Kearsten's Book Club Wrap-up: Incarceron by Catherine Fisher

Last month's book discussion was a bit more difficult than they've been in the past, as most members of our book club had a pretty severe reaction to May's selection: Incarceron by Catherine Fisher.

To free herself from an upcoming arranged marriage, Claudia, the daughter of the Warden of Incarceron, a futuristic prison with a mind of its own, decides to help a young prisoner escape.

Our discussion ranged narrowly between those of us who enjoyed the book and those who couldn't "get into it." Some of the readers' frustrations were with the alternating chapters between Claudia, the daughter of Incarceron's Warden, and Finn, the young prisoner Claudia decides to try to rescue from the prison. According to a couple of our teens, just as you'd start to get into one story, you were jerked out and placed into the other story - and Finn and Claudia's worlds are VERY different. Finn lives a brutal survival-at-all-costs life, while Claudia's life is quietly full of gowns, balls, and extremely well-mannered ladies and gentlemen.

Another frustration was with the setting - many readers gave up too early to learn that Claudia and Finn's world is set sometime in a future, futuristic enough to allow the people to create a prison that can think for itself, BUT that the people outside of the prison have decided that Victorian times were the "best," and therefore all activities, meals, clothing, etc. must reflect that time. Those of us who read and enjoyed the book were also frustrated, because we felt that the choice of the Victorian Era made it VERY easy for those in power to control its people via the strict class (poor servants, and rich "nobility") structure. But alas, we were not able to explore that much...

(Side note: we've agreed to reserve our graphic novel selections for discussion during May, a.k.a. "finals month")

Sadly, May's discussion was a bit like pulling teeth AND herding cats, as it's hard to focus a room full of teens to discuss a book very few of them finished, but we did come up with a list of books that also tackle over-powerful governments, steampunk/robotic elements, and/or scary, seemingly sentient prisons. These all come teen-book-clubber recommended!

1984 by George Orwell. Portrays a terrifying vision of life in the future when a totalitarian government, considered a "Negative Utopia," watches over all citizens and directs all activities, becoming more powerful as time goes by.

Brave New World by Aldous Huxley. Huxley's classic prophetic novel describes the socialized horrors of a futuristic utopia devoid of individual freedom.

Cinder by Marissa Meyer. As plague ravages the overcrowded Earth, observed by a ruthless lunar people, Cinder, a gifted mechanic and cyborg, becomes involved with handsome Prince Kai and must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect the world in this futuristic take on the Cinderella story.

The Giver by Lois Lowry. At the ceremony of Twelve, the community's twelve-year-olds accept their predetermined Life Assignments. Jonas is chosen for something special.Gradually he learns that power lies in feelings. Then his own power is put to the test -- he may not be ready and he may not be able to save someone he loves.

The Maze Runner by James Dashner. Sixteen-year-old Thomas wakes up with no memory in the middle of a maze and realizes he must work with the community in which he finds himself if he is to escape.

Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard. In a world divided by blood--those with common, Red blood serve the Silver-blooded elite, who are gifted with superhuman abilities--seventeen-year-old Mare, a Red, discovers she has an ability of her own. To cover up this impossibility, the king forces her to play the role of a lost Silver princess and betroths her to one of his own sons. But Mare risks everything and uses her new position to help the Scarlet Guard --a growing Red rebellion--even as her heart tugs her in an impossible direction.

Steelheart by Brandon Sanderson. At age eight, David watched as his father was killed by an Epic, a human with superhuman powers, and now, ten years later, he joins the Reckoners--the only people who are trying to kill the Epics and end their tyranny.

Utopia by Sir Thomas More. Utopia, written by Sir Thomas More, depicts a fictional island with its own unique religion and customs. Sir Thomas More's work introduces readers into the concept of a perfect society with utopian, or perfect, ideas and beliefs.

War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells. H.G. Wells' late nineteenth-century novel in which an intellectually superior race from Mars invades Earth with plans to take over the planet.

Wicked: the Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire. This re-creation of the land of Oz, tells the story of Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West, who wasn't so wicked after all. Past the yellow brick road and into a phantasmagoric world rich with imagination and allegory, Wicked just might change the reputation of one of the most sinister characters in literature.

