Allegiant by Veronica Roth

Allegiant by Veronica Roth

Available Now

Published by Harper Teen

Reviewed by:  YA Sisterhood's Mom

The Sisters (and Mom) Say:  Heartbreaking but realistic and worth the read

The faction-based society that Tris Prior once believed in is shattered—fractured by violence and power struggles and scarred by loss and betrayal. So when offered a chance to explore the world past the limits she’s known, Tris is ready. Perhaps beyond the fence, she and Tobias will find a simple new life together, free from complicated lies, tangled loyalties, and painful memories.

But Tris’s new reality is even more alarming than the one she left behind. Old discoveries are quickly rendered meaningless. Explosive new truths change the hearts of those she loves. And once again, Tris must battle to comprehend the complexities of human nature—and of herself—while facing impossible choices about courage, allegiance, sacrifice, and love.

Told from a riveting dual perspective, Allegiant, by #1 New York Times best-selling author Veronica Roth, brings the Divergent series to a powerful conclusion while revealing the secrets of the dystopian world that has captivated millions of readers in Divergent and Insurgent.

For some reason my long awaited, much anticipated pre-ordered Allegiant was due to come in a week after everyone else’s. I moaned, I groaned, I was having Veronica Roth cravings, so I picked up my copies of Divergent and Insurgent and re-read, finishing just as the UPS guy delivered.

I’m not going to lie—I was fearful after reading the reviews in my week of waiting, fears that my heart would be broken with all the “spoiler alerts” that I was carefully avoiding. But maybe because I had just re-read and was back in my Roth Readiness, or maybe because I understood Roth’s realism that a character in a Dystopian novel must and will experience brokenness, or maybe because I truly believe that Roth is one of the top YA writers….whatever the case, I have to say that Allegiant deserves its Goodreads Choice Award for 2013.

We are warned on the book jacket that Tris, Dauntless by choice and Divergent by birth, is shattered as the novel begins, but how could she not be when all things she believed were true are actually lies. Naturally, she would begin to doubt everything—her friendships, the love between her and Tobias, and the very world in which she lives.

The first part of the book will definitely strap you to the whipping post and lash you with one betrayal after another, and just when you feel that you can’t take anymore, that Rothtastic suspense grabs you and takes you on a train ride, filled with all the danger, excitement, and the rush that a Dauntless junkie desires!

The dual POVs were the only thing that bothered me, not because it didn’t work, but because I had fallen in love so deeply with Tris’s character that it was difficult for me to give that up.  I wanted to see everything through her eyes. But it actually matched the separateness that occurs in Tris and Tobias’s relationship. It was necessary for us to see how circumstances were pulling them apart while their hearts were struggling to re-connect.

So in answer to your question, “Is Allegiant worth reading?”….Here are a few questions for you.  Would you walk out of the gym during the overtime of your child’s last senior game? Would you buy a 2014 Corvette and never drive it? Would you have a new baby and never hold it? For all of you Roth fans who have let others dissuade you from reading it for fear of a broken heart, I can only say “One choice will define you!” So definitely choose to finish that wild ride that Veronica Roth created for you and start turning the pages of Allegiant!

Teaser Tuesday: INSURGENT by Veronica Roth

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by MizB over at Should Be Reading!

To participate all you have to do is:

•Grab your current read

•Open to a random page

•Share two (2) "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page

•BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure what you share doesn't give too much away! You don't want to ruin the book for others!)

Insurgent by Veronica Roth

Releases on May 1st.

Thank you to Katherine Tegen, HarperCollins times a million for the ARC!

