Divergent by Veronica Roth
Series: Divergent #1
Published by Harper Teen on May 3, 2011
Genres: Dystopian
Pages: 496
Format: ARC
Source: Publisher
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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.

Divergent has been compared to The Hunger Games a lot in the past few weeks. I have heard many people say they thought it was better than The Hunger Games. I didn’t think that was possible but I was wrong. Divergent is a completely new dystopian novel that I could not put down and it definitely ranks right up there with The Hunger Games.

Beatrice Prior has always felt like she didn’t belong in Abnegation. She didn’t know where she would fit in but she knew she had to try to figure it out. When she chose her new faction she had no idea just what she was getting into but she knew it felt right. Just like her feelings for a member of her new faction feel right. But something big is happening in the factions and Tris has no idea exactly what her role in it will be. And what she soon finds out is that it may not be her choice.

I wasn’t sure what to expect when I started Divergent. I didn’t have much time to read when I first started it so I only read about 20 pages at that point. I found it interesting but nothing too special and nothing that really made me want to read more. When I finally had time to read more, I completely changed my mind. I couldn’t stop reading and I was dying for more. The first 20 pages are no indication of how the rest of the book will go.

Tris is a fabulous heroine. She started out as a bit of a wimp but she quickly grew out of that. She became brave and strong and watching her grow made it more real. Christina, Will, Al, Four, Uriah, and all the rest were great characters as well but Tris definitely was the best. I loved her! (And Four!)

Overall, Divergent is a brilliant debut that I want more of. I never thought a 496 page book would be too short for me but this one was. =)