Title: Divergent
Series: Divergent Series #1
Author: Veronica Roth
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Date Published: February 11, 2014
Genre: YA fiction, romance, action, thriller, sci-fi, fantasy
Pages: 496 (hardback)
Age Range: 13+ (violence, mentions of sex, 1 suicide, death)
Summary
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.
Review
This book will keep you interested between the moments with Tris and Tobias, secrets, training, and fighting. It's the perfect combination of action and romance.
The characters are strong, tough, and brave, but some are cowardly. Christina is strong and sassy. Tobias (also known as Four) is strong, tough, and courageous, but also kind, though he still claims to be working on his kindness. Tris (Beatrice Prior) is hesitant, but confident and strong. I like how Tris evolves throughout the book, becoming stronger and more confident with herself. All the characters are easily lovable.
The writing is good, kind of bland in the beginning, but I think it matches the bland faction of Abnegation. The writing evolves as Tris gets used to her new faction, Dauntless. Her personality evolves to; she can let her personality flourish in Dauntless, though she must keep her Divergence a secret.
The ending was good; I liked the uncertainty in Tobia's words. I liked how unsure everything was actually--they don't know what is going to happen with the factions now, or what will happen to them, if any of the other factions will take them in, and who is dead and who is alive.
It's all uncertain.
I'm actually kinda stuck on how to rate this book, but I'd probably say it's a 3 1/2.
