Allegiant

Bibliography
Roth, Veronica. Allegiant. New York: Katherine Tegen Books, 2013. Print.
image from: http://thedivergenttrilogy.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/photo-1.jpg



My Thoughts:
This is the third book in the Roth trilogy. I read the first two installments of the story this summer (one of the best stories I read!), so I was counting down until I could buy this book.

Tris and Four are the narrators of this tale. At first, I didn't like the flipping back and forth, especially if I had to stop reading during a chapter. When I came back to read, I had to remember which voice I was reading. However, I did like seeing more of Four's internal struggles and his thoughts.

This book did not disappoint, even though I didn't like some things that happened. I know it had to happen, and since I've had a couple of days to think about it, I know that Roth kept true to her characters. This is a solid story, and even though it is dystopian, it is not so far removed that it isn't possible. I believe some kind of BUREAU OF GENETIC WELFARE probably exists.

There are several twists and turns that kept me saying, "OOOHHHH!" We get some back story on both Tris' and Four's parents. We realize that great inventions can also become deadly weapons.

Some questions I kept thinking about while reading is how do we know what the truth really is? Who can we believe to give accurate information? Who can we trust? Which side is the "right" side? Roth does a great job examining humanity and showing the reader that not everything is easily decided.

I marked so many pages in this book, that my coworker laughed. She asked what I marked. I flag things I want to remember, things I think are foreshadowing, things I thought were funny and things that are ponderable. I like the way Roth explains and describes.

For example, here are some things I marked (without any spoilers or clues):

• "I wonder if fears ever really go away, or if they just lost their power over us" (Roth 91).
• "People are just divided by different things, fighting different wars" (Roth 249).
• "I think that no matter how smart, people usually see what they're already looking for" (Roth 256).
• "I wonder if this is how it is with all evil men, that to someone, they look just like good men, talk like good men, are just as likable as good men" (Roth 321).
• "When you control information, or manipulate it, you don't need force to keep people under your thumb. They stay there willingly" (Roth 346).
• "I stay with him because I choose to, every day that I wake up...I choose him over and over again, and he chooses me" (Roth 372). This one made me think about my marriage. Yep, we choose each other, and it's work, but the work is worth it!
• "To me, grief is a devastating numbness, every sensation dulled" (Roth 503). I can relate to this. I recently lost an uncle, and numb is the best word I can describe how I feel.

The title reference first appears on page 20.

I am so happy I found this story! A friend recommended Divergent to me a few years ago. I didn't pick it up, didn't pick it up, didn't pick it up. Finally, I picked it up. Now, it's my go to recommendation book. Well done, Veronica Roth! I can't wait to see what you come out with next.