slayer Chronicles series.
	Warrior by Ellen Oh Kira, the yellow-eyed demon slayer of Hansong, continues her quest to find the lost treasures of the dragon king's prophecy, save her cousin, the prince, unite her kingdom, and defeat the demon lord. Sequel to Prophecy.
	When I Was the Greatest by Jason Reynolds Ali lives in Bed-Stuy, a Brooklyn neighborhood known for guns and drugs, but he and his sister, Jazz, and their neighbors, Needles and Noodles, stay out of trouble until they go to the wrong party, where one gets badly hurt and another leaves with a target on his back.
	White Hot Kiss by Jennifer Armentrout One kiss could be the last. Seventeen year old Layla just wants to be normal. But with a kiss that kills anything with a soul, she's anything but normal. Half demon, half gargoyle, Layla has abilities no one else possesses. Raised among the Wardens, a race of gargoyles tasked with hunting demons and keeping humanity safe, Layla tries to fit in, but that means hiding her own dark side from those she loves the most.
	The Worlds We Make by Megan Crewe In the conclusion to The Fallen World trilogy, Kaelyn and her friends must protect the cure they have found from deadly enemies while searching for a true safe haven.
	Don't Even Think About It by Sarah Mlynowski What happens when a group of Tribeca high school kids go in for flu shots ... and end up being able to read each others' minds.
	Freak City by Kathrin Schrocke Mika's heart is broken, until he sees Leah. A smart, beautiful, and brave girl, Leah has been deaf since birth. When Mika meets her for the first time, he feels something electric. They cannot communicate, so Mika decides to take a sign language course. His family and friends are skeptical, and Mika soon grows weary, too. The world of deaf people is so much different than his own. Can their two worlds intersect? There is also Sandra, Mika's ex-girlfriend, who he cannot seem to get over. But Mika cannot shake that Leah has captured his heart...Author Kathrin Schrocke tells the story of two teens and their tender, quirky love--a love so extraordinary it can bring two worlds together.
	Steadfast by Claudia Gray Nadia must stop the evil sorceress Elizabeth before she lures the One Beneath to Captive's Sound, destroying the town and everyone Nadia holds dear at the same time. Sequel to Spellcaster.
	Year of Mistaken Discoveries by Eileen Cook Partnered with a boy named Brody, high school senior Avery embarks on a class project to find her birth mother, after Avery's former best friend, also adopted, dies.

"Divergent Fans" program on Monday, March 24!

Divergent is now in movie theaters! Are you excited to see Tris and Four on the big screen? Come to our Divergent Fans program at the library on Monday, March 24 at 3 p.m. Discuss the book and movie with other fans, choose a faction, and win prizes by answering trivia questions.

Meanwhile, the teen area is Divergent Central! There is a display with Dauntless character posters and quotes from the book:

Also, if you've read the Divergent series (or are currently on hold for one or more of the books in the series) and are looking for other books you may like, check out the teen display:

If you enjoy dystopian reads, sci-fi, action/adventure, or books with a strong protagonist, try out one of the books here.

Teen review of "Divergent" by Veronica Roth: Read the book before the movie!

When I finished re-reading Divergent the other day, I was wondering what made me buy it in the first place: I didn’t know it would become a hyped up movie, or even a bestseller. Regardless, I’m glad I did! This book is for boys and girls, for action lovers and romantics, for teens and adults. Many would say it’s the next “Hunger Games” (especially with a movie franchise on the way), and while both are great dystopias, Divergent is no knock-off. The plot is able to hold its own with well-developed and unique characters.

Divergent is the narrative of a 16-year old girl living in a futuristic Chicago. In this society, there are five different “factions” that hold a high regard for a certain personality trait. For example, the main character, Beatrice, is born into the “Abnegation” who value selflessness. They appear as plain as possible, wearing gray clothes and simple hairstyles, all as an attempt to forget themselves as they focus on helping others. The other factions value traits such as honesty, bravery, peacefulness, and intelligence. When someone reaches their sixteenth birthday, they may decide which faction they would like to be in for the remainder of their lives- a choice that may leave their old faction feeling bitter and betrayed.

And while it seems like life is simple enough, initiation can be incredibly challenging and pushes these teens to their limits. The threat of becoming “factionless” – a fate some call worse than death- looms constantly over the initiate’s heads. As faults in the system become exposed, rebellion lurks beneath the surface of a deceptively organized society. Those who are not easily defined by one of these five traits are called “divergent” and threaten the simplicity of this society. Power hungry leaders will do anything it takes to suppress these independent minds in order to remain in charge.

