Divergent by Veronica Roth

Title: Divergent
Author: Veronica Roth
Release date: February 28, 2012
Pages: 487

In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago world, 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 alongside her fellow initiates to live out the choice they have made. Together they must undergo extreme physical tests of endurance and intense psychological simulations, some with devastating consequences. As initiation transforms them all, Tris must determine who her friends really are--and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes exasperating 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 unrest and growing conflict that threaten to unravel her seemingly perfect society, Tris also learns that her secret might help her save the ones she loves . . . or it might destroy her.

Divergent is the first in a young adult dystopian series.  It takes place in a futuristic Chicago where society is divided into five factions.  Each 16-year-old must choose a faction, pass through initiation, and become a full-fledged member of that faction, giving up anything and everything from outside the faction.  Each person only fits into one faction except for a rare group of people called Divergent.  Divergents are special and hated by the government.  Tris, the main character, is a Divergent and in her initiation she sets in motion things that may ultimately lead to war between the factions.

Divergent is dystopian with some science fiction, adventure, and romance.  Ideally it's for teens 13 or older because it does deal heavily with death and violence.

My full review!

Themes:

• identity
• bravery
• family
• society
• love
• friendship
• choices
• values
• bullying

Extra content:

The Book Smugglers' review: "Though entertaining, this book does not provoke, incite, or demand a closer look at society – unlike, say The Giver, or Ship Breaker, or Patrick Ness’s Chaos Walking books."

Bitten and Written's review: "I was underwhelmed."

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