Divergent by Veronica Roth
May 3, 2011 by Katherine Tegen Books
Hardcover, 487 Pages
Borrowed/Library
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. .
Review
A dystopian Chicago sets the scene for Beatrice’s (Tris) story, where she has lived a quiet upbringing with her parents and brother in a faction called Abnegation. They are selfless and quiet and control most of the food supply for the remaining factions. They wear dull colors and keep things simple. Although Beatrice loves her family, being humble is a daily commitment and craving the freedom she sees the Dauntless children enjoying has always been in the forefront of her mind. Every teenager in Tris’s world faces a day of testing and sorting for their future placement in life. After evaluation is done, each teen is giving a recommendation of what factions would best suit them. Being able to pick from five- Abnegation (selfless)- Dauntless (Brave)- Candor (Honest)- Amity (Peaceful)- or Erudite (Smart)- they can choose to stay with their family’s in the faction they were raised in or they can pick another, which will separate them from their parents for good. So when the big day comes for Tris, longing outweighs her parents and she chooses to become Dauntless.
Being Dauntless will test her physically, mentally and emotionally. As the training will separate the new recruits from the ones who stay and the ones who become the factionless, a fear worse than death to most of the teens entering new factions- the competition will be brutal and some of the teens will do whatever it takes to become number one. As Tris pushes herself to become brave (an inner mental ability she’s always had) and learns to live life as a dauntless she will also struggle against those who are trying to hurt her and to hide a secret that could get her killed. As bonds are formed and enemies are made, Tris will have to be on top in order to survive.
So who hasn’t heard of or read Divergent this year? I normally wait until hype dies down for a book to read and review it, but after seeing my 15 year old do cartwheels (not really) and telling me I HAVVVEEEE to read it, I went ahead and devoured the book in one day. By far the best dystopian I’ve read this year, I think Roth brought excitement to a genre so overdone in the YA market and rose above the many dystopians and apocalyptic books flooding the book-scene. The biggest and most important aspect I took from Divergent was its main characters integrity, nothing can compare to a character who can overcome atrocities or life threatening obstacles with courage and bravery. Tris earns a spot in the strong female department, one who risked everything to gain everything without cheating or hurting another and came out stronger than she was before, putting her in leagues with characters like Katniss (Hunger Games) and Gabi (Waterfall). Females who not only bring the story to life for the readers but also display rare role-models in an endless cycle of booty shaking skanks influencing young girls today. I think a girl who can use her brain, her strength, her determination and courage can be much more respected than a girl who uses her breasts, her sexuality or her tight clothing. Sometimes the girl who can fight, read and keep her sexuality in the bedroom wins the guy and might even save the world in the end.
Intense action, sometimes disturbing violence and a brutal ending, left me shocked, spinning and anticipating for the next one. If you read any dystopian this year make it Divergent!!
Rating
Divergent can be read by mature teens and adults (14-up) and contains: Violence-including- war, gang violence, training combat, death-murder, mild sensuality, facing fears such as claustrophobia, heights and adrenaline type aspects.
5/5- YA-Dystopian
Yeah you loved it..Its an awesome book.
ReplyDeleteI keep hearing such good things about this but I can't seem to get interested in the premise. Something about being in a particular faction because of a certain virtue just doesn't appeal to me. I might have to end up giving this a try though since I want to know what all the fuss is about.
ReplyDeleteI really, really need to read this, I feel like the only one who hasn't! I'm headed on vacation in a couple weeks, it's definitely going to be coming with me! So excited to meet Tris, she sounds like my kind of girl:)
ReplyDeleteLove love LOVE this book! I get so happy when I see others give it a 5 star review! One of the best books this year and hands down my favorite dystopain! And Four, well, he's my all time top book boy crush. I can NOT wait for Insurgent! Great review!
ReplyDeleteOMG
ReplyDeleteSounds like I need to read this ASAP.
I don't know. The over-hype kind of killed my desire to read this despite all the glowing reviews I keep read for it. Maybe your daughter needs to come do cartwheels in my living room before I'm completely convinced? LOL
ReplyDeleteLOL @Missie- yeah Claudia was freaking out over this book and #4 and was like MOoooM please read this and review it on your blog...my response was who is #4?? I know my kids think Im dorky but it makes me smile that she wants me to read her YA books...;P Most of the time shes rolling her eyes at my excitement over books.....
ReplyDelete@Juju- haha you rhymed!!
ReplyDelete@Julie- it was awesome...lol awesomesauce...awesomesauce..oh my gah......
@Jenny- yes great vacation read, you'll have to tell me how you liked it.
@Mandi- I cant wait either. Dystopian really has been flooded but this one and Delirium and Wither stick out as good ones.....
@Rebs- READ IT for sure, even if you dont like as much as I did, its worth the few hours....
I have this one on my Kindle but have yet to read it, even though pretty much everyone I know has loved it so far. I will make time for it soon though!
ReplyDeletethis was definitely one of the few books that REALLY lived up to the hype!
ReplyDeleteWow girl I can't wait to read this book already couldn't and now can't wait even more after your review. I really need to get a copy as soon as I can. Love the review. :)
ReplyDeleteLoved this one! Completely agree with your review. It was my favorite...until I read Blood Red Road. Now I'm torn!
ReplyDeleteGreat review and you have a brilliant 15 year old!
Awesome review Tina! I felt the same way. Definitely my favourite dystopia novel this year :)
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