Kearsten's Book Club Wrap-Up: The Program by Suzanne Young

The March wrap-up comes in just in time for our next meeting, this Monday April, 25!

On Monday, March 28, book club met at the Main Library to discuss Suzanne Young's dystopian, not-too-far-into-the-future YA novel, The Program.

When suicide becomes a worldwide epidemic, the only known cure is The Program, a treatment in which painful memories are erased, a fate worse than death to seventeen-year-old Sloane who knows that The Program will steal memories of her dead brother and boyfriend.

We had our usual spirited discussion, with MANY teen-submitted questions (28!!!), and while we strayed a bit to electro-convulsive therapy (for use in cases of extreme, therapy- and medication-resistant depression), for the most part we talked about the awful treatment of teens in this story.

Book club members were very upset about the way the adults in The Program acted as though any sign of sadness or grief was a death sentence, and they felt that the Program (which used drugs and therapy to "erase" bad or "infected" memories) was a horrible abuse. As one book club member asked, "Did all these adults forget that THEY were once teens?!?!?!"

Here are some of the questions/topics we discussed:

• "Is it ethical for the government to erase the memories of teens to protect them?" (The overwhelming response: "NO!")
• "Lacey's awesomeness." (We agreed that the main character's best friend-turned-erased-memories-turned-new friend was very cool.)
• "If teens can't talk or trust their parents, who can they talk to other than depressed teens?" (This was a major problem for us. In a world where The Program is the only option, the adults ignore the importance of therapy and talking about - rather than hiding - one's feelings.)
• "Would you choose to forget in order to get rid of depression? Would you send a friend or family member to have their memories wiped in order to protect them?" (Book clubbers overwhelmingly said no, but Kearsten said, as a parent, if her only two options were the Program/wiping her kid's memories or risking her child committing suicide - and losing her/him forever - she'd probably choose the Program. Kearsten is surprised the teens didn't throw things at her.)

Overall, our book club recommends this one, especially if you have the chance to talk to others about it once you're done...'cause you WILL want to discuss it!

Already read The Program? Why not try one of these teen-recommended readalikes?

Delirium by Lauren Oliver. 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, she falls in love. 

The Giver (and sequels) by Lois Lowry. At the ceremony of Twelve, the community's twelve-year-olds accept their predetermined Life Assignments. Jonas is chosen for something special.Gradually he learns that power lies in feelings. Then his own power is put to the test -- he may not be ready and he may not be able to save someone he loves.

Rash by Pete Hautman. In a future society that has decided it would "rather be safe than free," sixteen-year-old Bo's anger control problems land him in a tundra jail where he survives with the help of his running skills and an artificial intelligence program named Bork.

Shock Point by April Henry. Fifteen-year-old Cassie Streng is determined to expose her stepfather after learning that he is giving a dangerous experimental drug to his teenaged psychiatric patients, but he sends her to a boot camp for troubled teens in Mexico in order to keep her quiet.

Speak by Laurie Halse Andersen. A traumatic event near the end of the summer has a devastating effect on Melinda's freshman year in high school.

Unwind by Neal Shusterman. In a future world where those between the ages of thirteen and eighteen can have their lives "unwound" and their body parts harvested for use by others, three teens go to extreme lengths to uphold their beliefs--and, perhaps, save their own lives. 

Kearsten's Book Club Wrap-Up: Ms. Marvel by G. Willow Wilson

It's been awhile, but Kearsten really wanted to share our book club experience last night wherein we discussed the first volume in the trade comics superhero series Ms. Marvel: No Normal by G. Willow Wilson.

Kamala Khan is an ordinary girl from Jersey City -- until she's suddenly empowered with extraordinary gifts. But who truly is the new Ms. Marvel? Teenager? Muslim? Inhuman? When Kamala discovers the dangers of her newfound powers, she unlocks a secret behind them, as well. Is Kamala ready to wield these immense new gifts? Or will the weight of the legacy before her be too much to bear?

Our discussion rambled all over the place, from superhero costuming (as in, "what a relief it is that Kamala isn't wearing a tiny leotard with combat boobs and boots!") to strict parenting. However, the most interesting part of the meeting came as we approached the topic of racism.  We talked about the unkindness Kamala faces in her story, and the way Kamala fans used her image to defuse racist ads in San Francisco, which then led to ways in which book club members have seen and faced racism in their own lives. 

