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December 6, 2013 by Karen Jensen, MLS

Mini Book Reviews: Pawn and Allegiant

December 6, 2013 by Karen Jensen, MLS   1 comments

On deck for today’s mini-reviews are two really good dystopias, Pawn by Aimee Carter (of The Goddess Inheritance series) and Allegiant by Veronica Roth (third and final of the Divergent series, which is coming to a theater near you this spring).
First, Pawn.
 

Book Synopsis:  In a world where everyone is given a ranking, and that rank determines your life, Kitty Doe is a throwaway- an extra. When she scores a 3 (III) on her test, her life is regulated to menial jobs and living on scraps, until a way shows itself for her to jump from III to VII- the highest of the high. However, things aren’t always what they seem, and Kitty is thrown deeper into a murky world of politics and cutthroat family ties that she never could have dreamed. Will her desire for a better life be her undoing, or can she prove that she is more than someone’s Pawn?

My thoughts: I was drawn into the book from the first, although like a lot of teens I am a huge dystopian fan so give me a good story with a twist and I get into it. Kitty is a little less forthcoming for my tastes as a heroine- she seems to spend more time scared than using her street smarts and intelligence (which we see in the first few chapters, and pops up from time to time) to get out of situations. There is a lack of world building in Pawn as well, which may not bother some readers, but it nitpicks at me. It’s a good start to the series, and I’m interested enough to see where it’s going.

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Next, Allegiant.
 
Book Synopsis:  After joining the Allegiant, Tris and Four are picked to escape the city walls and contact their predecessors, only to discover that there are more cities like theirs- and that they are a huge experiment to see if by controlling human nature and genetics humans can rid the world of war.  Told in alternating chapters of Tris and Four (Tobias’) viewpoints, Tris and Tobias must figure out what to do with this new information, and when new factions arise outside the cities make choices that could sever their relationship once and for all.
My thoughts: I counted down for this book, and could NOT put it down. I know there are those out there that are completely upset by the ending (SPOILERS SWEETIE) but there are times where there can be no happy ending, and this is one story that I felt should be that way. I loved all the twists and turns and complete roadblocks, and oh, I can’t wait for this to come to theaters. Tris and Tobias are torn apart by their choices, their beliefs, brought back together, and find that the outside world, which seems so perfect, is just as flawed as theirs, if not more so. This was completely me at the end:
https://p.gr-assets.com/540x540/fit/hostedimages/1382448193/5895631.gif

Filed under: Aimee Carter, Allegiant, Book Reviews, Pawn, Veronica Roth

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About Karen Jensen, MLS

Karen Jensen has been a Teen Services Librarian for almost 30 years. She created TLT in 2011 and is the co-editor of The Whole Library Handbook: Teen Services with Heather Booth (ALA Editions, 2014).

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Comments

  1. jancee says

    December 10, 2013 at 1:09 am

    I really did get upset at the ending! It seemed like the first alternative was the best, then Tris made the other choice.I legitimately got angry, then I calmed down and finished the book. But I think it could have ended differently. I don't see a lot of dystopian fiction that has a happy ending, I guess something about the bleak worlds foreshadows bleak endings as well.

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