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"Because inside me is a beast that snarls,
growls, and strains toward freedom,
toward Tobias and, above all, toward life." (ARC, pg 341)


"His skin is slippery with water and he smells like sweat and my shirt sticks to his arms when he slides them around me.  He presses his face to my neck and kisses me right above the collarbone, kisses my cheek, kisses my lips."  (ARC, pg 400)

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I read this book (more than 500 pages) in less than 24 hours, and it was so good I felt like I read it in an hour! I just completely fell for Four all over again! I wanted to turn right back to the beginning and reread it! But since I need to get it back to big sis Amy, I satisfied myself with just rereading my favorite Four parts (which there were plenty of)!! There are no dull moments, action follow action, hate follows hate, and love follows love! You will find yourself on a rollercoaster of emotions, and you won't want it to stop! I'm already wallowing in self pity because I have to wait a year for the final book! Oh, and did I mention you will fall even more in love with Four? I did, but it bears repeating.

Also, as you probably have seen, we are apart of Team Erudite! Please help us to win this faction war by clicking on our link here.

Celebrate Insurgent! Erudite guys get all the girls!

Preston Myers (with girlfriend Amanda Beckett), Erudite member, studies the writings of Kurt Vonnegut. He hopes to use these writings to understand human behavior.  He believes, like all Erudite, that "knowledge is the only logical solution to the problem of conflict" (Erudite Manifesto).

Ronald Miller (with a trio of ladies to choose from), Erudite member, focuses on astronomy. He seeks the knowledge of the universe, for he, like all Erudite, believes that "a lack of knowlege leads to a lack of understanding" (Erudite Manifesto). Understanding the universe will help him understand himself.

Peter Parker (with girlfriend Mary Jane), Erudite member, is considered a genius in his field of physics.  He is currently gaining the knowledge needed to redefine how we see the universe.  Like all Erudite, he believes that "Intelligence is a gift, not a right" and he is going to use that gift to help the world (Erudite Manifesto).

As you can see, Erudite members are seeking knowledge to help all the factions. AND, all that knowledge helps with the ladies!

If you want a beautiful lady at your side or you're a beautiful lady and want a smart and sophisticated guy at your side, then join TEAM ERUDITE!!!!

Choose ERUDITE by clicking here:  Choose Team Erudite
Check out ERUDITE news here:  Erudite News

"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance." --Socrates, past Erudite leader

Waiting on Wednesday: Insurgent by Veronica Roth

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine. It spotlights books that have not yet been released, but ones that you should pre-order today! This weeks book that we are anxiously awaiting is:  Insurgent by Veronica Roth book # 2 in the Divergent Series.

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One choice can transform you—or it can destroy you. But every choice has consequences, and as unrest surges in the factions all around her, Tris Prior must continue trying to save those she loves—and herself—while grappling with haunting questions of grief and forgiveness, identity and loyalty, politics and love.

Tris's initiation day should have been marked by celebration and victory with her chosen faction; instead, the day ended with unspeakable horrors. War now looms as conflict between the factions and their ideologies grows. And in times of war, sides must be chosen, secrets will emerge, and choices will become even more irrevocable—and even more powerful. Transformed by her own decisions but also by haunting grief and guilt, radical new discoveries, and shifting relationships, Tris must fully embrace her Divergence, even if she does not know what she may lose by doing so.

New York Times bestselling author Veronica Roth's much-anticipated second book of the dystopian Divergent series is another intoxicating thrill ride of a story, rich with hallmark twists, heartbreaks, romance, and powerful insights about human nature.

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There's not much I wouldn't do for an ARC of this at the moment!  This is definitely on of my most highly anticipated novels of 2012!  CANNOT WAIT!!!  More Four please!!!  Here's our review/gush fest for Divergent if you would like to check it out! 

Match #26: Hermione (Seed #4) vs Tris (Seed #5) Goes to Hermione

And the winner is...


Hermione

Welcome to The YA Sisterhood and round 3 of The Tournament of Heroines, The Extraordinary Eight! Can you guys believe we're already down to eight heroines? Crazy! Thank you in advance for your participation in our Tournament of Heroines! We hope you make some friends (and not too many enemies), discover some fantastic books, and have a lot of fun!