We also had a bit of time left to talk about the creators' reasons for creating Kamala, and to discuss her importance in the comics world.

Already read Ms. Marvel: No Normal?  Why not try one of these teen-recommended titles?

Ms. Marvel: Generation Why (Vol. 2) by G. Willow Wilson. Who is the Inventor, and what does he want with the all-new Ms. Marvel and all her friends? Maybe Wolverine can help! Kamala may be fan-girling out when her favourite (okay maybe Top Five) super hero shows up, but that won't stop her from protecting her hometown. Then, Kamala crosses paths with Inhumanity for the first time - by meeting the royal dog, Lockjaw! Every girl wants a puppy, but this one may be too much of a handful, even for a super hero with embiggening powers.

Cinder by Marissa Meyer. As plague ravages the overcrowded Earth, observed by a ruthless lunar people, Cinder, a gifted mechanic and cyborg, becomes involved with handsome Prince Kai and must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect the world in this futuristic take on the Cinderella story.








I am Malala by Malala Yousafzai. When the Taliban took control of the Swat Valley, one girl spoke out. Malala Yousafzai refused to be silenced and fought for her right to an education. On Tuesday October 9, 2012, she almost paid the ultimate price.

Everybody Sees the Ants by A.S. King. Overburdened by his parents' bickering and a bully's attacks, fifteen-year-old Lucky Linderman begins dreaming of being with his grandfather, who went missing during the Vietnam War, but during a visit to Arizona, his aunt and uncle and their beautiful neighbor, Ginny, help him find a new perspective.








Captain Marvel: In Pursuit of Flight by Kelly Sue DeConnick. Carol Danvers is back. After changing her superhero name, Captain Marvel tries to live up to the legacy of her fallen predecessor, while facing a time-traveling adventure that's intricately linked with the woman who inspired her military career.









What Stands in a Storm by Kim Cross. Weaving together heart-wrenching stories with immersive reporting and dramatic storytelling, a gripping account of a weather event in April 2011 that saw a record 358 tornadoes rip through 21 states in three days shows how things that tear our world apart also reveal what holds us together.








Rurouni Kenshin: Meiji Swordsman Romantic Story (Vol. 1) by Nobuhiro Watsuki. In the 11th year of Meiji, in the middle of Tokyo, the tale begins. Himura Kenshin, a humble "rurouni," or wandering swordsman, comes to the aid of Kamiya Kaoru, a young woman struggling to defend her father's school of swordsmanship against attacks by the infamous Hitokiri Battosai. But neither Kenshin nor Battosai are quite what they seem...

Teen Review: Allegiant by Veronica Roth

Today's recommendation is the sequel to a very much beloved book (Divergent) and comes from Olivia: Allegiant!

Wanna to see your own review here? Fill out our What Did You Just Read form today!

What Did You Read?

Allegiant by Veronica Roth.

I'd say this book was *mostly* about...

An adventure, a love story, a magical world.

This book's main character(s)...

Inspired me.

If others were interested in this book, I'd tell them...

It should be required reading for ALL teens.

Any other thoughts about this book?

Allegiant was a very adventurous and inspiring, I recommend that you check at the book a.s.a.p!

Should We Know More About You?

I normally like to read science fiction, and uh... my name is Olivia. xD

Kearsten's Book Club: Cinder by Marissa Meyer

Last night, we had some welcome new faces as we talked about Marissa Meyer's awesome Cinder.

As plague ravages the overcrowded Earth, observed by a ruthless lunar people, Cinder, a gifted mechanic and cyborg, becomes involved with handsome Prince Kai and must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect the world in this futuristic take on the Cinderella story.

We had a very rowdy time discussing the many things that intrigued us about this book.  We noted how "cyborgs" like Cinder - who had a hand and foot replaced with robotic parts after surviving a horrific crash - are treated as second-class citizens, much like women and people of color have been treated in the US's history.  Cristian questioned how many of us today could be considered 'cyborgs' by the the government in Cinder's story - knee replacements, eyeglasses, pacemakers, etc.  Do these 'enhancements' make us less human?

