I recently read Anya's Ghost by Vera Brogol. This graphic novel is about a young girl from Russia, trying to fit into American society at a private school. She is first portrayed as a nasty girl who smokes, and is disrespectful to both her family and friends, but as the story continues the reader sees that Anya is a troubled girl who has poor self-esteem and is very lonely. While taking a walk in the park, Anya falls into an abandoned well, and when she looks around a ghost appears! Anya just wants to escape the well and when she is soon rescued, she thinks she has left the well and its ghostly inhabitant behind. The next day she finds out otherwise and as the story continues the readers finds that both Anya and her new ghost friend Emily Reilly are not who they first appear to be!
This is a graphic novel about growing up, being proud of who you are and where you come from, and being comfortable in your own skin. It is also a thrilling story with twists and turns that will keep you turning the pages. There is some strong language in this book, and I would recommend for more mature readers who can handle this. Otherwise an enjoyable tale and a quick read.
Divergent is a fantastic, action packed, and thought provoking novel written in the near future. The inhabitants of the city once known as Chicago, have been split into factions. Each faction cultivates a specific virtue in its members. Selflessness (Abnegation), Intelligence (Erudite), Bravery (Dauntless), Love (Amenity), Truthfulness (Candor). Each inhabitant takes a special test when they are 16 and are placed in a faction that best fits their personal attributes. Then there are the odd balls, the ones that walk their own path, and fit into many places, they are the Divergent. It is dangerous to be a Divergent. Tris, the main character, is divergent.
Divergent follows our main character through her chosen faction's, Dauntless, initiation training, through perils, heart ache, new friends, and new romance. The novel builds to a cliff hanger of an ending, making you biting at the bit for the next book in the series, Insurgent!
What I liked about this book is that it is great for all readers, it has action and suspense for the adventure lovers and it has romance for the whimsical, and for those that like thought provoking pieces of work, there is a whole lot of soul searching going on in this novel. Divergent is sure to interest many readers of all ages. And for those Book to Movie lovers, the premier of Divergent the Movie is March 2014!!