This book is definitely a page turner, and not too out-there for those wary of sci-fi. The characters are very realistic and have their flaws, as in real life, no one can be defined as only good or only bad. Intricate relationships are formed and sometimes-fatal mistakes are made, all of which make for a compelling tale. Roth seamlessly transitions from light hearted and humorous scenes into tense, edgy ones. The climax is gripping, non-stop, and will leave you wanting more. Luckily, Divergent is part of a trilogy including Insurgent, and the recently released Allegiant. The movie starring Shailene Woodley (soon to star as Hazel in The Fault in Our Stars) will be released March 21st, and I recommend reading the book before seeing it!

Interesting side note: The author, Veronica Roth, 25, grew up in the nearby town of Barrington, and attended the prestigious Northwestern University to study creative writing. She started the book during winter break her senior year, and sold the movie rights before she even graduated.

For more info and trailers on the movie, check out http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1840309/?ref_=nv_sr_1

- E.M.

38 days until the Divergent movie opens!

Movie tie-in editions of Divergent are out today!

Shailene Woodley as Tris is featured on the cover....

 

...and Theo James as Four is on the back cover.

!!!

Veronica Roth book signing at the Tivoli Theatre

Anderson's Bookshop brought author Veronica Roth to the historic Tivoli Theatre in Downers Grove for a book signing of Allegiant this past Saturday, October 26. October 26 was even declared "Veronica Roth Day" in Illinois by Governor Quinn!

Fans gathered in the theatre to wait for the start of the Q&A. Movie concessions were available, too! Organist David Rhodes provided music.

A very blurry photo of David Rhodes playing the organ.

I did not get any good photos of Veronica when she came out on stage. Sorry! HarperCollins editor Margot Wood asked Veronica questions submitted by fans to EpicReads. Then questions were opened up to fans in the audience. The Q&A was also filmed and live streamed on the EpicReads site. Watch the interview here:



Here are some interesting facts gleaned from the Q&A:

• Veronica does fangirl over books -- she's a Potterhead, and can't wait to see what happens in the third book in Leah Bardugo's Grisha Trilogy.
• She writes on a treadmill desk!
• To pick one character from the Divergent series to help survive the zombie apocalypse, she chose Four, because of his combat experience. The interviewer thought Eric would be a better choice. Veronica's response: "But he would straight up kill you!"
• She would not want to co-write a book because she has to be alone in her own world during the writing process.
• Challenges to writing as a job include listening to the voice of the story while thinking of the  fans interpreting and reacting to the books. "How will I ever make this good enough for them?"
• Short stories about Four (out in February 2014) were written after the movie version of Divergent had been cast. Asked about envisioning actor Theo James while writing, Veronica responded that it was somewhat awkward, as she thought to herself while working on the stories: "I feel like I'm puppeteering Theo James right now."
• Veronica will stick to writing YA, but probably wouldn't write a mystery. She did not talk about her future project.
• Advice for teens who want to be writers: "Write when you want to write and when you don't want to write" and find people who will make thoughtful critiques of your work.

At the end of the Q&A, Veronica was joined onstage by her brother, Karl Roth, to perform his original song "The Mark," about the choice Tris makes in Divergent. You can watch the performance on the Epic Reads site here.

When the autograph signing portion began, the first group of 50 fans were called. Each fan was allowed to receive a personalized autograph on one book (no posed photos) to keep the line moving. I was #242!

The remaining fans waiting in the theater watched Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, which was Veronica's choice.

When it was my turn in the signing line I told Veronica that I am a fan of her blog, and enjoy reading her posts about her writing and revision process. Even though this was a packed event, she took the time to listen to and talk with each fan in line.

Overall it was a fun day. Old movie theater + live organ + YA lit + YA lit fans + Harry Potter = Pure awesomeness! I am excited to read Allegiant (I've avoided spoilers, for the most part, so far) and even more excited for the movie Divergent in March.

Divergent and TFiOS casting news!

