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Something in BeTWEEN-Riders
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Riders by: Veronica Rossi
Veronica Rossi is a best selling author of fiction for young adults. Her debut novel, UNDER THE NEVER SKY, was the first in a post-apocalyptic trilogy, and was deemed one of the Best Books of Year by School Library Journal.
Her second series for young adults began with RIDERS and tells the story of four modern day teens who become incarnations of the four horsemen of the apocalypse, and the prophetic girl who brings them together.
Veronica completed her undergraduate studies at UCLA and then went on to study fine art at the California College of the Arts. She is a lifelong reader and artist.
When not writing, Veronica enjoys reading painting, hiking, and running. She does not like anything involving numbers, the addition of them, subtraction of them, you name it.
About the book:
2018-2019 LTRC book, reading level 4.3=15 AR points
Now—bound, bloodied, and drugged—Gideon is interrogated by the authorities about his role in a battle that has become an international incident. If he stands any chance of saving his friends and the girl he’s fallen for—not to mention all of humankind—he needs to convince the skeptical government officials the world is in imminent danger.
But will anyone believe him?
Nothing but death can keep eighteen-year-old Gideon Blake from achieving his goal of becoming a U.S. Army Ranger. As it turns out, it does.
While recovering from the accident that most definitely killed him, Gideon finds himself with strange new powers and a bizarre cuff he can’t remove. His death has brought to life his real destiny. He has become War, one of the legendary four horsemen of the apocalypse.
Over the coming weeks, he and the other horsemen—Conquest, Famine, and Death—are brought together by a beautiful but frustratingly secretive girl to help save humanity from an ancient evil on the emergence.
They fail.
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1. Gideon’s experience in the military often comes in handy whenever trouble finds the group. Should he be the leader of the
group and rely on his teammates for their input? Or should Daryn be in charge because she receives the information?
2. On page 88, Gideon explains his reasoning for joining the army, however in chapter 24, we find out his father’s history with the army. Between the two reasons, do you think his father’s history with the army influenced his reason, or did he truly just want to protect innocent people? Do you think his father’s death also had any influence on his joining the army?
3. Rossi begins this book after Gideon and the group have already been through a great deal of trauma and trouble. Why do you think Rossi chose to start the story this way, essentially as a large flashback? What impact did this have on the story?
4. Death is a primary theme in this story, from the horsemen dying to them experiencing the death of loved ones. Do you think that in this story, death was their destiny?
5. Gideon clearly has an anger problem, as demonstrated in the book, he has a short temper. However, after receiving his powers, he learns to control his rage. Do you think in a way, becoming war helped him understand how his rage can affect others?
6. Trust is another major issue throughout the story. Gideon doesn’t trust any of the horsemen, though he does trust Daryn after some time. What are some of the events that caused their trust in each other to grow?
7. Gideon is a very prideful character. How can pride cause problems between a team and how does his pride impact his interactions with the other Horsemen?
8. Gideon’s military training plays a big part in his thought process and action process throughout the story. Try to imagine you are in Gideon’s shoes. Do you have any experience that you think would help you in a survival situation?
9. Throughout the novel, Gideon overcomes numerous obstacles; many of which have been hindering him since his father passed away. After meeting the other horsemen and Daryn however, he overcomes these obstacles, moves past his guilt and anger. Has there ever been a time when your friends and family have helped you overcome great obstacles in your life?
10. Gideon and Marcus are immediately at odds with each other. Gideon sees Marcus as a threat to his relationship with Daryn, and as a threat to his “alpha male” position in the horsemen group. After learning how Marcus died, their respect for each other blossoms. Why do you think they begin to get along after this?
11. Destiny is one of the major themes in this book. Do you think that a person can choose or change their destiny? Or do you believe that destiny is concrete?
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“I don't think that incident necessarily defines you as bad. I think it makes you human. And I believe you would have stopped yourself. I think that's what makes a person good. Not that you make mistakes, but that you recognize them. You feel remorse for them. You want to correct them and do better.”
― Veronica Rossi, Riders