One of our book club members mentioned the plague that is devastating the world in Cinder, and we were a bit creeped out by the similarities between the book's plague and the current Ebola crisis in Northern Africa.  Cristian mentioned the necessity of carriers of Ebola who happened to be immune to keep from running (they could spread the disease to others who aren't immune), and we then realized how similar that was to Cinder's plague - the Lunar people were immune carriers who had endangered the humans of Earth...

We also enjoyed noting the "traditional'" Cinderella elements in Cinder, and how Meyer changed them.  Especially in that Cinder's pumpkin ended up being an orange-rusted VW Bug.  So adorable!

And then came the tangents:

• Which Hogwarts house would these characters be sorted into? (We agreed that Peony and Iko would be Hufflepuff, Prince Kai would be Griffindor, and we split on Cinder, half for Ravenclaw, half for Griffindor. Cinder's stepmom and Queen Levana are both clearly Slitherin.)
• If you could get any robotic enhancement, what would it be? (Answers ranged from the practical, like endless data storage for test-taking purposes or an all-language translator, to the kinda creepy, like laser eyes or robotic legs with hidden compartments for storing poison capsules, to the outright hilarious: Wolverine claws, to aid one during choreographed street gang montages like in West Side Story - cue a gruff, Wolverine-style voice singing, "When you're a Jet, you're a Jet all the way...")

We really enjoyed reading and discussing Meyer's Cinder, and many expressed an interest in discussing the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th books in the series in future club meetings!

Already read Cinder, Scarlet, and Cress?  Why not try one of these book-club-suggested titles?

Alice in Tumblrland by Tim Manley.  Disney meets Lena Dunham in this illustrated humor book featuring your favorite fairy-tale characters dating and finding their way in 21st-century America; The Ugly Duckling still feels gross compared to everyone else, but now she's got Instagram, and there's this one filter that makes her look awesome. Cinderella swaps her glass slippers for Crocs. The Tortoise and the Hare Facebook stalk each other. Goldilocks goes gluten free. And Peter Pan finally has to grow up and get a job, or at least start paying rent.

Amped by Daniel H. Wilson.  In a near-future world where technologically enhanced humans are governed by a strict set of conduct laws, twenty-nine-year-old Owen Gray joins the ranks of a persecuted underclass that is planning to change, or destroy, the world.

Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine.  In this novel based on the story of Cinderella, Ella struggles against the childhood curse that forces her to obey any order given to her.

Feed by M.T. Anderson.  In a future where most people have computer implants in their heads to control their environment, a boy meets an unusual girl who is in serious trouble.

Grimms' Fairy Tales by the Brothers Grimm.  An illustrated collection of fifty-two traditional tales collected by the Grimm brothers.

Just Ella by Margaret Peterson Haddix.  Like every commoner in the land, Ella dreams of going to the ball and marrying Prince Charming. But after she is chosen to marry the prince, life with the royal family is not the "happily ever after" that Ella imagined. Pitiless and cold, the royals try to mold her into their vision of a princess. Ella's life becomes a meaningless schedule of protocol, which she fears she will never grasp. And Prince Charming's beautiful face hides a vacant soul.Even as her life turns to misery, the stories persist that Ella's fairy godmother sent her to the ball: How else could the poor girl wear a beautiful gown, arrive in a coach, and dance in those glass slippers? But there is no fairy godmother to help Ella escape the deadening life of the castle. Can she do it on her own?

Sisters Red by Jackson Pearce.  After a Fenris, or werewolf, kills their grandmother and almost kills them, sisters Scarlett and Rosie March devote themselves to hunting and killing the beasts that prey on teenaged girls.








Bonus TV and Movie suggestions!

The Matrix. A computer hacker discovers that reality is nothing more than an elaborate facade called The Matrix, created by super-intelligent robots that have enslaved mankind and are using their bodies as a power source.

Once Upon a Time.  On her 28th birthday, Emma Swan meets Henry, the son she gave up for adoption 10 years ago. Henry believes Emma is the daughter of Snow White and Prince Charming, prophesied to break a powerful curse. Unconvinced, Emma returns Henry to Storybrooke, where she encounters the enigmatic Mr. Gold and clashes with mayor Regina Mills, the boy's adoptive mother, who Henry insists is none other than the Evil Queen!