 Theo James is Four in the movie version of Divergent

Author Veronica Roth's response:

"Recently I saw Theo James' screen test with Shailene Woodley, and I was sure within seconds: this was ‘Four,’ no question. Theo is able to capture ‘Four’s’ authority and strength, as well as his depth and sensitivity. He is a perfect match for Shailene’s incredibly strong presence as Tris. I’m thrilled!"

via veronicarothbooks.blogspot.com

Shailene Woodley is Hazel in the movie version of The Fault in Our Stars.

Author John Green's response:

"Shailene Woodley loves The Fault in Our Stars. She really does, and in her audition, she just was Hazel—at least to me... her commitment to the book and deep understanding of Hazel make her the perfect choice."

via fishingboatproceeds.tumblr.com

I don't believe I have seen any of Theo James' other work, so I can only respond to how positive Veronica Roth was about his audition... and I'm excited. ;) I look forward to seeing Shailene in both Divergent (as Tris) and TFiOS. Can't wait to see who will be cast as Augustus.

Because it is impossible for me to stop geeking out about all things Divergent-related, check back for a more in-depth Divergent casting post coming next week!

What are your thoughts about the Divergent and TFiOS movies so far? Will you be first in line for tickets? For other movie and TV adaptations in the works, check out my previous blog post: YA books on the big (and small) screen.

YA books on the big (and small) screen

Almost a year ago, The Hunger Games movie was released into theaters and proved that a strong female heroine from YA literature can bring draw a huge audience. In turn, the movie motivated adults and teens alike who had never read the series to get their hands on a copy of The Hunger Games book. The Hunger Games provides just one example of how prevalent YA literature is in popular culture today. The shows Pretty Little Liars, The Lying Game, Gossip Girl, and The Vampire Diaries all started out as YA books before those characters stepped onto our television screens. Even more movies and TV shows based on YA books are in the works and set to be released in 2013 and 2014. Will they find the same success as Harry Potter, Twilight, or The Hunger Games? Check out this list I compiled, and feel free to add any that I overlooked in the Comments section below:

Beautiful Creatures

• now in theaters
• Starring Alice Englert (Lena), Alden Ehrenreicht (Ethan), Emmy Rossum (Ridley), Emma Thompson (Mrs. Lincoln), and Jeremy Irons (Macon Ravenwood).
• Based on the book Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl. 
• Book synopsis: In a small South Carolina town, where it seems little has changed since the Civil War, sixteen-year-old Ethan is powerfully drawn to Lena, a new classmate with whom he shares a psychic connection and whose family hides a dark secret that may be revealed on her sixteenth birthday.
• More books in the series: Beautiful Darkness, Beautiful Chaos, Beautiful Redemption.

The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones 

• Release date: August 23, 2013
• Starring Lily Collins (Clary), Jaime Campbell Bower (Jace), Kevin Zegers (Alec), Jonathan Rhys Meyers (Valentine), Aidan Turner (Luke).
• Based on the book City of Bones by Cassandra Clare. 
• Book synopsis: Suddenly able to see demons and the Darkhunters who are dedicated to returning them to their own dimension, fifteen-year-old Clary Fray is drawn into this bizarre world when her mother disappears and Clary herself is almost killed by a monster.
• More in the series: City of Ashes, City of Glass, City of Fallen Angels, and City of Lost Souls.
• Stay tuned to the blog and the library newsletter for a City of Bones Movie Release Party in August 2013!

Ender’s Game

• Release date: November 1, 2013
• Cast: Asa Butterfield (Ender), Abigail Breslin, and Harrison Ford.
• Based on the books Ender's Game and Ender's Shadow by Orson Scott Card.
• Synopsis of Ender's Game book: Child hero Ender Wiggin must fight a desperate battle against a deadly alien race if mankind is to survive.

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

• Release date: November 22, 2013
• Cast: Jennifer Lawrence (Katniss), Josh Hutcherson (Peeta), Liam Hemsworth (Gale), Elizabeth Banks (Effie Trinket), Woody Harrelson (Haymitch Abernathy), Sam Clafin (Finnick Odair), Jena Malone (Johanna Mason), and Phillip Seymour Hoffman (Plutarch Heavensbee) 
• Based on Catching Fire, the second book in Suzanne Collins' best-selling Hunger Games series.
• Book synopsis: By winning the annual Hunger Games, District 12 tributes Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark have secured a life of safety and plenty for themselves and their families, but because they won by defying the rules, they unwittingly become the faces of an impending rebellion.
• Stay tuned to the blog and the library newsletter for a Catching Fire Movie Release Party in November 2013!