Some general rules before we begin:

There may be some spoilers in the following post. We've tried to keep it fairly general, but overall, this Tourney will not be spoiler-free. So beware.

Secondly, You are welcome to write your own comments about either character in the comments section, but we will not tolerate rudeness. The minute it crosses over from logical argument into character bashing, your comments will be deleted and your vote canceled.  POLLS WILL BE OPEN FOR 24 HOURS AND WILL CLOSE AT 12:01AM EST ON DECEMBER 29th.

And now for the match....

I’m Jen, from the blog Unedited, I tweet avidly at @jenunedited, and can be found stalking YOU on facebook… but that’s enough about me. I’m the advocate for Hermione Granger and that’s where my focus is. To stay involved of all things Hermione Granger use hashtag #TEAMHERMIONE on twitter! Include my twitter so I can retweet and connect with you as much as possible!

About Her

So, let’s talk Hermione. You know, the girl who started with two big front teeth and turned into one amazing hottie. This brown hair, brown-eyed beauty can be found wearing the latest fashions when she isn’t in her black robes at Hogwarts. She’s not only bright in the Muggle world (non-magic folks) but can be found at the top of her class in the Wizarding world (magic folks… keep up). She’s known as a bit of a know-it-all but when you find yourself in a bind she’ll be the first with a spell to pull you right out of the sticky situation.

Best Attributes

Hermione isn’t your cookie-cutter heroine. The rawness in her inability to fit in makes her relatable to many girls. She wants to make friends and when she finally does she befriends several different personalities. The beauty of her friendship is the loyalty and trustworthiness she brings to the table. Judgment is left for those who are incompetent of understanding her beliefs. She’s a great support system for the house-elves and will stop at nothing until they’re freed. She’s a go-getter and the term give-up can NOT be found in her vocabulary.

What makes Hermione a true heroine?

Protecting the innocence and taming the guilty is a regular occurrence when hanging with her two best friends, Ron and Harry. From performing spells to hide from her enemies, to flying her way out of a sticky situation on the back of an invisible thestral (only seen to those who’ve witnessed death) this girl puts trust to a whole new level. Her ability to fake her way through a chess game, know how to destroy horcruxes, and learning all about the deathly hallows, she’s your own personal guide in any walk of life. Did I mention her determination... look at her... see what I mean?

Why should you vote for Hermione instead of Tris?

Hermione is a very selfless girl. One who doesn't hold grudges - even if people have talked about her horribly in the past. Hermione is extremely forgiving and unlike Tris doesn't let her stubbornness become the issue in any predicament.

Tris and Hermione are quite similar though, in the fact they both left their families. Hermione didn't have to chose to live away from her family, which would be hard for anyone, but she did have to protect them. She altered their minds to keep them safe when Voldemort was at his most powerful. She left them thinking they'd never had a daughter at all. Could you imagine? She loved her parents so much she was willing to leave the muggle world behind and only take part in the wizarding world to save them. Now that's a hero.

Tris is no underdog and though several people will say that Hermione has had her time in the spotlight, I have to ask, has she really? Hermione has never been in the spotlight by herself. Always sharing it with her two best buds, Ron and Harry can be time consuming. JK Rowling did wonderful showing friendship and loyalty, but Hermione deserves a little more confidence and faith that her readers didn’t just love the boys, but her as well. This round I’m asking you to show Hermione some extra love that she’s just as important solo as she is in a trio.

And just in case that isn't enough, how about Ryan Gosling helping promote a good cause? After all, isn't he sweet to be TEAM HERMIONE?

Anything else you’d like to add?

This ROCKSTAR was ready for fame and her name deserves to be on the next bracket. Help me carry our girl to the end and you won’t just dream of pygmy puffs and chocolate frogs… those goodies will be granted.

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Hello again its Julie from My 5 Monkeys and here to advocate for Tris and all of her awesomeness.


