Four

July 15, 2014
Roth returns to her wildly popular Divergent series with four prequel stories from Four's viewpoint.Before he was "Four," he was Tobias Eaton, the abused and alienated son of Marcus, leader of the Abnegation faction. The stories (really one episodic novella) trace his path from the choice to join Dauntless to his first encounters with Tris, heroine of the trilogy and love of his life. Sufficient information is interwoven to make the world accessible to new readers, while fans will find a surreptitious thrill digging into a taciturn hero's back story; still, little of real consequence is added to the overall plot. Devotees will undoubtedly relish cameo appearances by several beloved (and loathed) characters, and they will squee over such iconic moments as Four's earning his nickname, getting his tattoos and learning the dangers of being "Divergent." More compelling is his gradual transformation from an angry, manipulated and vulnerable victim to a badass loner-still angry and bitter but now tough and determined. Unfortunately, this narrative arc is undercut by the final story and the three rewritten short scenes from the first book, which read almost like bad fan fiction: Once Tris appears, the love-struck Four becomes dithering and goony, gushing about her all-embracing awesomeness and explaining that all his harsh words and actions really meant their exact opposite.For fans only; but their number is legion. (Dystopian romance. 12 & up)

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October 1, 2014

Gr 7 Up-Giving further voice to Four (Tobias Eaton), this collection of seven short stories provides the backstory of the "Divergent" trilogy and will be a hot commodity thanks to the success of the film Divergent. Fans of the novels are given access to the thoughts and emotions of one of their favorite characters, while also learning more details about secondary characters like Eric, Zeke, and Shauna. Listeners will better understand how Tobias was raised by a tyrannical father and an absent mother and how joining Dauntless was a life-changing decision that catapulted Tobias from a fearful and withdrawn boy to become Four, a strong and confident leader. Two years pass within this collection, from the first story of Four's initiation into Dauntless until he meets Tris in the final stories. Narrator Aaron Stanford provides a serious and strong voice, which captivates listeners. An excellent addition to existing "Divergent" collections.-Suzanne Dix, The Seven Hills School, Cincinnati, OH

Copyright 2014 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

August 1, 2014
Grades 8-11 Fans of Divergent (2011) who can't get enoughand maybe even the rare reader who missed the first rushwill snap up this relatively stand-alone story collection told from the perspective of Tobias (aka Four). Beginning with his Choosing Ceremony several years before meeting Tris, these four tales give insight into his history, motivations, and psyche. While the collection complements the trilogy, Tobias' story is compelling enough in isolation. Running from an abusive home, he takes refuge in Dauntless and quickly rises to be a respected member. His rivalry with Eric is introduced, as are the first signs of conspiracy, observations of the relationships of others around him, and a depiction of his journey to find his place in his chosen faction. Three vignettes retelling critical and familiar scenes from Divergent from Tobias' point of view are appended. While short stories are sometimes underused in young-adult library collections, this one will fly off the shelves and for good reason. HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: If it has Roth's name on it, it's going to sell, a fact borne out by a planned four-city tour, a custom social media campaign, and TV and radio spots.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2014, American Library Association.)

July 21, 2014
Four's story is already achingly familiar to fans of Roth's Divergentâhis close relationship to protagonist Tris Prior in the author's original trilogy allowed readers to grow fond of this fiercely protective yet guarded character. In this aptly numbered collection of four stories, all told from the perspective of Four (aka Tobias Eaton), readers receive an inside look at how he came to be a Dauntless instructor in the first place, got his name, uncovered the plot by Jeanine Matthews to attack the Abnegation faction, and fell in love with Tris. Divergent fans will thoroughly enjoy this extra bit of backstory, which is filled with names and places that became beloved in Roth's bestselling trilogy. Roth's storytelling retains the same mix of tension, uncertainty, and hope that made the original stories irresistible. For those who were brokenhearted to find themselves at the last page of Allegiant, this brief look back through Four's eyes will be a welcome trip down memory lane. Ages 14âup. Agent: Joanna Volpe, New Leaf Literary & Media.