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Why YA: the life of a Young Adult Lit Lover

We’ve all been there, enamoured by our bookshelves bursting with adventure, love and mystery. But have you ever wondered why you love a certain type of read? I’m first and foremost addicted to Young Adult (YA) Literature. It’s my first love, the one genre I can always count on for security and a thoroughly great read. So, if you’re like me and you love YA above anything else, I’ve been thinking about this post for a while. After talking with some fellow book lovers, I settled on the idea. Why YA: the life of a Young Adult Lit Lover, for example, all the reasons why I love YA (and you might too).


So, sit back and relax, grab a cup of tea (or coffee) and read on…


The Characters are role models

It’s touch-and-go who you can count on to look up to these days. For people who haven’t got a female or male role model in their lives, book characters can be a ton more reliable than celebrities that from reading on social media, can sometimes commit actions that lose a little of our respect for them. 

When I read Anna and the French Kiss, Lola and the Boy Next Door and Isla and the Happily Ever After, they remained fixed in my mind as stand-up, kind-hearted girls that had my respect. When I read them, the girls were around my age (and still kind of are at twenty one) and I found myself finding myself looking up to them. They made mistakes, sure, but they were human and had this lifelike personality that made them feel like my best friends. Just because they’re fictional doesn’t make them any less of a role model, and I think they’re pretty cool. 

The community is like family

I’ve made so many friends because of the YA community, mainly on Twitter and Instagram (shout-out to my bookstagram family!) and they’re the sweetest, most passionate people you will ever meet. I love that I can tweet a question and get a response from people that share the same mindset. Recently, YALC took place and I wish more than anything EVER that I could have been there, but I sadly had other commitments I made months before. I’m determined to go next year, because all those tweets I saw from the event made me so book envious! But being a part of the YA community made me feel like I was there, because of all the pictures and videos and talking to people who were right there in the heart of it. I’m lucky to know some amazing book bloggers who share my great love of YA and without that community, YA would be nothing but a sub-genre – it’s the people within it that create a ying and yang balance with authors that makes some kinda of magic. 

The authors get it

When I’m reading an Adult book, sometimes I just can’t relate and that can make me stray away from the plot..but with YA, I can always feel some kind of magnetic pull to the characters who share my thoughts and mindset. Yes, some authors can totally miss the point of teenage and young adult years, but others? They TOTALLY get it. It just makes reading all the more enjoyable when you can relate to the main character (or secondary ones) and feel some kind of belonging amongst the plot. I’m not saying adult authors don’t get it, because they do (just for adults, more than YA readers) but it’s open to discussion. I remember reading the Morganville series by Rachel Caine and even though it was a fantasy novel and Vampires totally don’t exist, I still felt like I shared the same thoughts as Clare, who was in college when I was reading (and so was I at the time). 

So, do you feel the same way about these things? 

Let me know in the comments or on twitter @LittleMemoirs! I’d love to know your thoughts on why YOU pick YA. 

happy reading!

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We Talk Divergent! + Review {with Sophie from 23 Review Street}

So this is a little different, or divergent, from our normal review styles…this week, me and Sophie from 23 Review Street, are doing a Divergent discussion and review, and will be continuing this for the whole trilogy by Veronica Roth!
Let’s get started!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Title: Divergent {Divergent #1}
Author: Veronica Roth
Genre: Young Adult -Dystopian
Release Date: May 3rd, 2011
Published by: Katherine Tegen Books
Format: USA Paperback

I purchased this book myself and I’m in no
way bias from one book to the next.
These opinions are totally my own.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
In Beatrice Prior’s
dystopian Chicago, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated
to the cultivation of a particular virtue—Candor (the honest),
Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful),
and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all
sixteen-year-old’s must select the faction to which they will devote the
rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with
her family and being who she really is—she can’t have both. So she makes
a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.

During the
highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself
Tris and struggles to determine who her friends really are—and where,
exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes infuriating
boy fits into the life she’s chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one
she’s kept hidden from everyone because she’s been warned it can mean
death. And as she discovers a growing conflict that threatens to unravel
her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might
help her save those she loves . . . or it might destroy her.

