PANIC//BY: LAUREN OLIVER

 

Panic by Lauren Oliver is a contemporary novel that takes place at the beginning of summer, where that  year's Senior Class all gather to complete in an intense game called Panic. Each contestant has a different motivation behind why they agreed to play this daunting game. That we find out as the book progresses.
This book is written in two different perspectives, Heather and Dodge. It was nice for once to not have the two man characters-whose point of view the book is taken from-fall in love. In fact, Heather and Dodge hardly know each other and barely interact in the book till the vary end.
Panic was not what I expected it to be. Though it did not disappoint me one bit. Normally, I try to  avoid contemporary novels, because I find myself bored in the plot. Though Panic held my interest to what I believe, had a different element to it that set it apart from all other contemporary works. 
Panic, in short, is basically one big game of Russian Roulette. Contestants face off in fearful situations as they try to outlast each other in hopes to win the grand prize of 67,000 dollars. As competition thins out, the remaining contestants are then forced to face their biggest fears. Many of their fears they have to face can result in death, which emphasizes the fear the game Panic brings. It defies the danger this game possesses ,and the level the characters are willing to go through in order to achieve their goal. For example, one contestant was faced with an actual game of Russian Roulette. Life or death are the possible options in this game. Your really have to be dauntless to play.
This book I found I was able to relate to in the sense of it being a small town, and wanting nothing more than to escape and start your own life. Most of the characters in this book use Panic as a gateway to lead them to their ultimate destination. 
Heather plays in hopes for her and her sister to escape their home lives. Dodge plays in hopes to help his sister-who was paralyzed playing panic. And Heather's best friend Natalie, hopes to use the money to move to California to start a modeling/acting career. This goes to show that when we humans desperately want something, we are willing to put everything on the line if it means it will give us a  route of escape. 
I highly recommend Panic to anyone looking for a good contemporary read. That is why I will give it its deserved 5/5 stars. For this book is filled with fast turns and shocking events, which makes it a perfect summer read. 
Panic is a fast past novel that will leave you speechless to the vary end. It will keep you on the edge of your seat to the vary last page, and even after that it will leave you hungry for more.



For a more in-depth review:

FOUR: A DIVERGENT COLLECTION//BY:VERONICA ROTH

Having read Divergent and Insurgent two years ago and recently reading Allegiant in November, it was nice to once again emerge myself into the Divergent world. Four is a series of short stories told from the perspective of Tobias (Four).

As much as I disliked Four's perspective in Allegiant, I loved finding out more about the personality behind the character Tobias in Four. It was able to give me a new understanding of him and show me his motives behind what he says and does in Divergent. In Four we really get backstage in the events occurring in Divergent. We were able to see how this dystopian world has been falling apart for years and not just when Divergent takes place. 

The first story: The Transfer, shows Tobias as he chooses Dauntless and his motives behind why. 

The second one is called: The Initiate, this one shows us the initiation program Four had to go through in order to achieve Dauntless statues. In this story it was interesting to compare Tobias's and Tris's  initiation. In Divergent we hear Tobias say that the Dauntless Initiations were never like this, and in this story we are able to see why. 

The third story in this collection is: The Son. In this story we get a turn of events. We begin to see the influence the Erudite are bestowing onto Dauntless and their ruthless plan on Abnegation. We see the reason why Tobias turned down the position of a Dauntless leader even if he was number one in his class. Truths become lies as we discover the Abnegation are not all that innocent, and has their secrets to. The truth reveled in this story that will set up the plot for Divergent. 

Then the final story: The Traitor. This is actually a selection from Divergent beginning at Visiting Day. We see it in the perspective of Tobias and it's interesting to see the same story but in two different views. In Divergent we see how Tris thought in these events. Now we get to see what Tobias saw and thought of these same events. We were able to relies why he acted like he did and why he said the things he did. 

WARNING IF YOU HAVE NOT READ ALLEGIANT SKIP TO THE END!!!!!!

It was also bittersweet to see Tris still alive and breathing and I had to continue to remind my self the ending to Allegiant actually happened. 

Which quickly I am going to shed some light on. 

Tris is considered a tragic hero. And she much reminds me of John Proctor from The Crucible. Now before you call me crazy let me explain. In Divergent Tris asks herself if she can be forgiven. Then in Allegiant one of her last thoughts are: I think I can. 

I feel this was a way she found redemption and her Abnegation self comes back as she takes the place of her brother. 

Tris feels that giving herself up is the best way and in that, she feels she will earn herself freedom and forgiveness. 

In The Crucible John Procter has a guilty conscience of committing adultery and through out the play is unable to forgive himself. When he is accused of witchcraft he is scheduled to hang. Though if he states a false confession he will be freed. By now everyone knows he is innocent but due to the amounts of victims before hand it is fitting to carry on. He feels that going through with the hanging is a way for him to feel he can finally forgive himself for all the wrong he has done. He will go like all the good people who had gone before him. One line in the play is by Elisabeth Proctor (who is  his wife) who states, "He has his goodness now." 

Now back to Allegiant. As I stated before, I feel this gave Tris a window to forgive herself and sacrifice herself like how her family gave their lives for her. She too would fall do to the corruption of this series world. And doing so she earned her goodness for she felt she could redeem herself and die for something she believes in like all the people before her did. It was the only way she truly thought she could be forgiven.

I would give Four a 4/5 stars. It was a great way to see this world in a different light and I especially enjoyed the three bonus scenes. This story is a must add item to your Divergent Series collection, where it can proudly find a home on your shelf next to other wonderful masterpieces of literature.