Insurgent (Divergent Series Book #2)

Insurgent (Divergent Series Book #2) by Veronica Roth

(Summary taken from inside the book jacket) "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."

I LOVED the first book, Divergent, so I was really excited to read book two. I purchased it right when it came out, but I have so many books that I have to read that I feel bad reading a book I want to. So, it sat under my bed for a very long time. I finally decided it was time. And I was so excited. It had been so long that I had a difficult time remembering all the characters and details at first, but then it all came back to me. Wow, this book did not disappoint! It is exciting, engaging, and well written. It brings out a side of Tris that makes her seem a little more vulnerable: she grapples with guilt from killing Will, and she can't even bring herself to hold a weapon. Her relationship with Tobias, although still there, is strained at times. There is a lot of guilt and forgiveness in this book. I love Christina's transformation. Forgiving your brother's killer would be so difficult. The characters come to life in this book. I love that they are able to interact with a few of the different factions, so we get a sneak-peek into the lives of Amity and Candor factions as well as the Dauntless. I'm with Tobias when it comes to Tris and her lack of caring about herself. She drove me crazy in a few places, but I did understand why she made those choices. There are some interesting turns in this book, and I really enjoyed it. Bring on book three!!!

There is quite a bit of violence in this book. Many people die, and some are well known characters. There are times when Tris and Tobias get close to "intimacy," but they do not ever actually do it. There are scenes where they sleep in the same bed, with not very many clothes on, and hands go places, but they never go farther than that. There are a few profane words, but not a lot. If you loved book one, you will love book two!

Rating: PG-13 (Violence, deaths of characters, minor profanity, and some close-to-"intimacy" scenes with kissing)

Recommendation: 13 years-old and up.  It's a good young adult book.