Divergent

June 28, 2011 Uncategorized 1

Divergent

Author: Veronica Roth
Publisher: Harper Teen
Publication Date: May 3, 2011
Pages: 384
Series: Divergent, book one
Source: Accepted for review


About the Book: In Beatrice Prior’s dystopian Chicago world, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue—Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is—she can’t have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself. 

During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles alongside her fellow initiates to live out the choice they have made. Together they must undergo extreme physical tests of endurance and intense psychological simulations, some with devastating consequences. As initiation transforms them all, Tris must determine who her friends really are—and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes exasperating boy fits into the life she’s chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she’s kept hidden from everyone because she’s been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers unrest and growing conflict that threaten to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves . . . or it might destroy her.

Debut author Veronica Roth bursts onto the YA scene with the first book in the Divergent series—dystopian thrillers filled with electrifying decisions, heartbreaking betrayals, stunning consequences, and unexpected romance.

My Thoughts: I have a confession. I was a bit afraid of reading this book. You see, it has so many things I love in it… Chicago, set in the not so distant future, dystopian, huge life changing choices, cute boys 😉 You get the idea. In addition, bloggers I admire like Kristi, Anna, Jen and Jacinda & Jasmine raved about it. That’s a lot of pressure for one book. I was afraid that it would let me down. I was afraid that it would just be “okay.” I would like to take this time to publicly apologize to Veronica Roth for ever doubting the amazingness that is Divergent. Add me to the list of bloggers raving and gushing and just not being able to say enough good things about it! If the rest of my thought aren’t coherent just know this: You MUST read this book.


When I think back to my reading experience with Divergent the thing that sticks out to me the most is the way the author deals with hard facts. I love the way she just puts it out there. Tris has to face some pretty difficult truths about herself and the people around her. She has to make terrible decisions that no sixteen year old should ever have to make. There is no sugar coating to make things seem softer or to justify the choices Tris (or any other character) makes. It’s gritty and real and unapologetic. I appreciated this. It fits with the story and affected me way more than pussyfooting around the subject. 


Juxtaposed with these darker elements are incredibly tender moments. There is still love and hope and goodness amidst the stark reality that is Tris’ world. The factions serve to highlight these extremes. They really made the book for me. I felt more invested in the story then I have in a long time. If you’re looking for a powerful read this is the book for you.


Random Things I Loved:
*CHICAGO!
*The factions
*The extremes that exist in Tris’ world
*Tris’ ability to be honest with herself
*Four (times about a million! I adore this boy!)
*The stunts the Dauntless pull
*How Four got his name
*The tension… between factions, between characters, romantic, emotional, pyschological… all of it!
*Okay, basically just everything!

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