Guest Post: Divergent by Veronica Roth

Published: May 2011
Publisher: Katherine Tegan Books
Pages: 487
Summary: Goodreads

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.

Christinabean and I are thrilled today to have one of our colleagues help us out with a guest post.  Here's what Kiley has to say about 'Divergent'

Review

The buzz around 'Divergent' has had me interested for a few months, and I didn't hesitate to grab a copy shortly after its release.  when I finished, it was well worth my money, and my brain spun with "WOW" at the forefront.

I love that Roth builds a dystopian world that doesn't focus on the crisis of how the world fell apart - it takes a look at the why behind the fall of life-as-we-know-it, and gives us a more human approach to the downfall of civilization - we as humans aren't reduced to our basest animal instincts, like in some dystopias; we get to keep our humanity.

We also have a great coming of age story, as the residents of this new Chicago choose their faction at 16.  This can mean staying in the faction they were born and raised in with their family, or choosing a new faction - either way it defines who they are for the rest of their lives.  Sounds a little bit like making college or career choices, doesn't it?

That being said, I think the strongest trait this book has to offer is that you can relate to it, and especially our main character Tris: you can relate to being forced to choose the path for the rest of your life at a young(ish) age; you can relate to being torn to choose between your family and becoming your own person; you can relate to not being sure that you are just one thing, feeling multi-dimensional and not wanting to conform.  All very standard YA blather, but Roth approaches it in a fast-moving and action-packed way that is fresh, even when at its core it really is another dystopian YA novel.  And Four (our male lead) wins over Edward Cullen in my mind any day with his rough edges that don't involve supernatural abilities.

The ending is amazing and unsatisfactory (in a good way, if that makes sense) all at the same time - but that means you'll be hooked for books 2 and 3, as rumour has it this is designed to be a trilogy.  Yes, another dystopian trilogy, but if you're a Hunger Games or Maze Runner fan, pick up 'Divergent'.  You won't be disappointed.