Debut
author Veronica Roth bursts onto the literary scene with the first book
in the Divergent series—dystopian thrillers filled with electrifying
decisions, heartbreaking betrayals, stunning consequences, and
unexpected romance.

 

 

 
Sophie: I
didn’t really know about this book, until I heard it was being made
into a movie. After watching the trailer which was amazing, I decide to
read the book first. The tagline on the front drew me in along with the
blurb. As soon as I read the first page, I was hooked and couldn’t put
it down.
Becca: When
I first read about this last year, I snatched it up. It sat on my shelf
for a while before I finally got around to reading it this year when
Dystopian books were becoming a favourite of mine. I was first taken
aback by the whole faction thing, because I thought; how am I going to remember all these factions and rules? But then it wasn’t as complicated as I thought and was seriously addictive as soon as I started.

 Who was your favourite character?

Becca: My
favourite character was most definitely Tris. She was impulsive (in a
good way), fiery and honest. She wasn’t always so rule obedient, but
that made her the girl she was. If she hadn’t have been so curious and
question everything, then she wouldn’t have been an iconic lead
character. I also liked Four, because even though he was a little bit of
an idiot to Tris in the start, I ended up liking his character in the
end.

Sophie: My
favourite character would have to be Tris, from reading the book she is
a likeable character that you get to know as the book progresses. I
like that she is different from the rest of the people, yet that doesn’t
stop her. I like that she is loyal to her friends, and the chemistry
she has with Four that make the book even more enjoyable.

Favourite scene?
Becca: Obviously
I’m going to say the knife-throwing scene from Chapter 13. That was the
moment I was like; Four definitely has a thing for Tris, and she’s
oblivious, and he’s going about it the wrong way. But regardless to them
as a couple, it was still thrilling and a classic scene that Veronica
wrote.
Sophie:  My
favourite would have to be the Ferris Wheel scene from Chapter 12. This
showed how much being Dauntless meant to Tris, as she took it upon
herself to climb. The other thing I liked about the scene was that Four
went with her, even though his argument was realistic, you could tell
there was a underlining reason to why he went with her.

What is the part that you are looking forward to seeing projected from the book to the big screen when Divergent hits cinemas?

Becca: Everything
to do with the Chasm, basically. It’s so vividly described in the book,
from where Al dies, to where Tris is almost killed, to where Four and
Tris kiss. If it looks anything like Veronica wrote about, it’ll be a
good translation from book to screen for me.
Sophie:  The
scenes to do with the trains, as they jump off the trains a lot in the
book and there is a lot revolving around them. There are some important
scenes that are either on the trains and that have a big impact on the
story.

Who was your least favourite character?

Becca: The
characters were all so well made, so I couldn’t fault any of their
characteristics, but who I didn’t like because he was a horrible person,
was Peter. I know that Molly and Drew were probably as horrible, but he
was my pet peeve. I just wanted Tris to slap him SO bad, haha.
Sophie:  It
is hard to pick one, each are unique in his or her own way. Some are
nicer than others and others are nastier. Though if I had to pick one,
or three it would be Peter, Drew and Molly as they are always trying to
hurt and annoy Tris throughout the book.

Favourite quote?
Becca: “I
have something I need to tell you,” he says. I run my fingers along
the tendons in his hands and look back at him. “I might be in love with
you.” He smiles a little. “I’m waiting until I’m sure to tell you,
though.”

“That’s sensible of you,” I say, smiling too. “We should find some paper so you can make a list or a chart or something.”
I feel his laughter against my side, his nose sliding along my jaw, his lips pressing my ear.

“Maybe I’m already sure,” he says, “and I just don’t want to frighten you.”
I laugh a little. “Then you should know better.”
“Fine,” he says. “Then I love you.”

Sophie:  But he just says, “Careful, Tris.”

My
stomach drops like I just swallowed a stone. A Dauntless member at
another table calls out Four’s name, and I turn to Christina. She raises
both eyebrows.

“What?” I ask.
“I’m developing a theory.”

“And it is?”
She picks up her hamburger, grins, and says, “That you have a death wish.”

What did you think of the plot (the factions, the rules, etc)?

