[BOOK REVIEW] Divergent by Veronica Roth

Title:  Divergent

Author:  Veronica Roth

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Year Published: 2011

Number of Pages: 487 pages

Date Read: 10/4/2012

Series: Divergent #1

Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books

Source:  Library

Content Rating:  Ages 16+ (Strong Violence)

“Imagine living in a dystopian world where you get to choose which society you want to live in and how you want to act.  And also, imagine that that one decision about choosing the society you want to live in could possibly change who you are forever!”

After I had finished reading both “The Hunger Games” and “Catching Fire,” I just had to check out more dystopian future titles that are aimed at young adults!  Well, I have managed to stumble upon this new book called “Divergent” which is author Veronica Roth’s debut novel!  “Divergent” is definitely one of the best dystopian future novels I have ever read since “The Hunger Games!”

Taking place in dystopian Chicago, Beatrice Prior, who had just turned sixteen-years-old, must go through a ritual where she must choose a faction to live in.  The following factions that she must choose from are Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Amity (the peaceful), Erudite (the intelligent) and Dauntless (the brave).  However, when Beatrice takes the aptitude test, she realizes that she is not normal and during the choosing ceremony, she chooses to go with the dauntless faction!  Even though Beatrice renames herself “Tris” and starts to enjoy the tough life of the Dauntless, she soon realizes that because of what happened during the aptitude test, she might be in great danger and also, she will soon realize that not everything is perfect in the dauntless faction and she may have to become brave to save the people she cares about from a terrible situation!

 

This honestly must be the third book (behind “The Hunger Games” and “Catching Fire”) that deals with a dystopian future that has a corruptive government…  Anyway, for a debut novel, Veronica Roth has certainly done an excellent job at writing this story about a brave young teenage girl named Beatrice Prior who must learn to be brave when a disaster is about to attack everyone she cares about.  I really enjoyed the way that Veronica Roth detailed the world that the characters live in as they have to choose the factions they want to live in and forget about their old factions if they decide to choose a new faction.  It slightly reminds me of choosing political parties to stick with, although “Divergent” deals with choosing a society you want to live in while choosing political parties determines which party you agree with their methods in politics.  It was also interesting seeing so many similarities in this book compared with “The Hunger Games” which includes:

·        Strong Heroine.

·        Dystopian Future.

·        Corruptive Government.

·        Heroine has a love interest.

·        Heroine has a symbol that defines their character (Katniss from “The Hunger Games” has a mockingjay pin while Beatrice from “Divergent” has a flame in a circle tattooed on her body that defines the dauntless)

I was on the edge of my seat whenever I saw Beatrice trying to survive the initiation to become a dauntless because the trials were always dangerous as it included jumping off a moving train with no fear and fighting other initiates to the death to prove how tough she is.  I enjoyed the way that Veronica Roth wrote Beatrice Prior as being a brave heroine who is willing to do anything to save her family and friends and how she matured throughout the book was a truly brilliant experience to see! 

 

For anyone who does not like strong violence in any novel, there are some scenes that have some unsettling and violent moments including one scene where a character has their eye stabbed by a pair of scissors.  Also, I often had trouble with sympathizing with Beatrice Prior herself as she sometimes comes off being a bit unsympathetic throughout the book.  There were many times in the book where she wished harm onto other people (even though some of them deserved it) and she has often lied to her friends many times throughout the book.  Also, Beatrice seems to lose her temper too many times in this book when her friends and family are trying to help her out and even though I understand the dystopian world that Beatrice lives in, I felt that she should try to listen to other people’s opinions first before always jumping to conclusions about a certain situation.

   

Overall, “Divergent” is a truly brilliant book that really kept me interested in what is going to happen to each character all the way through the end!  I would strongly recommend this book to anyone who really enjoys reading dystopian novels with your typical corruptive government storylines that you cannot help but enjoy reading over and over again!  Now, I am off to read the next book, “Insurgent!”

* 2011 Goodreads Choice for Favorite Book of 2011 and for Best Young Adult Fantasy & Science Fiction
* 2012 ALA Teens' Top Ten Nominee
* 2012 Children's Choice Book Award Nominee for Teen Choice Book of the Year
* 2012 DABWAHA Romance Tournament for Best Young Adult Romance
* 2014 Abraham Lincoln Award Nominee