About Her


I found Tris to be one of the strongest female characters in YA this year. She's a normal girl who is petite with blond hair and bites her nails but she has an inner strength that kept her alive during her Dauntless initiation. She grew up in the Abnegation Faction - The Selfless but has always felt drawn to the Dauntless Faction - The Brave, the faction she chooses when she turns 16. Tris embodies both these qualities. She is SELFLESS. She is BRAVE.


Best Attributes

She has compassion, and she stands up FOR (instead of to) her fellow initiates when they are being bullied despite the consequences for herself . She is brave and smart, and has fire in her to never give up throughout her Dauntless initiation.

What makes her a heroine

TRIS is also underestimated because of her size BUT faces her fears head on . She is a true heroine . She doesn't have any special abilities but never stops searching for the truth or fighting for the people she cares about.

Why is Tris better than her competitors?

I think Tris is just as great as the other competitors  but she stands apart from the crowd in her search for the truth, her loyalty and compassion to her fellow Dauntless members and her family. She rode the rails and learned to face her fears in her quest to become Dauntless . She also stood up to some unscrupulous people in the fraction and brave for her choices . 


Why is should she get your vote over Hermione ? 


I think that she is just as good and smart as Hermione. I think that we only know more about Hermione because she has been in 7 books where as with Tris she has only been introduced to her world and all Fractions. I do think Tris and Hermione both exceptional  of  characteristics  of being Dauntless and Selflessness. They are both Heroines of Worth . 


I think that Hermione is also a Rock Star in her world and with  all of her problems with he who must not be named. 

www.ya-sisterhood.blogspot.com 

**voting is now closed**

Match #20: Janie (Seed #21) vs Tris (Seed #5) goes to Tris!

And the winner is......

TRIS! 
 

 VOTE JANIE GREY

 Duty         Honor       Strength

Name: Janie Grey
Stats: Dark Seeker by Taryn Browning  
Affiliation: Human - Seeker
Weapon of Choice: Dagger blade stake
Talents: Slaying Vampires, Daychildren and all around Butt Kicking with her martial arts and dagger training
Location: Baltimore 

Passed down through her Cherokee heritage, she is a Seeker. She hunts down Vampires and Daychildren. These Vamps are not of the sparkly variety..NO! They are nasty mean creatures. But the Daychildren are much worse! Vamp/Demon hybrids mean these vile beings posses demonic abilities and can roam in the daylight. Only Janie Grey stands between them and YOU!

Janie Grey was born to Slay!

Vamps and Daychildren Beware!

With her blade at her side

and her heart well protected,

She looks after everyone though she's been neglected.

Love's left her bitter

But she is NOT a quitter!

She's a kick-butt Heroine that keeps us safe

It's her job, It's her fate.

For Baltimore's streets it's never too late.

In steps Kai, he's not what he seems,

Blonde hair, green eyes and muscles so lean.

Can he claim her heart? Or meet defeat?

The two of them together is a fierce-some sight.

No one can Beat them in a fight!

Why should you VOTE for Janie instead of Tris? 

Born into a family of powerful women, Janie is tough. Trained in martial arts and dagger/stake technique from a young age, she is equipped with the knowledge and skills to hunt vampires and Daychildren.  No matter the job, she does what it takes to protect humans from the undead. Without Seekers like Janie, the world would be a different place. Janie sacrifices a "normal" teenage life to provide security to the people of her city. While you're sleeping she's hunting your worst nightmares.

HEROINES Possess...

Courage: Check!  “Can we kick some vampire butt already?”

Brave Deeds: Check!  "She could make that sacrifice. It was her job. In everything she’d learned recently about herself and the people around her, she always knew one thing. . .she was a good Seeker. No matter what, she’d get the job done."

Noble Qualities: Check!  "Five are vamps. They’re easy to kill. It’s the ones with demonic abilities that are sometimes a challenge.”

 Janie is a fantastic role model...