Becca: The
factions were so interesting and unique to Divergent, that it made me
think Veronica Roth must have the most vivid and creative imagination. I
loved how the factions were color-coordinated by their loyalties, how
the initiation took place…everything was just so addictive to read
about. I must admit that the Dauntless initiation was a little
frightening to read about, but bravery came with a price, there.
Sophie:  There
is five different factions, each different from the next. Though after
reading the first couple of chapters, you get to know what each
fraction is and the type of people that are linked to them. Each
fraction has different rules that they must follow, in Tris’s case
because she choose Dauntless the challenges are rules are a lot more
dangerous and thrilling. Though each challenge becomes more thrilling
and dangerous than before, testing how much they really want to become a
Dauntless member.

What made you like Divergent overall?

Becca: I
think it was half the detail, and half Tris’s narrative, because the
detail was something that roped me in, and then the way Tris led her
life from Abnegation to Dauntless, and finding out she was Divergent,
she was a true heroine. It was just so addictive, that I could’ve stayed
in the storyworld forever, so I’m pretty sure it’s one of my favourite
books of all time.
Sophie:  I
think it was the story, as it was completely different from any other
book I had ever read before. I loved the setting and what the book is
about. The bravery, the courage and the loyalties that as tested during
the course of the book.

What do you think will happen next?

Becca: I
expect SO much to go down with Erudite! I think that Tris is going to
really take charge of her future, even if that does mean not always
listening to Four. Possibly some twists that we haven’t stepped foot in
yet, too. I already have my copy of Insurgent waiting for me, so I will be reading ASAP.
Sophie:  I
can’t wait until Insurgent, as Divergent left off on a cliffhanger. I am
also looking forward to the friendships and relationships that Tris has
with people and how they will develop over the course of the next two
books.



 
I was a little slow on the whole Divergent thing, but now I wished I had read it back when it first came out a few years ago; because it is LITERALLY the best. 

It all starts with a little introduction to Tris and her family, and the Abnegation ways. Abnegation are the Selfless, whereas the other factions have different traits, like; Dauntless are Brave, Candor are Honest, Erudite are Intelligent, and Amity are Peaceful. Tris starts of in Abnegation after growing up there for the first sixteen years of her life, but she’s a very curious person, and even at the start, she is very wise.

Tris and her brother Caleb are due for their aptitude tests that will decide the faction they will spend the rest of their lives in. It’s a pretty crucial part of their lives and they will be put into a Simulation that detects what true traits they have and where they truly belong. Tris is told by Tori; who is dauntless, that she is Divergent–she can’t be controlled, and isn’t tied to just one faction. She get’s a result for; Abnegation, Erudite and Dauntless.

The decision takes it’s toll on Tris, and after deliberation and cautious thinking, she chooses to be brave in Dauntless. There kicks off one of the most addictive and action-packed novels I have ever read, and have ever thoroughly loved through and through. Tris is thrown into a training vortex where she is constantly building up her newer and reformed image, dropping her name that was Beatrice, to pick up Tris. Even though some other initiates like her are very judging and call her Stiff; because she was an Abnegation, she is determined to ignore their negativity and fight her way through. She even makes some friends, like Christina who transferred from Candor, Will who transferred from Erudite and Al who transferred from Candor. 

“I feel like someone breathed new air into my lungs. I am not Abnegation. I am not Dauntless. I am Divergent.”– Tris Prior

After building up her friendships and being thrown into fights with brutal consequences and enemies; Peter, Molly and Drew, Tris manages to use her Divergence to become stronger. This highlights her to Four; one of her trainers, the nicer of the two, the other being Eric. Tris and Four are first given some chemistry in the knife-throwing scene from chapter 13. She steps in for Al, and Four steps in from Eric, who were in a debate over his ability to aim at the target. Four then throws knifes…at Tris. And even then, we know there’s something between them, even though if anyone knew knifes at someone in this day and age, it would probably seem reckless and stupid, there it was brave.