Kearsten's Book Club: Pirate Cinema by Cory Doctorow

This past Monday, book club met to discuss online piracy and copyright as we talked about our experiences reading Cory Doctorow's Pirate Cinema.

In a dystopian, near-future Britain, sixteen-year-old Trent, obsessed with making movies on his computer, joins a group of artists and activists who are trying to fight a new bill that will criminalize even more harmless internet creativity.

This was a tough book for many of our teens to get through - Doctorow's writing is dense, and explains a LOT of the technical details. Some examples: building a computer, creating a multi-projector movie screening, using various editing tools to create new media...  While several of our teens loved and appreciated this aspect, it forced others to skim big chunks of the book in order to get to Trent's story.

It wasn't long, however, before our discussion moved to topics of online piracy (the illegal downloading of media that one hasn't paid for), digital rights management (a system for protecting copyright of digital media), and why the idea of stealing a DVD from the store is clearly bad, but downloading the same movie to your laptop without paying makes things seem...murky.

Overall, we had a great time talking ethics, morality, and remixing movie clips, and rated the book in a range of 6-12 "illegally downloaded songs."

If you've already read and enjoyed Pirate Cinema, but would like something with similar themes, try one of these teen-recommended reads!



1984 by George Orwell. Winston Smith works for the Ministry of Truth in London, chief city of Airstrip One. Big Brother stares out from every poster and the Thought Police uncover each act of betrayal. When Winston finds love with Julia, he discovers that life does not have to be dull and deadening and awakens to new possibilities. Despite the police helicopters that hover and circle overhead, Winston and Julia begin to question the Party. Yet Big Brother will not tolerate dissent - even in the mind...






Brain Jack by Brian Falkner. In a near-future New York City, fourteen-year-old computer genius Sam Wilson manages to hack into the AT&T network and sets off a chain of events that have a profound effect on human activity throughout the world.










Communist Manifesto by Karl Marx.  In his Communist Manifesto, Karl Marx argued that history flows inevitably toward a social revolution, which will result in a society without economic classes.










Epic by Conor Kostick.  On New Earth, a world based on a video role-playing game, fourteen-year-old Erik persuades his friends to aid him in some unusual gambits in order to save Erik's father from exile and safeguard the futures of each of their families.










Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury.  The system was simple. Everyone understood it. Books were for burning, along with the houses in which they were hidden.Guy Montag was a fireman whose job it was to start fires. And he enjoyed his job. He had been a fireman for ten years, and he had never questioned the pleasure of the midnight runs or the joy of watching pages consumed by flames, never questioned anything until he met a seventeen-year-old girl who told him of a past when people were not afraid...





Little Brother by Cory Doctorow.  After being interrogated for days by the Department of Homeland Security in the aftermath of a major terrorist attack on San Francisco, California, seventeen-year-old Marcus, released into what is now a police state, decides to use his expertise in computer hacking to set things right.








Ready Player One by Ernest Cline.  It's the year 2044, and the real world is an ugly place. Like most of humanity, Wade Watts escapes his grim surroundings by spending his waking hours jacked into the OASIS--a sprawling virtual utopia that lets you be anything you want to be. Wade dreams of being the one to discover the ultimate lottery ticket that lies concealed within this virtual world. OASIS creator James Halliday has hidden a series of fiendish puzzles that will yield massive fortune--and remarkable power--to whoever can unlock them. ... And then, Wade stumbles upon the first puzzle.




For more fun, administrative librarian Merideth recommends checking out the awesome John Scalzi's blog, whatever.scalzi.com!

Kearsten's Book Club: Black Hole Sun by David Macinnis Gill

Monday, night, our book club discussed David Macinnis Gill's science fiction, action-adventure story, Black Hole Sun. 

On the planet Mars, sixteen-year-old Durango and his crew of mercenaries are hired by the settlers of a mining community to protect their most valuable resource from a feral band of marauders.