Janie is confident,  self-assured and self-sufficient, possessing the traits that should be applauded in females today. Although at times reckless and impulsive, she does what it takes to get the job done. Since her father's tragic death, Janie grows up fearful of getting close to anyone and lives by her own life lesson, "Love isn't worth the risk." Throughout the book she learns that putting faith in another doesn't always lead to pain. By learning to let people in,  Janie develops a greater sense of self and in return is able to perform her Seeker duties more effectively.

If you want a hardcore Heroine VOTE Janie Grey, she can kick Vampire butt all night and day!!

Did you vote for Janie Grey? If so make sure to visit #TeamJanie headquarters and sign up for the giveaway if she makes it through this round!!

Hello This is Julie from My 5 Monkeys , and also know on Twitter as @aprilmom00..and I am Tris advocate. 

Divergent is the debut novel of Veronica Roth , and her next book Insurgent will be out next April. 

About her

Well I found Tris  to be a strong female character. She is petite, has blonde hair and bites her nails. She has always grown up in the Abnegation Faction and has  lived with her family. She has turned 16 years old and learned that she is Divergent. She gets to make a choice of where she wants to live. She choose Dauntless.

Best Attributes

from cafepress-divergent nation site

She has compassion, and she stands up to her fellow initiates when they are being bullied .She is brave and smart, and has fire in her to never give up through all the trials in the Dauntless Faction.

What makes her a heroine

She is Brave and Smart and also in control of her emotions . She is also underestimated because of her size. She also faces her fears head on . She is a true heroine . She doesn't have any special abilities but she is different from others.

I think that Beatrice Prior is a True Heroine because she shows compassion and selflessness , and bravery in front of her Faction when the time calls for it. 

I decided to ask other bloggers why they liked Tris and here are their opinions 

What I loved about Tris is her fierce determination.  While she was naive, in the sense that she hadn't been exposed to things, she didn't let that scare her.  She thrived on tackling her fears, on pushing herself, on doing better, and accomplishing more.  And when she saw someone who was afraid, she didn't look down on them, she defended them, sometimes at the risk to her own life.  She never conformed to the patterns of the world she was faced with, she questioned why things were the way they were, and what she could do to make things better.  -- Andy ( Reading Teen) 

I  love that Tris doesn't sugar coat things, when she's feeling a certain way, she doesn't sensor her feelings. If she hates someone, she wants to beat 'em to death kinda thing. Ha! That sounds bad, but it's refreshing! I like that she's a fighter in every sense of the word. She fights for what she wants, what she believes in, and who she loves. She's tough. And we never really see her break down, even after her parents die. ( i think she cries once...i'm not sure.) A lot of people i know said it made her seem heartless, but through-out the whole book Tris is anything but. She puts her heart into EVERYTHING. And after her parents die, she keeps going, she keeps fighting even though she's at her lowest point. If she didn't have heart, she wouldn't care about making things right in all of the Fractions. Another thing i really like about her is that she tries. Even if she's scared shitless (jumping off the building for Dauntless initiation) she still does it. Even if she doesn't know how to do something (fight, climb a ferris wheel, use a knife) she tries. And she doesn't let her fears control her or hold her back FROM trying.  I also love her tattoos! Seriously, after i read the book i really wanted to go out and get some! (LOL! Sorry just had to add that!) -Brooke from Brooke Reports 

Please Vote for Tris!

www.ya-sisterhood.blogspot.com 

*VOTING IS NOW CLOSED*

Blogger Spotlight: Desert Island Books

Welcome to our blogger spotlight week!!! We have some new bloggers that have joined us recently and are wanting all of you to get to know them better! Plus, we've been asked several times for recommendations on what people should be reading! Therefore, new bloggers + recommendation requests = Blogger Spotlight: Desert Island! (dun, dun, dun)

If you want to join in on the fun-- blog your top 5 YA books (and feel free to add 5 adult if you want). Then comment with your link or just list your DIB in the comments!