Erudite also play a huge part in the novel. Jeanine is the leader of Erudite and in my words; is pure evil. She uses the Dauntless as her puppets and the last few chapters of Divergent are where things pick up to a fast paced cliffhanger. Lives are lost, alliances are made and things will never be the same…and as for Tris and Four (who may or may not have a name you will uncover in the book!)…they are highlight of Divergent, the spark that keeps the world alive. Even though he was a jerk toward her for the beginning of the novel, he is drawn to her individuality and perhaps is alike her in more ways than one that we will find out.

Veronica Roth is a genius, and has created a storyworld that I would stay in forever. The style of writing was unique and enthralling, and the deeper I read into the dystopian Chicago, the more I never wanted to put it down. The world is not perfect, but to be in Divergent is to know you don’t have to be perfect to be liked. Because Tris uncovered that we don’t have to just be one thing. She and Four wanted to be smart, kind, brave, selfless and honest. Why be just one?

Five stars in such an understatement. Bring on Insurgent!


Check out Sophie’s review here!

 

Did you love Divergent?

What was your favourite part?

Discuss in the comments with us or at twitter (@LittleMemoirs) (@23reviewstreet)! 

 

 

 

 

 
happy reading!

 

 

10 Things I Like About YA…PART TWO!

Welcome to part two of my “10 Things I Like About YA” series which has taken part from Saturday to Monday, presenting my favourite things about Young Adult novels and how I feel about them and the affect they have on all of us. So, with six more reasons why I love YA, here we go…
5. There are some real gems out there
Have you ever been to a bookstore and picked up a book on a whim and absolutely loved it and had no idea it even existed, but now you can’t think of a time when you didn’t love it? They’re called the real gems of our bookcases; the stories we get lost in, entwining with the plot and characters until we feel a part of that world. And I love finding books like that.



 
6. All the genres in between

This is kind of the same with the same with Adult books, but with YA, we get all these genres that seem to spring from nowhere. There’s Contemporary, Romance, Fantasy, Sci-fi, Dystopian, Horror, Psychogical Thriller, Mystery, Contemporary Romance…I could go on forever. It’s nice to have that huge selection of our own choices. 

 


7. It inspires us
 
As an aspiring Author myself, when a book I’m reading inspires me, it doesn’t mean copying or replicating another story, it just means that whatever motivated that Author to make that storyworld perfect, the characters flawless, that it rubs off a little on the readers.
8. It connects us
Fandoms! We’ve all heard of them. Hunger Games, Twilight, Harry Potter, etc; they’re all examples of big fandoms out there that have all streamed from a book series into film. But by reading these books and then talking with each other and spreading the word, talking more, blogging about them, etc, we are connecting. These series’ connect us by bringing the fans together, and that’s one of my favourite qualities of a YA series or book.


 

9. The characters grow with us

  I was really young when the first Harry Potter movie came out–but I remember watching the first movie when it came on tape *that old?!* and then going to see it at the cinema for the rest of the movies, and the movie franchise / book series, expanded and grew as I grew up too. 
 
10. Series after series
There aren’t very many Adult series’ that I collect, only my favourite I heart series by Lindsay Kelk, but with YA, there are these stories that stretch out over three or four books, on average, and they give us that little extra time to love those characters and delve deeper into the world. Think Rachel Caine or Suzanne Collins or Veronica Roth, who have all had novels stretching out over popular series…(and we love them all, right?! I know I do..).

 What are your favourite things about YA? 

Do you agree with my six picks from today, and my four picks from Saturday?
If you want to take part in this “10 things I like about YA” post, just link back in the comments so I can visit your blogs, too! 
 
 happy reading!
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My NEW Divergent Obsession & Future Blogging Crossover!

I finally did it….
….I read DIVERGENT.
So…it was EPIC. And I’m not saying that out of favoritism or because everyone kind of loves it, but because it is just purely facinating and the most incredible book I’ve read in more than a year. 
I wanted to do something MORE than a Review, so…my lovely Sister who blogs over at 23 Review Street was interested in my new-found adoration for Divergent, and even though she’s more into Adult Fiction and Contemporary YA, she decided she was going to give it a read!
I hear a DOUBLE DIVERGENT CROSSOVER coming…
 Be there next Sunday for our conversational reviews and a little movie talk!

 
 happy reading!
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