The Dead by Charlie Higson

The Dead by Charlie Higson

This book is a young adult horror book set in a post apocalyptic world. I read this book without knowing that it was the second book in a trilogy. But I only realised this after I had finished the book, it was a very easy read and simple to follow on but the best thing was how realistic it was. It answered that question in every kids mind, of what the world would be like without adults, only in this book everybody aged 16 and up turn into the walking dead. But what I found most interesting is how they coped with it, because there were no adults there wasn't any:

• TV
• Laptops
• Computers
• Food
• Electricity
• Hot water

My favourite bit about this book was how all the girls drowned them in cheap perfume trying not to act like they hadn't had a proper shower in weeks.

The cover of this book is very clever. It has a read background (to signify blood and death) and an eye with a skull instead of a pupil (to signify that the adults may be moving and blinking, but they are not alive inside.)

I have not read or heard of another book like this one, The Dead is very original.

Slated by Teri Terry

Slated by Teri Terry Questions

The end of the book doesn't end with a 'they lived happily ever after' it leaves you wondering and thinking. This is because Slated is a trilogy

I was reminded a lot of the hunger games, because they are both dystopian novels, set in the future and both have out of control governments. 

The best thing about this book is that it feels like you are going on an adventure with the main character Kyla. Kyla isn't like the rest of the people who got slated, something is different with her which means that she asks more questions than is good for her, this leads her to go on a search to find out who she was before the government wiped her of her memories.

I wouldn't know how to describe the characters in this book; they are really very complex and tricky to understand unless you have read Slated. Teri Terry does this by making the characters so complex that they feel very realistic.

One of the best things about the book is how I never knew who was trustworthy and who wasn’t. Someone who was a stereotypical bad guy could be secretly good and someone who appeared so good you knew they must be evil, may actually be good. Truly, I never knew what to think about them, and I absolutely loved that.

Insurgent by Veronica Roth

How does the beginning create interest?

Insurgent is the second book in the trilogy, and at the end of the first book (Divergent) there was a BIG cliff hanger. The beginning of this book helped me to understand the end of Divergent, it also helped me to further understand the characters as you learn more about what their beliefs are and how they react in certain situations.

How effective is the title?

The title Insurgent I think is very effective. The first book in the trilogy called Divergent just so happens to rhyme with the second books name, Insurgent. The title of this book also sums up exactly what is happening in the book. 

IN.SUR.GENT - Noun: A rebel or a revolution. 

This book is all about a revolution and fighting back against the people who took control.

What do you think the writers message was?

I think that the writers message to readers, is that no matter how much control somebody has over you, if you get enough people on your side, with the same aim and passion that you have to take back control, you can do anything.

Did any other books remind you of this novel?

Yes, The Hunger Games Catching Fire. Catching Fire is all about the revolution between the districts, and this just so happens to be what is happening in Insurgent too!

Have you learnt anything from the text?

I learnt a lot from this text. I learnt that people with core beliefs and will stick by them no matter what. And that power is not everything, sometimes it is better to just watch than try to take over to world!

Veronica Roth Bio:

Veronica Roth is a twenty-two-year-old debut author and a recent graduate of Northwestern University's creative writing program. While a student, she often chose to work on the story that would become Divergent instead of doing her homework. Now a full-time writer, she lives near Chicago.

Divergent by Veronica Roth

What is your response and why?

My response to this book was instant, I was engaged in what I was reading and hooked from the first paragraph.I was hooked because the author used descriptive writing

What do you learn and how?

I learnt that this book is also very similar to our world we live in today. People are made up of core belifes weither it's being selfess, brave, intelligent, kind, or honest, this are the prime beliefs in this book. 

Were you reminded of anything else you have read and why?

Yes, this book reminded me of The Hunger Games. Both of these books are dystopian novels, and are set in a messed up future of our world.

Things you need to know before you read the book:

The city is split into four districts, Amity, Abnegation,Dauntless and Erudite.

Amity

Demeanour: Kind, caring
Values: Kindness 
Beliefs: Living in peace with one   another,against aggression, kind, loving and free

Abnegation                         Demeanour: Reserved/ unassuming,to not  draw attention, lack of vanity    Values: Selflessness, protecting    yourself from vanity, greed and envy.  Beliefs: Be selfless in every way                                            

              

Dauntless

Demeanour: Bold, daring, intense

Values: Courage, bravery

Beliefs: Prove bravery, guard the fence that surrounds the city, face your fears and push them away.

Erudite

Demeanour: Serious, focused

Values: Intelligence

Beliefs: To stay calm and relaxed, pursue knowledge, keep careful records, knowledge 

Candor

Demeanour: Honest                    Values: Honesty and sees the truth as black and white, so that is what they wear. 
Beliefs: To stay calm and relaxed, pursue knowledge, keep careful records, knowledge 

                                               

                            

Veronica Roth

Bio:Veronica Roth is a twenty-two-year-old debut author and a recent graduate of Northwestern University's creative writing program. While a student, she often chose to work on the story that would become Divergent instead of doing her homework. Now a full-time writer, she lives near Chicago.

My favourite character is Tris (Beatrice) Prior

Back Ground - Grown up in an Abnegation community, she has never been aloud to do anything selfish. Breaking free into the dauntless community, is a shock, but a choice she felt was right.

Appearance - Tris is very small and lean. She has a long thin nose, grayish blue eyes and curly blonde hair.
Family - Her mother and father live in a small house in the Abnegation community. While her brother Caleb, also choose to leave and to become an Erudite. This comes as a shock to Tris, but what can she say. She left her home too, and became a Dauntless.
Divergent - Tris, being divergent, her mind lets her have more than one way of thinking. She can be brave like a Dauntless. Selfless like a Abnegation, and intelligent like an Erudite. She will risk everything for everyone, no matter what gets in her way.
Why I like this character -  I like this character because she something you do not come across in books very often. She is multy dimensional, because she is divergent. You can never guess what she is going to do, she might be brave and reckless like a Dauntless to save the day, or think rational like an Erudite.