Hello fellow readers!!! My name is Sarah...I'm also one of the newbies here at YA Sisterhood...something of which I am so excited and proud to be a part!!!  If you're wondering how I became a part of this crew, well, AmyG's husband is my husband's brother.  And seeing as how AmyG and I are like...the coolest in the family, I'd say we're pretty tight.  I live in good ol' Oklahoma (though I am a proud Texan by birth) with my incredible husband (incredible because he's a legitimate rockstar AND he likes YA books too) and my 5 1/2 month old baby boy, Jaxon Bailey.  These two boys keep me on my toes...I'm pretty sure there will never be another boring day the rest of my life.  I get to stay at home and take care of my little one, which is an awesome privilege that I LOVE.  Before having my son, I was a Starbucks barista and I did musicals all over the Dallas metroplex.  I've been an avid reader all my life.  In fact, when I started to learn to drive, my sisters made fun of me because I didn't know where anything was...I'd spent all my time in the car reading book after book.  I got hooked on YA literature in college when I started reading Harry Potter.  This love became more of an obsession when one of the coolest English professors ever decided to offer a Harry Potter class.  As I'm sure many of you know, putting more than one Harry Potter obsessive fan together can create a lot of fun and craziness!  Since then, my sis-in-law has been handing me one book after another for me to devour, which I do pretty much every time (she has really awesome taste)!

Now for my Desert Island Books (This was super hard for me...I'm one of those people that has the hardest time picking favorites!!!):

1. Harry Potter. Duh.

2.  The Hunger Games.  (Seriously a fav!!!)

3.  The Mortal Instruments. (Crazy fantastic characters!)

4.  Starcrossed. (This is pretty much the first time I went kinda crazy stalker on an author.  LOVE this book!!!!)

5. Divergent.  (Because something's gotta make you feel dauntless if you're trapped on an island, right?!)

Other books I love:

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte (Pretty much my favorite book of all time!)

The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis (This is really the beginning of YA fantasy, right?!)

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austin (The love story of all love stories!)

Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers (What a romance!)

The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger (Most perfect book ever!)

If you want more Desert Island books, go check out our BBFF (Blogger Best Friend Forever), Jena's post on her blog!

YA Crush Tourney: Four vs Hale (Match #10) goes to Hale

AND THE WINNER IS:

HALE

Holy smokes, it is already Round 2!  We are down to our final sixteen which we are going to call The Sexy Sixteen!  Before we get started, it's the same rules as usual.  We've tried as much as possible to keep everything spoiler free, but to really show the best qualities of a character sometimes spoilers are necessary, so BEWARE!!!  Also, feel free to write comments in the comments section about either character, but we will not tolerate rudeness.  The moment it crosses over from logical argument to rudeness, your comment will be deleted and your vote cancelled.  Voting will open at 8am and close 40 hours later at midnight on Tuesday night.  Because of crashing 2 different poll sites in the 1st round, we have decided for the sake of our sanity and all of your guys sleep, to only allow 1 vote per computer.  So call in all of your reinforcements for the next rounds.  With all that said, let the voting begin!



FOUR (seed #1)


Four is from the unbelievable dystopian YA novel, Divergent by Veronica Roth.  You can find more information about Divergent by clicking on Veronica Roth's name on the side of our blog or check out our Divergent Top Ten List.  Four is rep'd by our very own and talented honorary sister, Marylee!  Follow her on twitter @MaryleeTheCrazy!


Personality:


Funny
Original
Understanding
Reticent

Four, (yes it is a nickname) is a wonderfully complex character. Although he has faced many dangers & years of abuse, he is still a good-natured person who is not afraid to stand up for what is right. He is an extremely intelligent, honorable, hard-working, brave young man whose immense skill is matched only by his vast capacity to love. He can take Tris' breath away with a simple touch & although at first she is considered the weakest link in their group, he picks her first to be on his team during a competitive activity because he believes in her strength & sees in her what no one, not even Tris, sees. He cares for her so much that even when he didn't have to, he fought through one of his worst fears in order to be with her & protect her. His wisdom & encouragement help Tris through the grueling & intense process she's going through & he keeps her dangerous secret safe from those who would use it as an excuse to hurt her. He is a tough teacher & at times seems cruel, but his only thought is to protect Tris & keep her alive & safe. He is a quiet & remarkably self-possessed young man but at the same time he is also extremely witty & fun. There is also the minor thing where he saves Tris' life on multiple occasions. Come on, he is the whole package ladies.

