Divergent by Veronica Roth

Divergent by Veronica Roth

Published May 3, 2011 by Katherine Tegen Books

Hardcover: 487 pages

In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago, 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 to determine who her friends really are—and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes infuriating 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 a growing conflict that threatens 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 literary scene with the first book in the Divergent series—dystopian thrillers filled with electrifying decisions, heartbreaking betrayals, stunning consequences, and unexpected romance.


Divergent by Veronica Roth was an excellent book.


Having just recently been to Chicago myself, I found the author's descriptions of the Chicago Tris knows fascinating. The changes were very clear and the character's remembering of the way the city "used to be" were just so cool. The whole society was brilliant in my opinion. Factions were an amazing idea, and I'd like to be in Dauntless although I'm not sure I would be cut out for the daredevil acts... 


Despite their world being so far away from  ours, the characters were so real. Tris was just your average girl, struggling to fit in, wanting to make her family happy yet trying to do the same for herself. Four was dangerous and nice and smart and I really like him. The friends Tris made were average friends. The people she met were average people. Like I said in the beginning, everything in the dystopian world was very understandable; not confusing at all.


Cathy, if you're reading this: You were right. I am glad I read this book, and I do like Four despite his strange name :) Now all I have to do is convince you to read Delirium. 


Four Stars