Divergent

Divergent
Veronica Roth
487 pages

“We believe in ordinary acts of bravery, in the courage that drives one person to stand up for another.”  

In a futuristic, dystopian Chicago, society is divided into five factions, each valuing a different human characteristic: Dauntless (the brave), Candor (the honest), Erudite (the intelligent), Amity (the peaceful), and Abnegation (the selfless). Upon turning sixteen years old, each teenager must choose the faction to which they belong. For Beatrice Prior, this will mean choosing between her family and the chance to discover who she really is.

Tris Prior (as she later renames herself) is a dynamic female character who possess all of the stereotypical characteristics of a weak individual - blonde, petite and pale-skinned - but as readers will come to learn, she is quite the opposite. Her strength not only increases from the physical initiation she must under go in the faction she chooses, but also from the emotional encounters that she will face.

The themes present in Divergent are not entirely philosophical or distant, but are realistic for the age group they target. The struggle for self-discovery is a common endeavor during the adolescent years, therefore teenagers should easily be able to identify with Tris as she overcomes obstacles that will eventually lead to how she defines herself. Tris, like other teens, also longs for freedom, which she comes to find in the faction she will end up choosing. One of the novel's most unforgettable lines reads "Peace is restrained; this is free", but moments later, Tris will learn that the consequences of that freedom sometimes have haunting impacts.

In Divergent, Veronica Roth has created a world not entirely different fro other popular dystopians. An oppressive authoritarian government can also be found in The Hunger Games, and a destructed landscape is present in Susan Beth Pfeffer's Life As We Knew It. This lack of originality is one of the few drawbacks to Roth's creation.

Since Divergent's publication, Roth has written two sequels: Insurgent, and the third and final installment Allegiant, became available fro purchase on eReaders and at local booksellers on October 22nd, 2013.

Divergent is the kind of novel that has you up reading much past your bedtime, with its dynamic characters, engaging plot, and simple yet reflective meaning. It's small dosages of romance and violence will leave the reader with a desperate need to get their hands on Insurgent just after turning the last page. This young adult thriller has already captured thousands of readers, but is sure to rope in more when the film adaption starring Shailene Woodley and Kate Winslet hits theaters on March 21st, 2014.  Watch the first trailer here!

Story Line - 8/10
Character's Voice - 9/10
Writing Style - 7/10

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Overall - 24/30