"To me, there's a difference between not being afraid & acting in spite of fear as he does."


Looks:


Freakin' hottt
Outstanding eyes
Unique physique
Rad tattoos

Four is, quite simply, gorgeous. He is over 6 feet tall with taut & defined muscles. His tranquil eyes are a dreaming, sleeping, waiting color that are so dark they're almost black, with a small patch of lighter blue on the left iris, right next to the corner of his eye. They are so deep- set that his eyelashes touch the skin under his eyebrows & even when he glares or scowls, his eyes look thoughtful. His lips, that curl when he smiles & that provide Tris with many pleasurable moments (near the chasm, on the train, in his bed...) are full & perfect & the voice that comes out of them is deep &  it rumbles. He has several tattoos, all of which are meaningful to him & which no one besides the artist that drew them &  Tris have seen. He has short black hair that is perfect for running your fingers through... and speaking of fingers, he has long & narrow ones that with the heel of his hand touching one side of Tris' rib cage, his fingertips still touch the other side. Other people in the book describe him as handsome, so you know Tris isn't just blinded by love. He's just a straight-up hunk.

"I close my eyes. His touch is light, sensitive. A heavy warm feeling, like spilling honey, fills my body, slowing my thoughts."


Talents:


        Fierce fighter
      cOmputer nerd
 instrUctor of awesomeness
        Recovery god

Four is one talented son of a gun. He is one of the most-respected people in his faction & his choice not to seek power within it was the only thing keeping him from being a leader. He is strong, athletic,  & fast & not only knows how to shoot a gun & to fight, but can do so with incredible skill. He is also something of a computer genius & works in the control room most of the time. As an exceptional fighter and resident man-of-awesome, Four also gets to train & prepare new recruits like Tris. Because of his high intellect & intuition, another talent of Four's is his ability to think on his feet & recover quickly & seamlessly in times of need, especially when he's trying to save Tris.
  
"He's figured out more about me than I have. And even though it seems impossible that he could feel something for me, given all that I'm not... maybe it isn't."


Special Attributes:


   Fiercely loyal
prOtective
  sUrvivor
  aRticulate

Four is special in so many ways, but my favorite quality of his is his inner strength. Though I am positive his physical strength could beat the crap out of any guy I know, it is his unswerving goodness that makes him the most crush worthy.  Although he had a terrible childhood & then went to live where extreme violence was an everyday occurrence, Four never stopped believing  in & fighting for the ideal of what his faction was founded on rather than succumbing to the easy corruption of what it had fallen into. That drive to be better pushes him to constantly face his fears in order to make progress & be better even though he is so good already & is what drove him to take a chance on & fall in love with Tris.

"We believe in ordinary acts of bravery, in the courage that drives one person to stand up for another."


What makes Four better than Hale?

  Foxy
hOnorable
qUick-witted
  Reliable

Four & Hale have a lot in common. Both love their ladies and are extremely loyal to & protective of them. Both don't want to share their first names (although Four does eventually). And both are just human, not supernatural creatures, who are both just trying to do the best they can in life. Where they differ is that where Hale has lots of money to go and do whatever he desires, he chooses to be be a criminal & steal things. Whereas Four doesn't have inexhaustible funds & is busy fighting for his & Tris' lives. And even if he did have the money or opportunity to steal artistic masterpieces, he wouldn't, because Four believes in doing what's right, even when it's hard or un-fun. I think that shows that Four has more integrity & is therefore more worthy of your crush!

