Review - Divergent

Divergent by Veronica Roth

(487 pages)

Pub. date: 05/03/11
Series: Divergent #1

My rating: 5/5 stars

About the book: 

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.

My thoughts:

I had mixed feelings about Divergent before even starting it. I was worried it would turn out like most other YA dystopian I've been reading recently. Frankly, the genre is getting like that one song that is on the radio every five minutes, and I'm having a hard time finding a dystpoian novel that isn't like the rest - predictable and boring. Happily Divergent is anything but predictable and boring. Well, there were a few predictable parts, but it wasn't boring in the least!

Once I picked it up, the only time I sat it down was for bathroom breaks and sleep. It was addictive! Beatrice - aka Tris - was a strong heroine, but she had enough faults and weaknesses that it made her more likeable and more human. She was strong and determined, but she could sometimes be foolish and act without thinking things through. She also had a habit of being selfish sometimes, but again, it made her seem more human and less robotic.

Four - who's real name I'm not going to reveal - was full of surprises. I thought I had him figured and then - BAM! - he'd reveal something else that made me rethink him. Right from the start I guessed who he really was, and from what faction he was born in, but I didn't mind that so much because he contained so many other surprises. This boy is not at all what he first seemed like and I grew to love his character a lot. 

There were other characters I loved throughout the story for many different reasons, even if their character was a horrible beep, like Peter and Eric. Christina and Will I had mixed feelings towards. Urich, Al, Tori and Caleb I really liked.

My favorite thing about Divergent was that the action and suspense never stopped or slowed down for a even a second! Every time you turned a page there was some new test for Tris and her fellow initiates, someone getting stabbed in the eye, or some other new character or plot twist that kept me up 'til 1 am. 

I'm actually upset I didn't read this one sooner. The first time I read the summary I was like, oh, yeah, it might be okay. It was actually a lot like the Hunger Games for me. I actually had a fellow book friend recommend THG to me, so I took a  chance and ordered it from the library. I was glad I did because it turned out much better than expected (even if the third book was a disappointment).  For me, I didn't decide to read Divergent until I saw that the library had just ordered it, and I was all, alright, let's give this a try. Man, I am glad I clicked that "place hold" button!

A big question that kept running through my mind while reading this book was: If I were in this book and forced to choose a faction, which one would I choose? I couldn't come up with an answer. Would I choose to be selfless, brave, intelligent, peaceful or honest. I'm a bit of each, but I'm not completely honest or selfless or peaceful. I mean, I lie sometimes. I will sometimes put myself before others. And, while I have been called drama free by my friends, if you cross me I will be anything but peaceful. I kept thinking, how can these people choose? You'd think more people would be Divergent, a bit of both. I guess maybe people have been brainwashed a bit, into only being one thing? I couldn't choose a faction, could you? 

So, if you haven't already, I recommend you buy or burrow this book as soon as humanly possible. It doesn't disappoint! I am in love with this series already!