We started our discussion with some gripes, as many of our book clubbers felt it took too long for them to get invested in Durango and his world.  As the story is set on Mars in the future, the characters used many slang words (and other languages); however, almost none of the words were defined in the text, and there was no glossary to be found.  It turns out, interestingly, that many of our teens (myself included) are fantasy readers, and we've grown accustomed to using included maps and glossaries to dissect an author's world.

We had a great time, though, talking about the characters (nearly everyone loved the creepy, crazy queen), the society (which seemed to have no middle class, unless you counted the military), and about the European and Asian feudal influences on Durango's military background.  Most fascinating for us were the military regulations: they were almost religious in nature, and so strictly adhered to, it seemed as if the rigid honor code was in place to easily control the people who followed it unquestioningly...except for Durango, of course!

Overall, while the group gave the book an "okay" average of about 6 1/2 out of 10, we had a lively and fun discussion about Black Hole Sun.

As this is action-packed, with some awesomely intense battle scenes (with some wicked-sounding weaponry and armor that adapts to one's environment), a strong and snarky male point-of-view, this is a great read for guys and girls alike!  But if you've already read it and its sequels, Invisible Sun and Shadow on the Sun, why not try one of these readalikes, chosen by our own teen readers?

If you like exciting science fiction/action: 

The Last Thing I Remember (bk 1 in the Homelanders series) by Andrew Klaven. High school student Charlie West awakens bloody and bruised in a concrete bunker, only to discover that he has lost a year of his life and remembers nothing about escaping from prison after being convicted of murdering his former best friend, or why he is being pursued by both the law and a group of terrorists trying to bring down the government of the United States.

Divergent by Veronica Roth. 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 anomaly who does not fit into any one group, and that the society she lives in is not perfect after all.

If you're intrigued by children being trained by a shady military/government: 

Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card. "An outstanding tale of the child-hero Ender Wiggin, who must fight a desperate battle against a deadly alien race if mankind is to survive."

Legend by Marie Lu. In a dark future, when North America has split into two warring nations, fifteen-year-olds Day, a famous criminal, and prodigy June, the brilliant soldier hired to capture him, discover that they have a common enemy.

If you wonder how outcasts can survive in a very rough world:

Rot & Ruin by Jonathan Maberry. In a post-apocalyptic world where fences and border patrols guard the few people left from the zombies that have overtaken civilization, fifteen-year-old Benny Imura is finally convinced that he must follow in his older brother's footsteps and become a bounty hunter.

The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan. Through twists and turns of fate, orphaned Mary seeks knowledge of life, love, and especially what lies beyond her walled village and the surrounding forest, where dwell the unconsecrated, aggressive flesh-eating people who were once dead.

Kearsten's Book Club: Legend by Marie Lu

Last Monday night, book clubbers talked about dystopias and rebellion as we discussed Marie Lu's Legend, in which two teens caught on opposite sides of a totalitarian government become allies in a post-apocalyptic L.A.


Most of our discussion focused on rebellion and our two main characters: Day, a fifteen-year-old boy considered public enemy #1 in the government's eyes; and June, a fifteen-year-old prodigy, speeding her way through university and training to become the youngest military officer ever. Both of these characters are rebels in their own ways, and it was fun to debate about exactly which character was the bigger rebel.


Several of us agreed that Day was definitely a 'Robin Hood' type character, and several others shared that Day reminded them of Jace, from Cassandra Clare's Mortal Instruments series. A nearly collective sigh may have been heard at that point...


We also talked a bit about the appeal of dystopias - why are they so popular? (Not that we're complaining) We talked about distrust of government, worries about money, and even about social 'classes.' Interestingly, today Kearsten read an NPR.org article posing this same question - "What Terrifies Teens In Today's Young Adult Novels? The Economy" - which, in addition to taking a look at teen economic fears, offers up many other awesome-sounding teen dystopias. Do you agree with the journalists' theory?


Already read Legend? Why not try some of these book-club-suggested, sci-fi titles?


1984 by George Orwell. Portrays a terrifying vision of life in the future when a totalitarian government, considered a "Negative Utopia," watches over all citizens and directs all activities, becoming more powerful as time goes by.




Brave New Love, edited by Paula Guran. Presents a collection of fifteen stories about finding romance and danger in repressive, futuristic societies by such authors as Steve Berman, Jesse Karp, Diana Peterfreund, and Amanda Downum.