"A brave man acknowledges the strength of others."


Anything else you would like to add?


  Four is the hotttttest crush ever!
vOte for him
  U know you love him!
  Read this book if you haven't already!

Four, how do I love thee? Let me count the ways. I love you for your wit, cleverness, & charm. I love you for your bravery, (dauntlessness if you will) cunning,  & general badassery. But most of all, I love you for your passion, caring, & wisdom. Your strength & love know no bounds & my love for you is forever!

This characterization and description of Four is based only on the first book in the Divergent series. I cannot wait to see how this most crush-worthy young man grows and changes in the upcoming books, but I am certain it will only make me love him even more! Divergent by Veronica Roth is one of the greatest books I've ever read. I'm in love with everything about it & I can hardly wait for Insurgent (Book Two). If you haven't read it yet, go do yourself a favor & read it immediately!!!

"Something about him makes me feel like I am about to fall. Or turn to liquid. Or burst into flames." Come on ladies, any man who can make a woman feel like that is the real deal & clearly the most crush-worthy!


W.W. Hale V (seed #17)

W.W. Hale V is from The Heist Society series by Ally Carter.  You can find out more about Ally Carter and her books by clicking her name on the side reel of our blog.  Hale is represented by Deanne D, a Children's Librarian in NM. You can follow her on twitter @librarychickD.

Personality:

W.W. Hale V (known just as “Hale”) from Heist Society and Uncommon Criminals by Ally Carter is best friend to and possible, one-day, hopefully boyfriend to Katarina “Kat” Bishop. He is a lot of things but most of all he’s protective; protective of Kat, the family, their chosen profession, and even his first name, which he’ll never share. He’s smart, sarcastic, quick- thinking, loyal and an excellent thief.

Looks:

Ally Carter is purposefully vague on the description of Hale; I think to allow each reader to imagine their own version of Hale. We know he has light brown hair, golden skin (most likely from spending time in exotic locales) and is tall with broad shoulders and is the hottest guy that Kat has ever laid eyes on. He’s also confident which makes him even hotter! Most girls instantly fall into love (lust?) with him but he only has eyes for Kat.

Talents:

He’s a thief! And a darn good one at that! He’s also charming which helps with the thievery. He’s a good con-man and charming so he’s able to talk himself in and out of most situations. He’s smart and open-minded which helps him see solutions to get Kat out of trouble which she always seems to find or always finds her.

Special Attributes:

He’s rich, he has absentee parents so he’s free to travel the world using his family’s resources (private jets, villas) without anyone questioning him, and he’s got a trusting, faithful butler/valet to take care of him. He wears Superman pajama pants! How can you not love a guy who wears Superman pajama pants to bed, especially when he’s sleeping in a room with stolen masterpieces by Monet or Vermeer?

What makes Hale better than Four?

Now I'm sure that Four is a great guy and all but there's no way he's better than Hale!  One could argue that what makes a person good/bad/awesomesauce is the set of circumstances or environment they're in.  Four lives in a crazy, future, dystopic world whereas the wonderful, brave, handsome, smart, excellent thief Hale lives in *our* world.  He could be walking down the same street as you or I on this very day!  Now Hale is brave and sexy but he's also relatable, and isn't that what every girl truly wants- someone she can relate to and have things in common with?  True, Hale is uber-rich and that's not something many people could have that in common with him but he could still talk to you about American Idol or the new Harry Potter movie.  In fact, he's so rich he would probably rent out an entire IMAX, 3-D theater so the two of you could watch Harry Potter alone, all romantic-like.  Plus, I can think of 2 YA books with the main guy character named "Four", but there is only ONE W.W. Hale V.  No matter which world you live in (the current one or a crazy, future one), Hale is the clear winner over some guy named Four.

Vote for Hale!!!

Remember voting will be open for 40 hours.  This poll will close at midnight on Tuesday night.  Good luck to our YA Crushes!!!


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