This is the debut novel written by 24-year old Veronica Roth entitled Divergent, the first book in the Trilogy, followed by INSURGENT and the forthcoming ALLEGIANT to be released this October 2013.
POV: First person perspective through the main Protagonist, 16 year old Beatrice “Tris” Prior
SETTING: Dystopian setting of Chicago, USA
RATING: 4 Stars out of 5
SUMMARY:
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.
(via
goodreads)
BOOK EXCERPT:
In the future Chicago, Sixteen year old Beatrice Prior must choose among the five predetermined factions to define her identity for the rest of her life, a decision made more difficult when she discovers that she is an anomaly who does not fit into any one group and that the society she lives in is not perfect after all.
Why do I love this book?
This is book is simply incredible. If you are looking for a different kind of action slash adventure this book is the right choice.
Explore the world of 5 different factions (Dauntless, Amity, Erudite, Abnegation and Candor) with the Initiates as they unravel their way to make into the faction of their choice and live the life they wanted, a make or break of passing the initiation, and not ending up being “factionless”. Divergent is really compelling story, having to put yourself in Tris shoes and live the life she is experiencing. As she try to keep the identity of herself as a secret, as she fight her fears and learn the true meaning of bravery.
This book may be filled with action and suspense in most part, it is not lacking of romance that will certainly keep you going and enthralling the story.
Why do I recommend this book?
This book is a very worthwhile reading.
DIVERGENT may be set in a dystopian setting; it has a strong push and pull effect on the readers though the start of the novel may seem a little slow-paced when it comes to telling what the story is about, but as soon as Tris made her choice and chose her faction everything starts to flow freely and smoothly. This Young Adult fiction will satisfy your need for some intense action, mystery and romance, it has variations of emotions, from excitement to pity to bravery and it is amazing how they can put modern twist to the dystopian setting of the story and how they created a whole new version of the world and the people living in it.
On The contrary of popular belief this is NOT hunger games look alike, or trying to be THG! For those who are comparing this to Hunger games, you got it so wrong! Divergent is making a name for its own, a different story, a very unique concept of factions and human beings.
When reading this book, I advice you keep notes of the terms, that will be soon needed as the story unfolds (such as the faction names, the symbol, the descriptions and so forth)
