Divergent by Veronica Roth
Harper Collins, May 3, 2011
Read for 2011 Debut Author Challenge
Summary from Goodreads:
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, 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 YA scene with the first book in the Divergent series—dystopian thrillers filled with electrifying decisions, heartbreaking betrayals, stunning consequences, and unexpected romance.
Seriously, has anyone had anything negative to say about this book? Yeah, I don't either, except (and this is really my complaint about all trilogy books in general)--why must we wait for books 2 and 3? :) I love Beatrice, although I definitely loved her more once she became Tris. LOVE the romance angle--not too much, it was just enough. I love this version of Chicago, I love the divisions of the factions, I love the initiation rituals that Tris has to go through. The only thing that could have made this book better, I think, would have been more backstory, but I'm anticipating the sequels will have more of that. And...it seemed that the ending came about very abruptly. Without giving anything away--it totes made sense for the story, it just seemed coincidental. Anyone agree?
Obviously I will be recommending this to my Hunger Games fans at the library, and obviously I will waiting anxiously for books 2 in the trilogy, which we've recently learned will be titled Insurgent, and is expected sometime next year!
Borrowed book from library.
Enjoy your reading!
Christi
Nice review! I just finished this one and liked it (like everyone else). But I agree that the ending is a little abrupt. I didn't totally love Tris, either, but I think her thoughts/actions made sense in the story. It'll be interesting to see how the story turns out. :)
ReplyDeleteSo glad you enjoyed this! I've been thinking about starting it soon, because I have it and I really want to read it to see what the fuss is about. :) Thanks for sharing your thoughts on the book!
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