Kazumi Reads

Plot Summary:
What was supposed to be a simulation turned into a nightmare where the faction known as Abnegation has been obliterated. Tris and Four barely made it out alive with Tris' brother Caleb and two other Dauntless members, Peter and Marcus. After taking refuge in Amity, Tris is hurting and haunted by the the fact that she killed her best friend, Will, and that her parents are dead. Furthermore, she cannot fathom how this simulation turned out into all out war, leaving death and chaos. In fact, in her possession is a hard drive that contains the simulation and footage, which could reveal what happened and why Abnegation had to be destroyed. What's even worse is that the Erudite, led by Jeannine Matthews, is the reason behind the eradication of Abnegation. However, by taking refuge in Amity, things are about to get complicated since Erudite and Amity are close allies and that the remaining of Dauntless have pledged allegiance to Erudite. Rather than allow Erudite to discover their presence, Tris, Four, Caleb, Marcus, Peter, and Abnegation refugees flee Amity to find sanctuary with the Factionless led by none other than Evelyn Johnson...Four's mother. Although they cannot stay with the Factionless, Four and Tris make their way to Candor to discover the rest of Dauntless who continue to protect the remaining members of Abnegation. Struggling with a wounded shoulder, and a broken heart, Tris is slowly slipping away from Four, which not scares her but convinces her that she needs to sacrifice herself to make amends for the death of Will and her parents. What she doesn't realize is that choice she is about to make may not only kill her, but reveal a secret and a plan that could change her world forever.

Critical Evaluation:
I hate to say this but most sequels tend to be the weakest parts of a trilogy, but Insurgence is not one of those sequels. In this book is the aftermath of an attack that, apparently, was bound to happen. What readers realize is that the leaders of the different factions weren't selected by their peers, but placed in those positions for a reason. For Tris, her parents death has left her pondering about their past because we learned, in the first book, that her own mother wasn't born into Abnegation and, in this book, we learn that her father was not born in Abnegation as well. What we learn is that Jeannine Matthews has a diabolical plan to create a simulation that could bring an end to the Divergents' immunity to simulations. Clearly, Matthews is afraid of something because why slaughter the leaders of a faction who information about the outside world? A lot of questions are coming from the woodwork and Tris and the rest of her companions have to figure out what exactly is going because she has something, or someone else, to fear: Evelyn, Four's mother. As the leader of the Factionless, she has her own agenda to unite the factions, which sounds pretty close to installing a dictatorship. What's even more frustrating, Four is actually starting to trust his mother after learning that she did not abandon him to his abusive father, Marcus; Marcus knows something that he is not telling and Tris is going to do everything in her power to make him tell her. What we didn't expect in the end is that chaos is about to ensnare the people and the question is: will the follow the example that has been set before them. This sequel is riveting and  there are plenty of unexpected moments that will leave readers speechless. I can't wait for the next book!!!

Information about the Author:
According to the book jacket of Divergent:

Veronica Roth graduated from Northwestern University with a degree in creative writing. While she was a student, she often chose to worn on a story that would become Divergent instead of doing her homework. It was indeed a transforming choice. Now a full-time writer, Ms. Roth lives near Chicago. Divergent is her first Novel.

Genre:
Teen Dystopian Thriller


Reading Level/Interest:
Grades 9 & up
 

Books Similar to Insurgent:

• Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
• Sapphique by Catherine Fisher

Awards & Recognition:

From Amazon.com

“The next big thing.” (Rolling Stone )

“Roth knows how to write. The novel’s love story, intricate plot, and unforgettable setting work in concert to deliver a novel that will rivet fans of the first book.” (Publishers Weekly )

“In this addictive sequel to the acclaimed Divergent,a bleak post-apocalyptic Chicago collapses into all-out civil war. Another spectacular cliffhanger. Anyone who read the first book was dying for this one months ago; they’ll hardly be able to wait for the concluding volume.” (Kirkus Reviews )

“Insurgent explores several critical themes, including the importance of family and the crippling power of grief at its loss. A very good read.” (School Library Journal )