Vampire Academy: Blood Sisters

• Release date: February 14, 2014
• Based on Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead. 
• Book synopsis: Two years after a horrible incident made them run away, vampire princess Lissa and her guardian-in-training Rose are found and returned to St. Vladimir's Academy, where one focuses on mastering magic, the other on physical training, while both try to avoid the perils of gossip, cliques, gruesome pranks, and sinister plots.
• Cast:  Zoey Deuth (Rose), Danila Kozlovsky (Dimetri), Lucy Fry (Lissa)
• More books in the series: Frostbite, Shadow Kiss, Blood Promise, Spirit Bound, Last Sacrifice.

Divergent 

• Release date: March 1, 2014
• Cast: Shailene Woodley (Tris), Kate Winslet; rumors everywhere about who will play Four (Alex Pettyfr? Lucas Till? Jeremy Irvine?)
• Based on the book by Veronica Roth. 
• Book synopsis: In a future Chicago, sixteen-year-old Beatrice Prior must choose among five predetermined factions to define her identity for the rest of her life, a decision made more difficult when she discovers that she is an anomoly who does not fit into any one group, and that the society she lives in is not perfect after all.
• In February an open casting call was held in Chicago for movie extras. According to the Chicago Tribune the movie will be shot entirely in Chicago. 
• More books in the series: Insurgent. The third book in the series, jokingly referred to by both Roth and fans as “Detergent,” will be released October 22, 2013.

Delirium 

• Release date: depends on whether the pilot is picked up by Fox.
• According to author Lauren Oliver, filming on the pilot for this TV show is set to begin in March.
• Cast: Emma Roberts (Lena), Jeanine Mason (Hana), Daren Kagasoff (Alex), Greg Sulkin (Julian), Billy Campbell (Thomas Fineman)
• Based on the Delirium series by Lauren Oliver: Delirium, Pandemonium, and Requiem.
• Synopsis of the first book in the series: Lena looks forward to receiving the government-mandated cure that prevents the delirium of love and leads to a safe, predictable, and happy life, until ninety-five days before her eighteenth birthday and her treatment, when she falls in love.

And adaptations of these books are also in the works:

• The Fault in Our Stars by John Green (movie in preproduction; director announced)  
• Summer series by Jenny Han (optioned for TV)
• Burn for Burn by Jenny Han and Siobhan Vivian (optioned for TV)
• I Hunt Killers by Barry Lyga (ABC Family TV show)

I am very excited for Catching Fire, and am already brainstorming crafts and games for a movie release party at the library! I can't wait for Divergent, because I love that book series as well, and think that Shailene Woodley is a great pick to play Tris. How cool is it that the movie will be filmed entirely in Chicago? I'm also interested to see how the Vampire Academy movie turns out. I really enjoyed all the books in that series because Rose is such a strong character. Plus, the awesome supporting characters (Adrian!) are well-written too. I just hope it doesn't suffer from people who are sick of Twilight. This movie has a huge potential for great fight scenes and some swoon-worthy moments.

Which movie/TV adaptation are you most looking forward to seeing? Do you read the books before you see the movies, or the other way around? Are there any books not on this list that you think would make a good movie and/or TV show? My picks are Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkin and the Across the Universe series by Beth Revis.

And lastly, and most importantly, who do *you* think should play Four in Divergent?

"Divergent" tops 2012 Teens' Top 10!

From August 15 to September 15, teens across the country voted for the best books of the year from the nominated titles. These are the books they selected for the 2012 Teens' Top 10:

1. Divergent by Veronica Roth
2. The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
3. Legend by Marie Lu
4. Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs
5. What Happened to Goodbye by Sarah Dessen
6. Across the Universe by Beth Revis
7. Cinder by Marissa Meyer
8. The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater
9. Where She Went by Gayle Forman
10. Abandon by Meg Cabot

I was not surprised by the results at all, because the books on this list are checked out more often than they are on the shelves at Dundee! Have you read any of the Top 10? Did any of your favorites not make the list?

Coming soon: "Insurgent" by Veronica Roth

Insurgent, the sequel to Divergent, is out May 1. Have you placed your copy on hold yet? I highly recommend these books to readers who enjoyed The Hunger Games series.


If you would like to meet Veronica Roth, the author of the Divergent series, she will be at Anderson's Bookshop in Naperville on Friday, May 4! Check out their site for more information.