I went to see the movie on a recommendation from one of my 5th grade students last year. I loved the movie, and now the book, the first of a trilogy. Stories about dystopian societies are powerful vehicles for making statements about current state of affairs. In this case, how the need for control, and everyone staying in their own factions, overrides a more fluid, humane, and civil social structure. Reading such novels, especially for young people, helps to develop a moral sense. Readers should be asking themselves: Which faction would I belong in? Am I divergent? And more important, would I be able to recognize injustice, inhumanity, and evil when confronted with it? Would I have the courage to be on the side of justice and good? Today, August 2, 2015, the hugest dilemma the world faces is happening between Israel and Palestine. This is not an easy dilemma to take sides on. Both sides want to win you over. Both sides spew propaganda. How do you know who to believe? I have my thoughts on this for another day, but my point it is, young readers need to practice thinking about and talking about moral dilemmas, to participate intelligently in the conversation as adults. Another book that will soon be in the theaters is the Giver. I loved reading that as a Read-Aloud when I taught language arts years ago. I will have to read it again, but I recall it is another dystopian cautionary tale.
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