Brave New World by Aldous Huxley. Huxley's imaginatively futuristic novel warns of the dangers of sacrificing freedom and individuality for scientific progress and social stability.




Divergent by Veronica Roth. 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




The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen accidentally becomes a contender in the annual Hunger Games, a grave competition hosted by the Capitol where young boys and girls are pitted against one another in a televised fight to the death.




Robin Hood by Paul Creswick.

Looking for something a little like The Hunger Games?  You might like The Forsaken by Lisa Stasse.  In this dystopian world, teens are tested for anti-government tendencies (violence, the urge to overthrow their dictatorship,the ability to think for oneself, etc.) and if they fail the test, transported to a remote island where life expectancy is only a couple of years.  On this island, the kids divide into two tribes, at war with one another naturally.  Our main character, an orphan girl who has always toed the line after seeing her scientist parents hauled away by authorities and never to be seen again, expects that she will pass the personality test with flying colors.

Nope.

No great surprise to the reader, Alenna ends up on "the Wheel," with another hapless teen, a guy who gets captured quickly by the tribe you don't want to fall in with--that's the tribe led by a spooky figure known as the Monk, who seems to have brainwashed and brutalized all his minions.  Luckily, Alenna falls in with the other group, and before long she joins forces with them in a possibly hopeless effort to find a way off the island and on to an elusive better life.

I describe this book as part Hunger Games, part Lord of the Flies.  It moves fast, keeps the reader engaged, and has a few plot twists I didn't see coming, all very enjoyable.  Not as smoothly written as Suzanne Collins's work perhaps, but a nice addition to a growing list of teen dystopian fiction options.  Apparently, this is the first in a trilogy, so if you enjoy the tale, more will be coming out soon, in August of this year to be exact.  The sequel is entitled,  The Uprising.

Kearsten's Book Club: Across the Universe by Beth Revis

Teenaged Amy, a cryogenically frozen passenger on the spaceship Godspeed, wakes up to discover that someone may have tried to murder her.

Last week was yet another book club meeting (you missed it?!). This time, our book of choice was Beth Revis' Across the Universe, which we very loudly discussed for a good hour and a half.

Our discussion leader, Zach, started us off with a tour of the awesome Godspeed schematics on the official Across the Universe website (it's very cool).  And then we started talking "Across the Universe"... And what, you ask, did we talk about?

• Do you expect science fact to be included in your science fiction? Does it matter if something is *wrong*? (though, thanks to the teens who'd read ahead, we discovered that the thing that was wrong - trying to avoid spoilers here - was explained in the second book)
• How much truth should our leaders tell us? Is it okay to lie to 'the people' if it will keep them happy?
• How crazy-pants and scary is genetic modification?! (according to book club: A lot. A lot scary.)
• And, finally, diversity and cover representations, specifically white-washing, where the cover models of a book clearly misrepresent the characters within. Elder is described in the book as a person of color, yet the cover model on the hardcover is clearly a Caucasian male. Grrrrrrrr....

We had a great discussion inspired by this tense science fiction book about big ideas and we think you might enjoy it, too. Already read it? Try one of these book-clubber-suggested titles!

Matched by Ally Condie - In the society, officials decide who you love, where you work and when you die. Cassia has always trusted their choices. It's hardly any price to pay for a long life, the perfect job, the ideal mate. So when her best friend appears on the Matching screen. Cassia knows with complete certainty that he is the one, until she sees another face flash for an instant before the screen fades to black. Now Cassia is faced with impossible choices, between Xander and Ky, between the only life she's known and a path no one else has ever dared follow, between perfection and passion.

Rash by Pete Hautman - In a future society that has decided it would "rather be safe than free," sixteen-year-old Bo's anger control problems land him in a tundra jail where he survives with the help of his running skills and an artificial intelligence program named Bork.

Delirium by Lauren Oliver - 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, she falls in love. (Note: Kearsten's Book Club also discussed Delirium - read about that discussion here!)

Brave New World by Aldus Huxley - Huxley's terrifying vision of a controlled and emotionless future "Utopian" society is truly startling in its prediction of modern scientific and cultural phenomena, including test-tube babies and rampant drug abuse.